The Ambulance Strike Team / Medical Task Force (AST/MTF) Program is part of California’s statewide disaster medical response system and is administered by the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) Disaster Medical Services Division.

The AST/MTF Program operates in coordination with other state disaster medical response programs, including the California Medical Assistance Teams (CAL-MAT), Mobile Field Hospitals, Disaster Healthcare Volunteers, and the Mission Support Team Program.

Ambulance Strike Teams

An Ambulance Strike Team consists of five ALS ambulances, with two personnel per unit, and one Ambulance Strike Team Leader (ASTL) operating in a separate command vehicle.

Ambulance Strike Teams are designed to deploy anywhere within the state and are self-sufficient for up to 72 hours. These teams provide emergency medical services support during disasters and other large-scale incidents. Their primary mission is patient transportation.

Depending on incident needs, Ambulance Strike Teams and Medical Task Forces may also support:

• Medical and health operations at shelters and evacuation sites
• First aid and medical support at incident command posts
• Operations at Mobile Field Hospitals and alternate care sites
• Coordination with CAL-MAT, fire agencies, public health, and other response partners

Ambulance Strike Teams and Medical Task Forces operate within the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS).

Ambulance Strike Team Leader Training

EMSA coordinates Ambulance Strike Team Leader training to prepare qualified emergency medical services personnel for leadership roles within the AST Program.

Training opportunities include:

• Ambulance Strike Team Leader Initial (ASTL 2.0)
• Advanced Ambulance Strike Team Leader Training

Information on upcoming training courses, including dates, locations, and registration details, is available on the EMSA Disaster Training calendar:

https://emsa.ca.gov/disaster-training/
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Program Contact

For questions regarding the State Ambulance Strike Team / Medical Task Force Program, including training or program requirements, contact:

asttraining@emsa.ca.gov

Associated Documents

• Ambulance Strike Team State Reimbursement Schedule, Update 03/12/25 (pdf)
• ASTL LEMSA Review, Update 1/29/26 (pdf)
• ASTL Initial Qualification, Update 1/29/26 (pdf)
• ASTL Renewal Qualification, Update 1/29/26 (pdf)
• ASTL EMSA Deployment Roster, Update 1/29/26 (pdf)
• ASTL Numbering Guide, Update 06/09/25 (pdf)
• ASTL Advanced Supervisor Approval Form, Update 1/29/26 (pdf)
• ASTL Position Task Book (PTB), Update 03/12/25 (pdf)
• Ambulance Strike Team Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Update 05/04/2024 (pdf)
• STD 204 – Payee Data Record EMSA, Update 05/04/2024 (pdf)

Updated: 02/02/2026