Task forces are expected to conduct exercises to maintain readiness using a variety of techniques:

Deployment Exercise – a dynamic exercise taking place over multiple operational periods (12+ hours); typically lasting 24 to 72 hours. Generally, such an exercise will be outdoors in various weather environments using collapsed structures, rubble piles, realistic training scenarios (problem injects), and props (e.g. communication systems). It will also involve use of the task force’s equipment cache and transportation assets, involve search and rescue operations, and measure response times from activation until departure. It may involve setting up a Base of Operations or require use of a Type 1 task force in a collapsed-structure urban environment, or a Type 3 task force in a weather-related exercise. A task force should notify the US&R Branch of a mobilization or full-scale exercise as soon as the exercise is scheduled, but not later than 60 days before the exercise begins. This exercise will frequently involve interaction with local, state and regional incident management authorities. Upon completion of the exercise an After-Action Report/Improvement Plan (AAR/IP) is completed and sent to the US&R Branch according to the US&R Statement of Work.

Modular Exercise – a limited exercise, usually one operational period (12 hours), designed to evaluate the ability of the task force to complete tasks associated with one of the following typical task force operational stages 1) mobilize, 2) transportation of personnel and cache, 3) establish a BoO, 4) onsite operations, 5) demobilization. Each module has equal scoring coefficient.