Once again, with the financial support from the Bay Area Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and our generous supporters we are very proud that Urban Shield has received national recognition as a valuable tactical training exercise. Urban Shield is a test of our capabilities and performance-based field tactical training and exercise program. It incorporates guiding principles from The National Response Framework (NRF) to assist tactical teams, as well as all first responders, to prepare for and provide a unified response to disasters and major emergencies. Urban Shield supports organizations in achieving objective assessments of their capabilities so that strengths and areas for improvement are identified.

This year’s exercise is designed to strengthen each agency’s preparedness to respond to threats or actual domestic terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies. Incorporating many Law Enforcement, Fire,& EMS teams including first-responder agencies, it is geared toward developing mechanisms for improved delivery of service to our communities. One of our many goals is to bolster coordination efforts between local, state and federal entities. This event is structured to improve regional disaster response capabilities and provide a platform for first responders, both nationally and internationally, to work effectively together.

Urban Shield 2010 will challenge the skills and physical capabilities, along with testing knowledge and abilities, of all who participate. Comprised of numerous Tier 1 Critical Infrastructure sites, as well as identified high value targets and/or problem areas within the greater San Francisco Bay Area, this 50 plus hour, non-stop exercise will engage “head on” real life scenarios that address emerging future threats.

Through the generosity of many of its sponsors, Urban Shield will be providing state-of-the-art technology and equipment to those participating. This will augment the participant’s agency issued equipment that will be put to use in each scenario. This process will allow agencies to assess overall tactical skills while testing emergency equipment which we currently utilize to execute our first-responder missions.

In an ever-changing world of uncertainty, it is critical that we continue to expand regional collaboration and preparedness levels for all first responders. Testing our abilities over a broad spectrum of disciplines and scenarios within the confines of a coordinated training venue, we will be better prepared to address strategic, operational, technical and tactical changes.

Please join us in this challenging and rewarding effort. The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office is proud to host this unique training exercise again this year.

Gregory J. Ahern, Sheriff
Alameda County