RCTA Anti-Terrorism Training

The Congressionally Selected Awards Program, authorized by the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-8), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects selected by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-8, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 09 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

The Mississippi Military Department will use the FY 2009 Congressionally Selected Award for the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy (RCTA) to provide terrorism prevention and response training for local law enforcement and first responders. Grant funds will allow RCTA to develop, conduct, and evaluate training and to support all training requirements in support of the following goals: to provide education on terrorism, terrorists, and their general methods of operation to various elements of the law enforcement community across the Southeastern US; to prepare law enforcement and first responders to effectively recognize, react to, and report indicators of terrorism/criminal extremism; to increase law enforcement and first responders' survivability chances in a terrorist or Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) event; and to expand no-cost anti-terrorism opportunities to first responders and law enforcement agencies throughout the Southeastern U.S. Planned courses are: Clandestine Laboratory and Weapons of Mass Destruction Safety Certification Course; OSHA Recertification/Site Safety Supervisor Certification Course; and First In Response, Securing Terrorist Situations (FIRSTS) Course.

NCA/NCF