Urban Environment Tactical Explosive Breaching Operations – Basic Course

Participant Expectation Guidelines

Tripwire’s Tactical Explosive Breaching Operations Course is designed for eligible:

  • Military special operations and tactical law enforcement officers with, or without, previous explosives experience that currently have (or in the process of having) a tactical explosive breaching training course.
  • Military and law enforcement explosive technicians assigned to conduct explosive forced entry

*Only unit/agency-sponsored individuals with a specific “need to know” are eligible to attend this explosive breaching training course.

*Explosive breaching training course participants must sign an acknowledgement of risks and release of liability documentation.

*Eligibility to participate in this explosive breaching training course is based on volunteer participation by the qualified individual.

Specific Tactical Explosive Entry School Learning Topics

  • Explosive breaching training course program policies and procedures related to the unit’s/agency’s mission statement
  • Tactical situations justifying and requiring explosive entry and supported by written policy
  •  Explosive law and compliance requirements
  •  Explosive safety and handling procedures (administrative and tactical) specifically for the tactical explosive breaching discipline
  •  Duties and responsibilities of the breacher team
  •  Theory and explosive material properties, terminology for general understanding and related to detonations in the urban environment for this tactical explosive discipline
  •  Understanding of potential hazards created by detonations in the urban environment damaging to humans and property (causes and reduction/mitigation procedures)
  •  Explosive materials and related tools used during tactical explosive breaching operations
  •  Charge construction, design, net explosive weight calculations and related documentation (Understanding design and material failure without using commercial products)
  •  Data base collection procedures, documentation for charge strength and configuration related to various breach points on actual structures (doors, windows, walls and roofs)
  •  Prediction of all related hazards and protective actions for mission essential personnel, public, suspects, victims and property for each detonation
  •  Tactical firing system construction, operational application, misfire emergency situation response and recovery procedures
  •  Mission planning, briefing, performance and post operation protocols
  •  Mission-related tactics and hazards, misfires and entry denial 

Participant Expectations and Conditions (This is not an “Attend and Pass” Course)

This Basic Explosive Breaching Training Course requires each participant to perform the following tasks prior for pre-qualification to take the final written examination and successfully complete this Course:

  • Explosive breaching training course participants must sign an acknowledgement of risks and release of liability documentation
  • Willingness to handle explosives and work in an explosives environment, as required by the explosive breaching training course
  • Responsible for daily private/agency transportation to/from various training sites as required by the course curriculum and explosive worksite structure(s) location(s)
  • No formal lunch/meal breaks during fieldwork on Wednesday through Friday
  • Dedicated full dress tactical application scenarios
  • Willingness to participate in explosive tactical entries of structures under adverse conditions and environments
  • Must successfully complete three (3) open book homework assignments (approx. two hours for each assignment)
  • Must successfully pass the final written examination (80% or higher)
  • Failure to successfully complete all written assignments or perform tasks as required, participant will be removed from the explosive breaching training course

Participant Equipment List

Each participant is required to provide the following items and equipment for Tripwire’s Explosive Breaching Training Course:

  • Full tactical explosive breaching equipment and all personal protection items (body armor, boots, tactical uniform with long sleeves and pant legs, ballistic helmet, ballistic projectile eye and ear protection, knee and elbow pads, groin cup, Nomex or other fire resistant hood/head/face cover and tactical gloves)
  • Respiratory protection, particulate type mask or better for working in dust and debris producing environments
  • Note taking material (note pad, pen, pencils, etc.)
  • 6-inch (15 cm) radius drafting compass

5-Day Schedule

DAY ONE Classroom

  • 0800 – 0830: Personnel and Program Introductions, Administrative Requirements
  • 0830 – 1000: Introduction to Tactical Explosive Applications and Urban Detonations
    • Historical Tactical Explosive Entry Discipline Review
    • Justification of the Tactical Explosive Breaching Program, Policies, Liability and Defense
    • Explosive Laws and Compliance Requirements
    • Enhancing Subject Matter Expertise Process
  • 1000 – 1200: Introduction to Explosives and Application in Urban Environments
    • Terminology and Explosive Work
    • Explosive Hazards created in Urban Environments
    • Hazard Identification, Mitigation and Reduction
  • 1200 – 1300: Lunch
  • 1300 – 1500: Introduction to Explosives and Application in Urban Environments (Continued)
  • 1500 – 1700: Explosive Equations, Use, Limitations and Legal Requirements
    • Explosive Equation History and Purposes
    • Calculating Net Explosive Weight
    • Relative Effectiveness and Importance
    • Property Damage Equation for External Detonations
    • Incident Overpressure Plotting Diagrams, Legal Requirements
    • Standard and Metric Systems
  • 1700: Assign Homework #1

DAY TWO Classroom

  • 0800 – 0830: Homework #1 Review
  • 0830 – 1200: Explosive Equations (Continued)
    • Complete the External Detonation Equations and Overpressure Diagrams
    • Review the Internal Overpressure Equation (Validate Uselessness)
  • 1200 – 1300: Lunch
  • 1300 – 1700: Explosive Charge Design and Applications
    • Common Explosive Materials and Characteristics
    • Detonation System Materials and Characteristics
    • Material Failure and Breach Point Defeat
    • Charge Configurations and Applications
    • Tactical Applications and Review Hazard Potential
  • 1700: Assign Homework #2

DAY THREE Practical Application (No Formal Meal Break)

  • 0800 – 0830: Review Homework #2
  • 0830 – 0900: Establish the Work Area
    • Conduct the Safety Brief
  • 0830 – 1000: Tactical Firing Systems
    • Shock Tube and Non-Electric Detonators Characteristics
    • Review Dual Mechanical Shock Tube Initiators
    • Tactical Firing System Assembly
  • 1000 – 1800: Conduct Tactical Explosive Entries
    • Assign Breach Points, Detonation Sequence and Responsibilities
    • Full Written, Video and Photographic Documentation
  • 1800: Assign Homework #3

DAY FOUR Practical Application (No Formal Meal Break)

  • 0800 – 0830: Review Homework #3
  • 0830 – 0900: Establish the Work Area
    • Conduct the Safety Brief
  • 0830 – 1800: Conduct Tactical Explosive Entries
    • Assign Breach Points, Detonation Sequence and Responsibilities
    • Tactical Applications through Walls
    • Tactical Misfire and Entry Denial Procedures
    • Final Written Exam Review
  • 1800: Debrief

DAY FIVE Practical Application (No Formal Meal Break)

  • 0800 – 0830: Establish the Work Area
    • Conduct the Safety Brief
  • 0830 – 1000: Conduct Tactical Explosive Entries
    • Assign Breach Points, Detonation Sequence and Responsibilities
    • Full Documentation
    • Tactical Applications
  • 1000 – 1500: Conduct and Review Final Written Exam
    • Pass/No Pass Criteria
  • 1500 – 1600: Debrief/ Course Closing
    • Review the Lessons Learned during the Training
    • Review Implementation of Experiences into Current Tactics
    • Review the Documents and Handouts supporting the Tactical Explosive Breaching Program