Law Enforcement Mountain Operations School

International Association of Chiefs of Police 2015LEMOS

Learning Objectives:1. Operations in austere rural environments require new

officer safety focus on weather, environment and mission with emphases on officer preparedness and tactical wilderness medicine.

2. Additional training is necessary to equip many officers assigned to areas where operation in austere rural environments is possible with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitude to incorporate appropriate officer safety focus and response.

3. The Law Enforcement Mountain Operations School has developed and demonstrated an effective approach to providing training to enhance officer safety knowledge, skills and attitude for operations in austere rural areas.

Law EnforcementMountain Operations SchoolNovember 2004 – Canadian Team on

IBET operation becomes stranded in deep snow.

December 14 – JMT identifies lack of cold weather operations training as significant problem and launches training project.

January 25, 2005 – JMT approves LEMOS

LEMOS Project

Identify training needs – specific skillsIdentify potential instructors from the

IBET RegionDevelop Basic Mountain Operations

CourseConduct pilot class/curriculum

develop conferenceDevelop training manual, checklists

and suggested equipment lists

PRIMARY SPONSORS 2015

LEMOSMISSION

To coordinate a multi-agency partnership to provide specialized law enforcement training and support in furtherance of the

mission, goals and objectives of the American/Canadian integrated border

enforcement initiatives.

Law Enforcement Mountain Operations School

Core Principles

Prevention: Planning, Preparation, Proficiency, Judgment

Awareness: Knowledge, Experience, Observation, Adaptation

Attitude: Confidence, Improvisation, Determination, Courage

GO FAR – GO SAFE – GO HOME

Basic Mountain Operations Course

BMOC

2005-2015 – 22 Classes

502 Graduates

38 Agencies

74 Cadre Members

Administration and Introduction - 2 hours

Mountain Operations - 14 hours

Survival – 10 hours

Field Craft & Tactics – 5 hours

Wilderness Tactical Medicine – 10 hours

Land Navigation – 12 hours

Final Practical Exercise – 6 hours

Review, Debrief and Evaluation – 1 hour

BMOC Outline – 60 hours

Administration & Welcome

Check – InIntroduction & LogisticsSafetyGear Dump

Mountain Operations

Basic Principles Avalanche SafetyWeaponsWinter Travel

Survival

Bushcraft BasicsFire and Shelter Day/Night Exercises

“Living Large”

Field Craft & Tactics

Cover/Concealment Individual/Team

Movement Patrolling Planning Leave No Trace Exercises

Land Navigation

MapsCompassGPSExercises

Wilderness Tactical Medicine

Tactical Combat Casualty Care

Review of BasicsCold Injury &

PreventionTrauma

ManagementSelf Aid/Buddy

Care Casualty

Movement

Other Training

Wilderness Operations 7 hour awareness level course.

LEMOS North (Canada)6 Day winter operations & skills training

Long Range Recon & Surveillance6 Day Tactical operations course

KEY FINDINGS

Generation X LEOs are less experienced than older generations.

Personnel are undertrained for wilderness operations.

Uniforms are generally poorly suited for winter/mountain operations.

Personnel preparedness mindset is lacking.

LEMOS graduates would like additional and or advanced training.

KEY FINDINGS 2

LEMOS graduates have attributed skills learned in the BMOC to successful and safe operations.

Wilderness operations skills are perishable and require on going practice and training.

Medical training – TC3 is becoming much more common and skill level has improved significantly.

LEMOS Future

LEMOS funding shifted to tuition based in 2013. Tuition is be adjusted based on costs.

Partner agencies continue a high level of support – CADRE.

Requests for BMOC slots are 2 to 1 without advertising course.

Project management to transition to WSU-DGSS in 2016

LEMOS Future 2

Priest Lake training site is secure for immediate future.

Additional training venues are being explored – WA State Fire Academy.

LEMOS can continue to provide technical assistance to allied courses.

Steven R. Tomson, Chief

Michael J. Gaffney, Deputy Chief

Keep your powder dry!

Go Far – Go Safe – Go HomeThank You !

Steve Tomson steven.tomson@usdoj.gov

Mike Gaffneymjgaffney@wsu.edu