The National Exercise Program (NEP), a four-year cycle of exercises, is the primary national-level mechanism for validating national preparedness. As part of the National Preparedness System, the NEP is a key component in developing a culture of preparedness, empowering communities, and promoting resilience against threats and hazards Americans face.
How to Request Exercise Support
To request exercise support, please email the National Exercise Program to express your interest in support.
Please use “2023 Exercise Support Request” in the subject line of your email. Program staff will schedule a call with you to learn more about your exercise.
Email the Program
The National Exercise Division (NED) accepts exercise support requests once each year. Support request submissions are only reviewed after the submission deadline. The exercise support round deadlines and acceptance notification dates are subject to change.
| Exercise Support Round | Submission Deadline | Acceptance Notifications |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Round | June 1, 2023, 11:59 pm EDT | August 22, 2023, 11:59 pm EDT |
| 2024 Round* | June 1, 2024, 11:59 pm EDT | August 22, 2024, 11:59 pm EDT |
| 2025 Round* | June 1, 2025, 11:59 pm EDT | August 22, 2025, 11:59 pm EDT |
* 2024 and 2025 dates are subject to change.
National Exercise Program (NEP) Exercise Support Requests will now be accepted once per year.
NEP WEBINARS
FEMA hosted a series of webinars to provide information on the exercise support process. View the recording.
How NED Exercise Support Works
State, local, tribal, territorial (SLTT) and other whole community partners can receive technical assistance and support for exercises at no cost from expert exercise specialists in the NED.
Support will be tailored to the needs of the partner and can include assistance with exercise planning, design, scenario development, conduct, and evaluation in the form of subject-matter expertise, material production, and/or facilitation for exercises.
Pre-decisional scoping calls will be held for each support request submitted. During these calls, a NED Exercise Program Manager will review the support request with the sponsor to better understand what support is requested.
Support is only provided for exercises that have not begun their planning processes.
National Exercise Program staff are available to answer your specific exercise support request questions.
Write to NEP@fema.dhs.gov and include “2023 Exercise Support Question” in the subject line. Program staff will be in contact answer your question and send you an invite to our weekly online office hours.
Eligibility Requirements and Regional Exercise Officers
Please see the following links for eligibility requirements, as well as the list of FEMA Regional Exercise Officers.
Eligibility Requirements
FEMA Regional Exercise Officers