Which type of exercise involves multiple agencies and is the most resource-intensive?

A Full Scale Exercise (FSE) is designed to simulate real-world operations as closely as possible, involving multiple agencies and organizations working together in a comprehensive response to a scenario. This type of exercise typically includes personnel, equipment, and facilities in a realistic environment, making it highly resource-intensive.

FSEs require significant coordination and planning to ensure that all participating entities can operate effectively together, often involving various operational components such as emergency services, hospitals, and local governments. Resources used in FSEs can include actual emergency equipment, communications systems, and other forms of logistical support, which is why they are considered the most resource-intensive type of exercise.

Functional Exercises and tabletop exercises, while useful, generally do not require the same level of resource commitment. Functional exercises focus on specific functions of an agency with some role-players, while tabletop exercises are primarily discussion-based, focusing on coordinated planning and decision-making without physical deployment of resources. Games serve as informal training tools and do not mirror the complexity and resource demands of an FSE.

Thus, the necessity for extensive preparation, realistic replication of emergency conditions, and collaboration among various agencies all contribute to why Full Scale Exercises are recognized as the most resource-intensive type of exercise.