• How It Works

    What We Provide

    • Lodging
    • Meals or reimbursement
    • Evidence collection supplies
    • Explosives and disruptor ammunition
    • Disposable disruption tools
      (MWB, Hydro Jet, Stingray, Alford Tools)

    You will be provided detailed reporting instructions 30 days prior to the exercise with the exact time and location to report.

    Military EOD funding for per diem, lodging and meals, is through your HQ.

    What You Need to Bring

    • Bomb truck
    • Response gear
      (bomb suit, hook and line, disruptor, robot, demo kit etc.)
    • X-ray

    Individuals or teams with limited equipment should contact us to coordinate support or merger with another individual or team.

    Check out our FAQS page to review questions from previous participants.

    Go to FAQs

    Readiness Starts Before Arrival

    To expedite registration and fully benefit from the exercise experience, please obtain a BATS account and set-up mBATS (Training) prior to arriving.

    Before arriving at Raven’s Challenge register at www.bats.gov (recommend at least two weeks prior to event). For questions to the USBDC team or Nicole Hollingsworth, please call 256-261-7587.

    Joint Team Operations

    Public Safety Bomb Squads (PSBSs) and Military Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units will be combined into joint teams. Teams will face challenging, scenario-based exercises with minimal simulation and realistic targets on live-fire ranges — requiring both teams to work together toward the shared goal of defeating the device.

    Info sharing & Investigation

    Info Sharing & Investigation
    Teams are expected to communicate with the Bomb Management Center, share critical information, and contribute to investigative leads through accurate identification and preservation of key evidence. This
    is a core part of the exercise’s information-sharing objectives.

    System Access & Tools

    During Raven’s Challenge, participants will utilize the Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS) and Mobile BATS (mBATS).

    Both military EOD and public safety bomb technicians are eligible for
    BATS and mBATS accounts.