NORT 2016 - 08 Training Announcement

BUREAU OF ALCOHOL TOBACCO FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES NATIONAL ODOR RECOGNITION TESTING (NORT) TRAINING EVENT

DATES AND TIMES

May 24-26, 2016 08:30 AM - 5:00 PM Daily

LOCATION

Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department Canine Training Facility 14 Perin Lane Stormville, New York 12582

REGISTRATION

Training is open to all U.S. Government, law enforcement, fire service, intelligence community, and military personnel. Interested explosives detection canine handlers MUST pre-register at www.USPCA7.org Click on Register and fill out the form. Additional information, if needed can be obtained by emailing [email protected]

ANSWERS TO FAQ

1. Training is FREE. 2. Handler’s agencies are responsible for all travel, lodging, and per diem expenses. 3. Training is conducted by FLETC - LEITP certified Instructors/Canine Trainers from ATF’s National Canine Division. 4. Teams are encouraged to attend all 3 training days, however it’s not mandatory to do so. Teams who successfully complete the Official NORT Certification on Day 2, are not required to return for Day 3.

BUREAU OF ALCOHOL TOBACCO FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES NATIONAL ODOR RECOGNITION TESTING (NORT) TRAINING EVENT

5. Teams can participate exclusively in explosives odor recognition exercises and/or TATP/HMTD/HME imprinting if they choose.

OVERVIEW

The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department Canine Unit invite explosives detection canine teams to participate in an ATF National Odor Recognition Testing (NORT) Training Event.

Target odor recognition is a basic tenet of reliable explosives detection canine team performance. The absence of a national explosives detection canine proficiency standard led to legislative action by Congress, who directed ATF to develop a national standard. ATF created NORT to fulfill this mandate. NORT is a standardized method utilized to evaluate a canine team’s ability to detect ten fundamental explosives. The NORT training and testing process enables canine teams to identify gaps in training aid selection, inadvertent training aid contamination through deficient handling or storage protocols, and other unforeseen sources of compromised detection capability.

Canine teams are given unlimited opportunities to perform explosives odor recognition exercises designed to familiarize canines and handlers with NORT testing procedures before handlers elect to perform an Official NORT single-blind test administered by an ATF Forensic Chemist. Additionally, handlers are afforded opportunities to imprint and train canines on homemade explosives (HME), including (TATP and HMTD).