ALERRT :: Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training

The Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) mission is to teach law enforcement officers, specifically the true first responders, to safely and effectively respond to - address - and stop an active shooter.

Since 2002, we have trained more than 20,000 first responding patrol officers in the ALERRT Active Shooter program. ALERRT has been awarded more than $7 million in federal and state funds to bring this Rapid Response training to frontline officers across Texas and the nation.

We continue to surpass the basic goals of the ALERRT program - offering proven tactical training to first responders, preparing them to protect their communities and to save lives. This training must be affordable for all who needed it. It shall not be exclusively conducted as classroom setting. It must encompass force-on-force scenarios, active shooter, and survival stress reaction. Most importantly, this training must be delivered by veteran field officers with personal “boots on the ground” life experience in the realities of this new kind of terrorism that threatens our communities.

ALERRT is a partnership project of Texas State University-San Marcos, the City of San Marcos, Texas and Hays County, Texas.

This training is made possible in part through funding from the Texas Governor's Office Criminal Justice Division, the US Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance; and Department of Homeland Security Office of Grants and Training.

The ALERRT program is open to all state-certified peace officers, federal law enforcement officers and military personnel in good standing with their units.

As of Spring, 2009, we have delivered this active shooter training to
more than 20,000 law enforcement officers
across the country. The demand for training continues to
outweigh the funding we receive, but with the Train-the-Trainer program,we seek to meet that challenge by helping to move the training
forward through certified trainers.
We continue to seek funding for this vital training.
We maintain a request list of agencies across the
country who are seeking this vital training.
Please send requests via email to info@alerrt.com
Please include your full name, agency, city, state, phone numbers and email address in your request.

Our Goal
The goal of the First Responder to Active Shooter course is to aid
law enforcement officers, specifically the true first responders,
in their ability to safely and effectively respond to - address -
and stop an active shooter.

Background
The tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado changed
the way law enforcement reacts to active shooting situations. When
two students took control of Columbine High School on April 20, 1999,
the first responding patrol officers established a perimeter and called in
the SWAT team. For 45 minutes, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold had free
rein of the school before the SWAT team made entry. During this 45 minutes,
the shooters killed 13 people, critically wounded 24 and injured more than
160 others. The first responders were crucified in the media for their
perceived lack of response to the unfolding events at Columbine High School.
What the media and public did not understand was that the first responders
acted as they had been trained and conditioned to do.
This tragedy identified weaknesses and outdated philosophies in tactical training and response. More about ALERRT.....

Our Course Catalog - 2009-2010

The ALERRT Basic Active Shooter 16 hour course
This course will train up to 30 front line patrol officers with varied
levels of experience and includes the following:
*Historical overview of active shooter events
* Active Shooter vs. Barricade/Hostage Situation
*Survival Stress Reaction
* Training to Win
* Tactical Team Movements
*Low Light Techniques
* Prevailing in Low Light Conditions
*Terrorism Active Shooter Threats
*Rescue Team Tactics
* Improvised Explosive Devices
* Building Approaches and Breaching
*Reality Based Training Exercises
*Video Scenario Debriefing
*Course Critique

Student Packing List for Basic Active Shooter Class:
Participants may bring the following items:
     * Duty belt
      * Soft body armor (if available)
    * Flashlight
      * Long-sleeved shirt
      * Groin protection
      * Writing Instrument
      * Drinking water

  NOTE: The following equipment is prohibited and should not be transported
to the training site:

      * Weapons of any kind
      * Defense aerosols
      * Ammunition/magazines
     * Batons
       * Diversionary devices (flashbangs, etc.)

The ALERRT Train the Trainer 40-hour course
This course will train a select group of 25 law enforcement officers who are
experienced in police training, firearms training, and/or tactical methods
and is taught by four senior instructors from the ALERRT training team and
includes the following:
   •    The first two days have the participants complete the basic active
shooter 16 hour course
      •    The third day is devoted to teaching methods and instructor
training
      •    The fourth and fifth days are focused on teach-backs,
remediation and evaluation of the participants.

Student Packing List for Train the Trainer Class:
Participants may bring the following items:
     * Duty belt
      * Soft body armor (if available)
    * Flashlight
      * Long-sleeved shirt
      * Groin protection
      * Writing Instrument
      * Drinking water

    * Bring snacks or lunches. Most breaks and lunches will be short.

  NOTE: The following equipment is prohibited and should not be transported
to the training site:

      * Weapons of any kind
      * Defense aerosols
      * Ammunition/magazines
     * Batons
       * Diversionary devices (flashbangs, etc.)
_______________________________________________________________________

The ALERRT First Responder Operations in Rural Terrain (FORT) – 24 hour course
The FORT course was developed as a response to requests from officers
working in rural areas and the border regions of our country. Having
studied incidents where patrol officers have been ambushed, hurt, and/or
killed while operating in rural terrain, different techniques, tactics, and
procedures must be learned, rehearsed, and utilized other than those used
during operations in an urban environment. The course will cover individual
and team movement techniques, vehicle drills, downed officer/citizen rescue,
patrolling, and break contact methods patrol officers can use to enhance
their survivability. Force-on-force drills will be used to reinforce the
techniques taught.

Note: Some students attending this course have found it to be physically challenging. There are no physical fitness requirements to attend, however students must be able to be on their feet for hours at a time, walk moderate distances, jog, kneel, crawl, and lift moderate amounts of weight. Depending on the training site’s geographical location, students may also need to be prepared to bring their own lunches or snacks.

Student Packing List for the Rural Ops Class(FORT):
-        Fatigues (BDUs, DCUs, ACUs, Digitals, Multi-Cam)
-        Patrol Gear/Belt
-        Protective Eye Wear
-        Body Armor
-        Knee Pads/Elbow Pads
-        Rain Gear (if needed…dependant upon forecast)
-        Cold Weather Gear (if needed…dependant upon forecast)
-      Hydration System (some means of staying hydrated with water!) Students should start hydrating (drinking water) at least 2 days prior to attending this course.
Students should strive to maintain hydration throughout the course.
-      Note-taking materials

The ALERRT Advanced Train the Trainer course   40 hour course
(this course is limited to people who have completed the ALERRT
40-hour train-the-trainer course.)
This 5 day course serves to enhance the skills of ALERRT trainers in areas
that were not able to be covered as much in depth in the Basic Instructor
course. This course involves   manual and ballistic breaching (live-fire)
to enhance breaching capabilities,   Close-Quarter Battle (CQB) training
(including live-fire clearing) to enhance their room entry and clearing
capabilities, advanced   Sim instruction and advanced Active Shooter
Force-On-Force scenarios. Upon completion of this course students will have
more knowledge and hands-on experience from which to teach their operator
courses and give their students more information.
Student packing list for Advanced TtT course:
All tactical equipment normally worn
Body Armor
Duty Rifle – 3 magazines (Sling and weapon mounted light recommended)
Duty Pistol - 3 magazines
12 gauge shotgun (Sling optional but recommended)
5 rounds Buckshot; 6 rounds of #8 Birdshot
Eye/Ear Protection
Gloves
Long Sleeve Shirt
300 rounds of rifle ball/full metal jacket target ammo and 100 rounds of frangible rifle ammo
300 rounds of pistol ball/full metal jacket target ammo and 100 rounds of frangible pistol ammo
Groin Protection for Force-on-Force Training

Students should bring a hydration method with them. Students should also bring some snacks as breaks and lunches may be short.
Note taking materials

The ALERRT Breaching for First Responders
– 8 hour course
This course was designed as supplemental training for the Active Shooter
courses and to address the specific need for breaching capabilities by
first-responders as identified in case studies of recent events. Students
will learn and apply manual and ballistic breaching methods using an array
of tools. This course is definitely a hands on course.

Student Packing List for ALERRT Breaching Class: In the breaching course,
participants will need to bring their own shotgun for the shotgun breaching
section. If you are part of a group of officers from the same agency and do not
have enough shotguns for everyone, you may share a shotgun for the drills.
Round count is 5 rounds of 12 gauge buckshot, 25 rounds of 12 gauge birdshot.
You will also need hearing protection, eye protection and body armor.
Students should hydrate prior to attending this course and stay hydrated throughout the course.