By Marsha Halteman

Group photo with the head of the Israel National Police Bomb Unit, Commander Natan (at center).In October 2009, JINSA sponsored the National Bomb Squad Commanders Advisory Board (NBSCAB) for an intensive program in Israel.

All of JINSA's LEEP trips to Israel have been tremendously valuable for the participants. The law enforcement officials who have traveled with JINSA have repeatedly expressed this judgment. This particular trip, however, was unique. The NBSCAB organization represents over 400 individual police bomb squads across this country. Those organizations have vastly different capabilities and resources. Like all law enforcement functions in the U.S., bomb squads operate as independent entities and coordination among them is difficult and cumbersome. NBSCAB, therefore, plays a vital role in developing their capabilities and providing them with useful information, as well as advocating on their behalf at the national level and serving as the national "address" for these vital first responders.

In taking this group to Israel, JINSA has enhanced the capabilities of law enforcement organizations across this country to deal with one of the most important elements of counter terrorism. And, of course, they learned it from the masters. As they interacted with their Israeli counterparts, the leaders of NBSCAB learned lessons that they will share with all of their members. Participants engage in a session on post blast investigation and forensics techniques.Their interest in what they saw and excitement in learning from the Israeli experience was obvious throughout the course of the week. Once again, JINSA has played an important role in enhancing the national security interests of the United States.

In addition to the NBSCAB Board, group participants included commanders from several U.S. Police/Sheriff Departments, the Department of Homeland Security's Director of the Office for Bombing Prevention and the Director of the FBI's Hazardous Devices Center.

The seven-day program was hosted and conducted in cooperation with the Israeli National Police (INP) and in particular the INP Bomb Squad. Experts from other Israeli counter terrorism agencies also contributed to the program. Traveling with the group were the developers of the JINSA LEEP program Steven Pomerantz, JINSA Associate Director, and Marsha Halteman, as well as Brig. General Effi Tibi, the Law Enforcement Attache at the Embassy of Israel in Washington, DC, Karen Avra of the JINSA Board of Directors and Anita Winsor from the William H. Donner Foundation. The Donner Foundation was the primary underwriter of this program.

The Mission of the National Bomb Squad Commanders Advisory Board is:

1. To act in a leadership role for the national bomb squad community, providing guidance and advice on important issues.

2. The Board acts as the liaison to the many federal agencies who are involved in issues related to state and local bomb squads.

3. To promote initiatives to improve bomb squad tactics, techniques, procedures, training and equipment.

4. The Board provides input and direction toward research and development programs affecting the bomb technician profession.

5. The Board is charged with the responsibility to set guidelines and standards for the bomb squad community through its role as the elected representatives for state and local bomb squads.

LEEP was established by JINSA in 2002 to strengthen American law enforcement counterterrorism practices by facilitating dialogue with and studying techniques used by their Israeli counterparts.

To date more then 11,000 Americans from the law enforcement community have attended nationwide LEEP conferences. Over 100 law enforcement executives on the Federal, State and local level have traveled to Israel for a LEEP program and is viewed within the law enforcement community as a highly valued training program.

In 2008, the world's largest police organization, The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), honored the Israel National Police during the IACP's 115th annual conference held November 8-12 in San Diego, Calif. The presentation took place during a luncheon sponsored by JINSA. Since 2002, the majority of the IACP's leadership has traveled to Israel with LEEP.

For further information about LEEP Click here.

--Marsha Halteman is JINSA's Director for Law Enforcement and Military Programs.

Program participants examine the latest Israeli bomb squad robots that include technology not yet available outside of Israel. Time was also spent learning about the Israeli approach to Research and Development and budget priorities.