Excelsior Challenge ensures New York State’s first responders remain ready

The recent active shooter attack in Las Vegas serves as a reminder of the ever-present threats facing the United States and the importance of such events as New York’s Excelsior Challenge.

Modeled after other real-world incidents that have recently occurred in Orlando, London, Paris, and Barcelona, the 3rd annual Excelsior Challenge, which was held last week, is a three-and-a half day event of exercises designed to help first responders gauge and sharpen their response capabilities.

According to Roger L. Parrino Sr., commissioner of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES), “The goal of the Excelsior Challenge is to enhance coordination and collaboration among bomb squads, explosive detection canine teams, and tactical teams.”

Considering the current threat environment, Parrino told Homeland Preparedness News it is vitally important for those teams to both train and work together. “The training at the Excelsior Challenge is challenging, cutting edge, and inspired by the most recent terrorist attacks here and across the globe,” he explained. “Our goal is to ensure that New York State’s first responders are prepared to safely and effectively respond to terrorism events.”

This year’s Excelsior Challenge included more than 100 participants on the local, state, and federal level.

And, although it’s an annual event, it’s never stagnant.

“The Excelsior Challenge continues to expand each year – we increase the number of participants, the training scenarios become more complex, and we make the event more realistic using additional role players and enhanced special effects,” Parrino said.

For the first time, this year’s gathering also included advanced technology, such as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), to help support response efforts. Participants could utilize drone footage of different venues to support their operational planning and response efforts at this training. “Putting the latest technology into the hands of our first responders enhanced the effectiveness and efficiency of their responses at Excelsior,” Parrino said.

The events are held at the State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC) in Oriskany, New York, and include such simulated settings as a collapsed building rubble pile, a residential housing complex, woodland structures, and even a simulated city.

This year, participants were also able to engage in a variety of new scenarios, such as a vehicle ramming attack, an attack in a mall, an attack on a crowded nightclub, and a response to a gang safe house.

Another addition this year: the University at Albany’s new College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (CEHC) participated in this year’s challenge. “Each day, nearly 30 CEHC students participated in this event, serving as support to the Instructional Team, and as role players, to enhance the realism of the scenarios,” he said.

Although the students served in support roles, Parrino noted the event was also beneficial to them. “They were able to better understand how to run a large-scale training event, see how first responders react to complex scenarios, and better understand training efforts at the SPTC.”

Excelsior Challenge is a major training event, but it is far from the only training opportunity. “The New York State DHSES provides training continuously at the SPTC for first responders across the state,” Parrino said. In fact, in just 2016, close to 16,000 responders were trained.

“We have a series of courses that are offered regularly, including Initial Response to Active Shooters and Advanced Active Shooters Scenario, in addition to special trainings and events like the Excelsior Challenge.”

And while law enforcement organizations make up the bulk of the students, members of the fire service, emergency medical services, and emergency managers are also trained on a regular basis.