Student and Supervisor Training Validation Surveys

Letter for Level III, Student Survey
Thank you for attending the ATF Explosives Detection Canine Handler course. The
Office of Human Resources and Professional Development (HRPD) is committed to
excellence and providing current and effective training. Your feedback about
the effectiveness of the training to prepare you for your job duties is very important to us.
Please provide us with information about your training experience by completing this
survey, which will take about 10 minutes to complete. Your responses and comments
will be used to evaluate the training and make updates on the course so that it continues
to meet your needs.
Organization
This survey is organized into two parts. The first consists of general generic questions
that are used in all ATF training surveys so that we can compare responses to other
courses offered by the Bureau. The second part consists of course specific questions.
Please take the time to respond to both parts.
Navigation
The Next button below will advance you to additional pages in the survey. Please be sure
of your responses before you select Next, as the survey program will save your responses
and you will not be able to go back and change your answers. At the end of the survey,
you will be asked to select the Submit button at the bottom of the screen in order to
complete the survey and exit.
If you run short of time, the Save button will allow you to save your responses at any
point in the survey and return later. After you select Save, you will be provided with a
link that will return you to the survey. Be sure either to write it down or cut and paste the
link into a Word document for later use.
Instructions
Please rate each item on the following screens by selecting the option that best reflects
your response.
Privacy Act Information
This information is provided pursuant to Public Law 93-579 (Privacy Act of 1974)
December 31, 1974, relative to the collection of information from prospective students to
attend the ATF Training.

1. Authority. Title 38, U.S.C., §527; Title 29, U.S.C., §711; Title 31, U.S.C., §1115,
Executive Order 13540.
2. Purpose. To obtain information from Federal, State and local, military and
international law enforcement personnel completing training conducted by ATF for
the purpose of evaluating program effectiveness.
3. Routine Uses. Disclosure of evaluation results as collected data summaries will be
provided to ATF management and training staff in order to make decisions regarding
program improvement and the allocation of resources. Evaluation results will be
provided to external Federal government agencies on an as needed basis. Individual
personal data will be treated as law enforcement sensitive information and will be
protected in accordance to Title 5, U.S.C. §552. Individual responses to survey
questions will not be available upon request to the individual, to the individual's
parent agency, or to any other individual or agency as the system used to collect that
data does not store the information in a manner that an individual’s responses can be
retrieved.

(End of Page 1 )

Part 1
Pre-training
Please respond as appropriate to the following:
I knew very little about the course content before attending the course.
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




1 Strongly Disagree
2
3
4
5 Strongly Agree

Before the training, my supervisor discussed his or her expectations regarding how I will
use what I learned on the job.
 Yes
 No
 Not Applicable
Overall Opinion
Overall, my level of satisfaction with the training is the following:


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


1 Not Satisfied
2
3
4
5 Extremely Satisfied

(End of Page 2 )

Relevance
Using the rating scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being "Strongly Disagree" and 5 being
"Strongly Agree," please respond to the following:
The information I received in the training was consistent with information received on
the job.






1 Strongly Disagree
2
3
4
5 Strongly Agree

The training I received was valuable to my job.






1 Strongly Disagree
2
3
4
5 Strongly Agree

The handouts and/or reference materials provided during the training have been useful to
me on the job.







1 Strongly Disagree
2
3
4
5 Strongly Agree
Not Applicable

(End of Page 3 )

Handouts and Reference Materials
You disagreed that the handouts/reference materials provided during the training
were useful, please explain:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

(End of Page 4 )

Obstacles
Using the rating scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being "Strongly Disagree" and 5 being
"Strongly Agree," please respond to the following:
Since taking the training, the following issues, if any, have prevented me from applying
the knowledge and skills in my job:

Lack of proper equipment
Lack of funding
Lack of personnel
Different techniques followed in the field/office
Different policies and procedures are required
Lack of supervisory or management support
Lack of opportunity
Other

1
Strongly
Disagree
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
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2

3

4

5
Strongly
Agree
 
 
 
 
 
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 
 

If you selected "Lack of Opportunity" or "Other" in the above question, please explain:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

(End of Page 5 )

Results
Using the rating scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being "Strongly Disagree" and 5 being
"Strongly Agree," please respond to the following.
I feel confident I can apply what I learned in class to my job, even if I haven't had the
opportunity.






1 Strongly Disagree
2
3
4
5 Strongly Agree

I was able to increase my effectiveness on the job as a result of the training.







1 Strongly Disagree
2
3
4
5 Strongly Agree
Not Applicable

I have promoted new systems, practices, policies, or procedures as a result of what I
learned from the training (e.g., safety procedures, human resource management, mission
implementation, etc.).







1 Strongly Disagree
2
3
4
5 Strongly Agree
Not Applicable

(End of Page 6 )

Results
You indicated that you have promoted new systems, practices, policies, or procedures as
a result of what you learned from the training. Please describe.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

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Reinforcement
Using the rating scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being "Strongly Disagree" and 5 being
"Strongly Agree," please respond to the following:
My supervisor encourages me to use the new knowledge and skills I learned in the
training.







1 Strongly Disagree
2
3
4
5 Strongly Agree
Not Applicable

My supervisor acts as a coach and/or has assigned me a mentor to help apply the skills on
the job.







1 Strongly Disagree
2
3
4
5 Strongly Agree
Not Applicable

My supervisor gives me positive feedback when I successfully use the skills I learned on
the job.







1 Strongly Disagree
2
3
4
5 Strongly Agree
Not Applicable

(End of Page 8 )

Part 2
Use of ATF Explosives Detection Canine
Please respond as appropriate.
This is my first canine from ATF.
 Yes
 No, this was a replacement canine
I use my canine to conduct explosives searches:








Daily
3 to 4 Times Per Week
1 to 2 Times Per Week
2 to 3 Times Per Month
Once a Month
Once Every 2 Months
Less Than Once Every 2 Months

How frequently do you use your ATF explosives canine to conduct the following
searches?

Vehicle Searches
Warehouse Searches
Room Searches (Homes, Closets, Hotel Rooms,
Meeting Rooms)
Luggage or Box Searches
Mass Transit Searches (Planes, Trains, Buses)
Storage Facility Searches
School Searches
Open Field Searches
Wooded Area Searches
Venue Searches (Sporting Events, Theaters,
Concerts)
Firearms and Shell Casing Searches
Post Blast Explosives Materials Searches
Other

2

3

4

5
Very
Frequently

1
Not At
All
or
Rarely
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
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
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
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





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If you indicated "Other" in the question above, please briefly describe and list how
frequently the searches are
typically conducted.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

(End of Page 9 )

Canine Care
Please respond as appropriate.
The training effectively prepared me to provide the following canine care and health
related skills on the job:

Conduct basic canine health examinations
Identify possible canine diseases/illnesses
Identify possible canine parasites
Manage canine diet and weight
Provide canine ear and teeth care
Use appropriate canine restraint techniques for
examination, treatment, or first aid
Apply first aid for injuries, wounds, and bleeding
Apply first aid for fractures and breaks (to
include Immobilizing the canine and splinting)
My canine has had illnesses or injuries that required:







Minor First Aid
Major First Aid
Veterinarian Care for Illness
Surgery
Other Veterinarian Care
My canine has not had any illnesses or injuries.

(End of Page 10 )

1
Strongly
Disagree
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




2

3

4

5
Strongly
Agree
 
 
 
 
 
 




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Canine Care
Please respond as appropriate.
You indicated that your canine has had illnesses or injuries that required some level of
first aid or veterinarian care.
Please describe.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Since your training, how long has your canine been unavailable for duty due to illness or
injury?






Less Than 1 Day
1 to 2 Days
3 to 7 Days
8 to 30 Days
If more than 30 Days, please specify: ____________________

(End of Page 11 )

Canine Handling and Training
Please respond as appropriate.
The training effectively prepared me use the ATF canine training methodologies to
provide the following handling related skills on the job:

Reinforce explosives odor imprinting through
maintenance training
Use positive reinforcement through secondary
and primary rewards for desired behaviors
Effectively use leash control, commands, and
presentations to direct canines during searches
Provide remedial training to correct unwanted
behaviors
Recognize canine behavior indicating explosives
finds

1
2 3 4
5
Strongly
Strongly
Disagree
Agree
  
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

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

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

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



I am given time to provide maintenance training to my canine.






1 Strongly Disagree
2
3
4
5 Strongly Agree

I am supported by my department or supervisor in using the ATF canine handling and
training methodology.






1 Strongly Disagree
2
3
4
Strongly Agree

(End of Page 12 )

Canine Handling and Training
Please respond as appropriate.
You indicated that your department or supervisor does not support the ATF canine
handling and training methodology.
Please explain.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

(End of Page 13 )

Explosives Investigation, Materials, Devices and Storage
I feel confident in using my explosives canine to conduct searches of:

Vehicles
Warehouses
Rooms
Luggage and Boxes
Mass Transit (Planes, Trains, Buses)
Storage Facilities
Schools
Open Fields
Venues (Sporting Events, Theaters, Concerts)

1
Strongly
Disagree
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







2

3

4

5
Strongly
Agree
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I confident in my ability to modify my search to account for the effects of airflow on
explosives odors.






1 Strongly Disagree
2
3
4
5 Strongly Agree

The training was successful in preparing me to safely store and handle explosives
materials as appropriate to my duties and responsibilities as an explosives detection
canine handler.






1 Strongly Disagree
2
3
4
5 Strongly Agree

(End of Page 14 )

Explosives Investigations, Materials, Devices and Storage
Please respond as appropriate.
The training effectively prepared me to recognize the following categories of explosives:

Black and Smokeless Powders
Substitute Smokeless Powders
Quick Matches, Fuses, Primers & Blasting Caps
Pyrotechnic Mixtures (Flash Powders)
Dynamite, TNT, & Boosters
Plastic Explosives (C-4, RDX), Det Cord
(PETN), & Binary Explosives
Blasting Agents (AN, Water-gels, & Slurries)
Homemade Explosives (HME)

1
Strongly
Disagree









2

3

4

5
Strongly
Agree
 
 
 
 
 
 






The training effectively prepared me to recognize the following components of an
explosive device:
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly
Strongly
Disagree
Agree

  
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Power Sources

  
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Conductors (Electrical Wiring)

  
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Switches and Timers
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  

Initiators (Detonators)
  


Explosive Materials
Since receiving the ATF canine, the number of successful explosives related prosecutions
have increased by what percentage? (Use the slide bar to enter the percentage.)
Percentage ____________________
Since receiving the ATF explosives detection canine, the time required to conduct
searches for explosives, shell casings, or firearms has been reduced by what percentage.
(Use the slide bar to enter the percentage.)
Percentage: ____________________
(End of Page 15 )

Legal
Please respond as appropriate.
The training effectively prepared me to address the following in relation to my
responsibilities as a canine handler:

Pretrial preparation to provide testimony
Providing testimony regarding canine training
requirements and certification
Providing testimony on established search
methodologies
Identifying legal issues related to search and seizures

(End of Page 16 )

1
2 3 4
5
Strongly
Strongly
Disagree
Agree
  
  
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

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

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Overall Comments
Please provide any comments or recommendations you have regarding the course:
Thank You
Thank you for taking the time to provide us feedback. The results of the survey will be
used as a means for improving future training. Please select the Submit button below to
complete the survey.

(End of Page 17 )