No cost for registration, lodging or meals during the exercise. Squads are required to pay for fuel, tolls and other incidental costs for travel to and from the venue.

Yes, ATF provides lodging for participants. Lodging is contracted through a local hotel or military lodging facility. ATF pays for the lodging. Participants are responsible for any damages or incidental charges incurred (room service, laundry, etc.)

Yes. ATF will provide contract meals or ATF will reimburse PSBS participants at the location per diem rates. Voucher information is provided as part of registration.

2-3 person team is desired. Your team will be paired with a 2-3 person Military EOD team. Team sizes of 4 or more have seen degraded training opportunities in the past.

A full compliment of IED response gear is preferred: Bomb suits, disrupters, X-ray, robotics, Hook and Line kits, Hand entry kits, and demo kits. Any equipment shortages should be coordinated with Raven’s Challenge staff on the “contact us” email.

Coordinating instruction are sent out 30-45 days prior to the venue.

EDC are discouraged as there are no explosives other than tools that are used, therefore no odors for them to detect. The focus of the training is tactical EOD operations. If you must bring your EDC for training purposes, please advise us when you register so that we can ensure you get a room that allows K-9s.

No, ATF provides all explosives, PAN ammo and special purpose tools for the exercise.

Military registration is completed through your higher headquarters. Contact your higher Headquarters or refer to the “contact us” page of this site.

Yes, ATF provides lodging for participants. Lodging is contracted through a local hotel or military lodging facility. ATF pays for the lodging. Participants are responsible for any damages or incidental charges incurred (room service, laundry, etc.)

Military units are required to be on per diem for meals. ATF occasionally provides contract meals and this will be deducted on your DTS voucher.

No, ATF provides all explosives, PAN ammo and special purpose tools for the exercise.

No, military weapons and personally owned weapons are not authorized.

Yes, AN/PLT-4 and PLT-5, Dongle for PLT-4, AEODPS, CREW Reference CD, and Classified laptops with admin rights is needed. You will have the opportunity to operate CREW in a live environment.

Yes, GSA approved classified storage will be available to the teams.

A fully compliment of IED response gear is preferred: Bomb suits, disrupters, X-ray, robotics, Hook and Line kits, Hand entry kits, demo kits and personal protective gear. Any equipment shortages should be coordinated with Raven’s Challenge staff on the “contact us” email.

Any vehicle capable of supporting you and your equipment; rental vehicle, GSA vehicle, or tactical vehicle. The distance to the venue and team sizes should dictate your choice.

Coordinating instruction are sent out 30-45 days prior to the venue.

OCs are approved by the Program Manager. Send request to PM to help@psbseod.com

Attended a Raven’s Challenge event as a participant or a Senior Technician in a supervisory role.

ATF will reimburse OCs for lodging. Lodging instruction will be provided in orders 30-45 prior to the venue start date.

ATF will provide contract meals or ATF will reimburse OCs at the location per diem rates. Voucher information is provided 30-45 prior to venue start date.

Wet weather and cold weather gear, foot gear, eye protection, hearing protection, multipurpose tool and/or knife, and reference guide (team book).

Contact your higher headquarters to be registered as an OC.

Senior technician in a supervisor role (E-7 or above). Master badge is preferred.

No, Military OCs are unit funded. ATF will send lodging options 30-45 prior to the venue start date.

No, Military OCS are unit funded. Full per diem is required on orders.

Wet weather and cold weather gear, foot gear, eye protection, hearing protection, multipurpose tool and/or knife, and reference guide (team book).

No, cost for registration, lodging or meals during the exercise. International teams are responsible for travel to the US and any rental vehicles used during the exercise.

Yes, ATF provides lodging for participants. Lodging is contracted through a local hotel or military lodging facility. ATF pays for the lodging. Participants are responsible for any damages or incidental charges incurred (room service, laundry, etc.)

Yes. ATF will provide contract meals or ATF will reimburse PSBS participants at the location per diem rates. Voucher information is provided as part of registration.

No, ATF provides all explosives, PAN ammo and special purpose tools for the exercise.

2-3 person team is desired. Your team will be paired with a 2-3 person Military EOD team. Team sizes of 4 or more have seen degraded training opportunities in the past.

Do to the challenge of shipping EOD equipment overseas, ATF has some loan equipment for international partners. Any IED response gear that can be brought on the flight will help the experience. Any equipment shortages should be coordinated with Raven’s Challenge staff on the “contact us” email.

Coordinating instruction are sent out 30-45 days prior to the venue.

Travel to a U.S. Military installation requires a Foreign Visitor Request (FVR) submitted through your embassy. FVR requirement can be obtained by contacting your Raven’s Challenge point of contact or the “contact us” email address.

• International participants must have attended a certifying EOD/HDS school and be able to document attendance.
• At least one participant per team must be fluent in English in order to communicate effectively with partner team. Use of non-EOD translators is not authorized.
• Complete vetting and foreign visitor request 30 days prior to the exercise. Contact Jason Locey at Jason.locey@atf.gov for current policies on vetting and visitor requests.

Contact the Program Manager, Greg Smith, Greg.W.Smith@usdoj.gov

No, observer must be fully funded. Observer are responsible for their own lodging, meals and transportation.

Register on www.psbseod.com as an observer and the information will be sent to you 30-45 days prior to the venue execution date.

Raven’s Challenge leadership, staff and participants all understand and greatly appreciate the advances in protection, detection and IED defeat that our technology partners have provided to our community. Partnership, training, and networking, with our technology partners, is vital to staying relevant and properly equipped for future threats. Unfortunately, Raven’s Challenge is not adequately equipped to properly support Technology partners at this time.

Technology Partners and vendors are not allowed at the Raven’s Challenge Exercise venues due to the dynamic live-fire, high OPTEMPO, tactical operating environment that the exercise consists of. Participating teams are expected to arrive at Raven’s Challenge trained with their assigned operational equipment, in order to, demonstrate and collaborate with their partner teams to develop a plan of action during a realistic tactical live-fire scenario.