9:00 am - 10:00 am
Monthly meeting of the WRHSAC Training & Exercise Subcommittee
Join Zoom Meeting – click here
Meeting ID: 854 3738 5453
Passcode: 670273
Phone: 1-929-205-6099
The agenda will be posted here in the week before the meeting.
Monthly meeting of the WRHSAC Training & Exercise Subcommittee
Join Zoom Meeting – click here
Meeting ID: 854 3738 5453
Passcode: 670273
Phone: 1-929-205-6099
The agenda will be posted here in the week before the meeting.
WRHSAC K9 Training Week
Strengthen your K9 team’s readiness before the next call.
July 27 – 31, 2026
The Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council (WRHSAC) is offering a comprehensive, multi-day K9 training program designed for law enforcement, search and rescue, and other public safety K9 teams. This training focuses on practical skills that improve operational readiness, responder safety, and multi-agency coordination during real-world incidents.
Whether your K9 supports patrol, trailing, tracking, search and rescue, security, comfort/therapy, or another public safety mission, this training provides valuable skills that can be applied immediately in the field.
This four-hour seminar is open to all first responder K9 handlers, regardless of discipline.
Learn how to:
Eligible participants include handlers of:
Open to up to 50 attendees. The training is free.
Thank you for your interest in this training. Registration is closed.
This intensive four-day course combines classroom instruction with extensive field exercises covering:
Participants will work through increasingly challenging scenarios designed to build confidence and improve operational effectiveness in missing person searches and other real-world deployments.
Thank you for your interest in this training. Registration is closed.
The Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council will meet for a special meeting on Monday, May 4, 2026 at 11amET. The meeting is virtual.
Join Zoom Meeting – click here
Meeting ID: 827 2020 0521
Passcode: 370295
Click here for the agenda.
FFY2026 State Homeland Security Grant Investment Plan Call for Requests
The Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council (WRHSAC) is now accepting project proposals for inclusion in the FFY2026 State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) Investment Plan.
WRHSAC anticipates approximately $989,000 in funding to support homeland security initiatives across the four counties of Western Massachusetts (Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire). The annual award announcement has been delayed due to the current partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security. Neither the State nor WRHSAC has not yet received official notice of award. In coordination with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security/Office of Grants and Research (EOPSS/OGR), WRHSAC is proceeding with the investment planning process to ensure readiness once funding is announced. A short turnaround for submission is anticipated following the notice of award.
Estimated Funding Timeline:
Funds are expected to become available in January 2027, with all projects required to be completed by end of July 2028.
Proposals must be received by noon, (12pm ET) Monday, May 11, 2026 via email to raine@frcog.org
Eligibility and Requirements:
Each proposal must include:
Recommended Best Practices for Strong Proposals
Evaluation Criteria
All proposals will be reviewed by a WRHSAC Subcommittee prior to full Council consideration.
Projects will be evaluated based on:
Any questions? Contact Raine Brown, Homeland Security Program Manager, raine@frcog.org, 413.774.3167 x138
The Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council (WRHSAC) is hosting two sessions of Aerial Apparatus Positioning Training in May:
Saturday, September 12, 2026 – Palmer, MA
Sunday, September 13, 2026 – Hadley, MA
This specialized training is designed to enhance the tactical effectiveness and operational safety of fire departments utilizing aerial apparatus across Western Massachusetts.
Participants will begin with a classroom session focused on core principles of aerial operations, followed by hands-on exercises using aerial apparatus in realistic fireground scenarios. The course emphasizes a methodical, safety-driven, and policy-informed approach to apparatus placement at emergency incidents.
Key learning objectives include:
Understanding proper aerial apparatus placement across a variety of incident types
Conducting effective scene size-ups with an emphasis on aerial operations
Reviewing and demonstrating the operational capabilities and limitations of aerial devices
Applying occupancy-based tactics that prioritize life safety, incident stabilization, and property conservation
This course provides valuable, practical experience for fire service personnel seeking to improve their aerial operations under real-world conditions.
The training is free. Application is required. Please complete the form below. You will be notified by email after your application has been reviewed.
Post update Thursday, September 10 – Thank you for your interest in this training. Registration is closed.
Monday June 8 – Thursday June 11, 2026 Holyoke
You see things most people never will. Over time, those calls add up.
This is WRHSAC’s second offering of ASAP Training in Western Massachusetts. During the first session, the class was attended primarily by law enforcement professionals. This round, we strongly encourage participation from firefighters, EMS providers, and dispatchers to ensure this resource is available across all disciplines.
This training prepares first responders to deliver the Acute Stress Adaptive Protocol (ASAP) to their own peers. Participants will learn a structured, evidence-supported process to help colleagues safely process stressful and traumatic calls — without requiring them to talk through the details.
Whether you’re operating on the fireground, providing patient care, or handling calls from the communications center, cumulative stress affects every role. This training gives you a practical tool to bring back to your department.
Research shows participants experience about a 44% reduction in post-traumatic stress symptoms.
✔ Certification to deliver ASAP to peers
✔ A structured 8-step protocol and facilitator guide
✔ Skills to lead 45–60 minute sessions
✔ Group and one-on-one delivery options
✔ A tool that can be used shortly after difficult calls
This course strengthens your department’s internal peer support capacity, across fire, EMS, dispatch, and law enforcement.
If you’re part of a peer support team — or want to build one — this training equips you with a proven, field-ready intervention designed specifically for emergency personnel across Western Massachusetts.
The training is free. Click here to apply. You will be notified of acceptance.
NAEMT’s Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) course, is a comprehensive 16-hour, evidence-based training designed to prepare EMS practitioners, prehospital providers, first responders, and allied personnel to effectively assess and manage traumatic injuries in civilian tactical and high-risk environments.
WRHSAC is conducting two sessions of this 2-day training.
This course equips participants with the knowledge and hands-on skills necessary to deliver life-saving care during dynamic incidents such as active shooter events, mass casualty situations, and other tactical emergencies.
What You’ll Learn:
A structured approach to trauma care using the three phases of tactical care — Direct Threat (Hot Zone), Indirect Threat (Warm Zone), and Evacuation (Cold Zone).
Techniques for hemorrhage control and immediate action drills including tourniquet application.
Application of the MARCH assessment for rapid evaluation and intervention.
Airway management, including surgical airway control and needle decompression.
Strategies for caring for responders and patients in hostile or unstable environments.
Pediatric trauma care, casualty movement techniques, and real-world patient simulations culminating in a mass-casualty/active shooter event scenario.
Course Benefits:
Accredited by CAPCE for 16 hours of continuing education.
Recognized by the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT).
Endorsed by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma and aligned with current Co-TECC guidelines.
Whether you are an EMS clinician, firefighter, law enforcement officer, or other emergency responder, this course strengthens your ability to act confidently and competently when every second counts.
Strong leadership saves lives, strengthens crews, and shapes the culture of every firehouse. Whether you’re a seasoned officer, newly promoted, or thinking about stepping into a leadership role someday, this two-day program will give you the tools, confidence, and mindset to lead with clarity and purpose.
WRHSAC, in partnership with Belchertown Fire Department, is proud to offer Step Up and Lead / Leadership Development Training, an interactive program designed specifically for firefighters and company officers at all stages of their leadership journey.
The “Leadership and Team Building” program includes the following key components:
Chief Frank Viscuso (Ret.), bestselling author of Step Up and Lead and internationally recognized fire service speaker, brings energy, humor, and hard-earned insight to every seminar. He has trained thousands of firefighters across the U.S., Canada, and Europe and was named the George D. Post Fire Instructor of the Year (2025). His workshops are known for being practical, motivating, and immediately applicable in the firehouse and on the fireground.
Join us for this valuable and exciting learning opportunity.
The Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council (WRHSAC) is hosting two sessions of Aerial Apparatus Positioning Training in September:
Saturday, September 12, 2026 – Palmer, MA
Sunday, September 13 – Hadley, MA
This specialized training is designed to enhance the tactical effectiveness and operational safety of fire departments utilizing aerial apparatus across Western Massachusetts.
Participants will begin with a classroom session focused on core principles of aerial operations, followed by hands-on exercises using aerial apparatus in realistic fireground scenarios. The course emphasizes a methodical, safety-driven, and policy-informed approach to apparatus placement at emergency incidents.
Key learning objectives include:
Understanding proper aerial apparatus placement across a variety of incident types
Conducting effective scene size-ups with an emphasis on aerial operations
Reviewing and demonstrating the operational capabilities and limitations of aerial devices
Applying occupancy-based tactics that prioritize life safety, incident stabilization, and property conservation
This course provides valuable, practical experience for fire service personnel seeking to improve their aerial operations under real-world conditions.
The training is free. Application is required. Please complete the form below. You will be notified by email after your application has been reviewed.
WRHSAC, in partnership with Baystate Health, presents
The Reid Technique of Investigative Interviewing and Advanced Interrogation
This multi-day training is designed for law enforcement officers, investigators, prosecutors, intelligence personnel, and other multidisciplinary professionals involved in criminal or counterterrorism investigations. It will strengthen your ability to assess credibility, structure effective interviews, and conduct advanced interrogations. The course is essential for fostering interagency cooperation and improving regional coordination, especially in cases involving criminal activity or potential terrorist connections.
Two sessions will be offered: one in October and one in November. See below for specific dates and registration details.
Cost: Free
Registration: Required (link below).
In this course, you will learn how to:
Interpret verbal and non-verbal behavior to assess the credibility of statements.
Structure interviews with open-ended and investigative questions to develop a subject’s statement.
Use behavior-provoking questions during the interview process.
Persuade suspects to truthfully disclose their involvement in criminal activity.
Develop effective interrogation strategies and themes.
Apply alternative questioning techniques to elicit an initial admission of guilt.
Manage defiant suspects by overcoming objections and addressing fear of consequences.
We are offering two sessions of this training:
Please complete the form to register.
Update November 6, 2025 – Both sessions are full. Thank you to all who were able to attend!
