16 Hour Rescue Task Force Instructor Course

Registration Deadline: March 21, 2026 

This course has been approved by ILETSB for the following mandates:
Emergency Medical Response – 9
Law Concerning stops, searches and use of force - .5/Scenario Based Hours - .5
Officer Safety Techniques - .3/Scenario Based Hours – 2.5
Active Threat Response - 16

PURPOSE OF COURSE: This two-day, 16-hour course is designed to train police officers and firefighter/paramedics in the specialized skill sets necessary to teach the active threat rescue task force mission.

TARGET AUDIENCE: Sworn law enforcement officer/fire service and EMS Instructors.

COURSE PREREQUISITES: Law enforcement students need to have attended End User Rapid Deployment Training. Fire department personnel should have basic first aid training or above. There are no prerequisites for EMS personnel.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this course is to provide police officers and firefighter/paramedics training that will enable them to teach first responders to operate together in the warm zone during an active threat situation. This will provide them with the skill sets to teach first responders how to rapidly perform critical lifesaving medical procedures and triage under the force protection of law enforcement.

This course shall provide the student instructors with defined roles, responsibilities, and operational procedures to teach first responders how to support a rapid deployment rescue task force (RTF) response. Student Instructors will learn how to teach RTF teams to operate in the warm zone, rapidly performing critical life-saving medical procedures and triage under the force protection of law enforcement. The RTF shall continue progressing forward in the designated warm zone until all victims have been triaged and accounted for. Initial RTF teams will not normally be involved in the movement of victims unless extenuating circumstances are present.

The student instructors will learn to teach first responders that their initial goal is to triage and perform life-saving measures. Also, that RTF's shall remain as a group when deployed. In the unlikely case of a life-or-death situation regarding the safety of the RTF, the law enforcement component may have to separate to address a lethal threat but must ensure the fire service component is sheltered in place or evacuated. Any time a RTF separates, command must be notified immediately, and all attempts to bring in additional law enforcement to assist with protection should be made.

COURSE GOALS: The goals of this course are as follows:
•    Ensure students have an excellent understanding of rescue task force tactics and strategy.
•    Ensure students can perform rescue task force tactics.
•    Ensure the student instructors demonstrate their ability to teach rescue task force tactics and strategies.
•    Provide students with an inventory of appropriate equipment to be used when performing the RTF mission, so they can advise their s dents as to what the appropriate equipment is required for the RTF mission.
•    To allow students the opportunity to participate in realistic scenarios and demonstrate their ability to perform RTF skills.
•    Allow student instructors the ability to then develop and present realistic scenarios that will help their students learn the RTF skill sets.
•    Understand and embrace the concept of tactical emergency treatment.
•    Recognize and identify tactical zones of operations (cold, warm, and hot).
•    To provide students with an understanding of rescue task force responsibilities, techniques, and strategies.
•    To allow students the opportunity to participate in classroom discussions, group exercises, and realistic scenario training.
•    Understand interior and exterior patient collection points (PCP) and patient movement protocols.

METHOD OF EVALUATION: Students will participate in classroom discussions, group projects, practical exercises, and realistic scenario-based training.

METHOD OF INSTRUCTION: This course will be conducted utilizing the following methods  of instruction:
•    Lecture
•    In-class discussion
•    PowerPoint presentation utilizing a multi-media projector
•    Group brainstorming and problem solving
•    Practical exercises in the field
•    Participation in realistic scenario-based training
•    Operations, observations and discussions

COURSE REFERENCES:

U.S.    Fire Administration, Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department
Operational Consideration and Guide for Active Shooter & Mass Casualty Incidents Sept 2013; www.usfa.fema.gov

Committee for Tactical Emergency Casualty Care Tactical Emergency Casualty Care Guidelines June 2015; c-tecc.org

JEMS - Journal of Emergency Medical Services Tactical Rescue Evolves, Inside the Warm Zone June 2015; www.iems.com

Hartford Consensus III - Implementation of Bleeding Control
Joint committee to create a national policy to enhance survivability from intentional mass casualty & active shooter events.
Bulletin: American Colleges of Surgeons; VlOO No. 7 July   2015

DHS Homeland Security - Office of Health Affairs
First responders guide for improving survivability in improvised explosive device and/or active shooter incidents. June 2015

ITOA I MABAS Div 3 / NIPSTA: RTF-Instructor Course Material VI 2013; Current Version #14 12/10/16

ITOA I NTOA: Active Threat / Rapid Deployment Instructors Course Material Vl 2000; Current Version #20 1/9/17

COURSE REQUIREMENTS/GRADING POLICY: This program requires a classroom with a podium, computer, and multi-media projector for the PowerPoint presentation. Tables and chairs to promote the classroom environment. Students are encouraged to bring a notebook and writing utensil.

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Students must attend all 16 hours of the course.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: ILETSB supports a strict policy on academic integrity. Students are responsible for their own work, including the preparation of research papers, case study reports, and the taking of a post-examination. Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in a failing grade.

SAFETY PROTOCOLS: The following safety protocols will be observed at all times during this program:

•    A safety briefing will be given before each training session.
•    There will be a clearly defined training area.
•    There will be no live ammo or loaded weapons within the designated training area, NO EXCEPTIONS!
•    Any personnel entering the training area should be confronted and instructed to secure weapons and ammunition outside of the training area.
•    All training weapons will be checked by at least two instructors.
•    All training weapons will be conspicuously marked with colored tape in two places.
•    All training long guns will have a chamber blocking device installed.
•    All pouches, pockets, bags, purses, etc. will be checked for ammo and weapons.
•    A line inspection and search of all participants, instructors, and observers will be conducted at least four times.
•    Eye protection will be required for all personnel present.
•    Ear protection for blank-gun shooters will be   required.
•    ID vests for instructors will be required.
•    Anyone exiting the training area will be checked prior to re-entry by the instructor.
•    A new weapons check, line inspections, and tape color checks will be conducted after meal breaks.
 

THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC MEETING