Mission Radio Operator Skills and Requirements

1. Mission Radio OperatorSkills and Requirements Developed as part of the National Emergency Services Curriculum Project

2. What’s the role of the Mission Radio Operator • Mission Base Communications • Communications support in the Field • Relay sites • Staging Areas • Equipment installation support

3. Basic Procedures • Mission Radio Operators need to be familiar with the CAP‘s basic communications policies and practices • Basic Radio Operations • PTT • RTL • Prowords and Callsigns • The basics of the Radiotelephone Procedures Guide

4. Advanced Procedures • Mission Related Skills that allow our personnel to send new instructions, report mission information and track personnel adding a higher level of safety • Updating a Status Board • Knowledge of the local equipment available • Handling urgency signals and emergency traffic • And other procedures to support the mission

5. What frequencies to use? • Simplex Operations • Duplex Operations • HF Operations • Other agencies frequencies • Check your local operating procedures and emergency plans before the incident

6. Message Handling • Formal vs. Informal Traffic • Message Precedences • Message Forms & Distribution • Communications Unit Log

7. Choosing a Good Communications Site • High Ground • Line of Sight • Accessibility • Sources of Radio Interference

8. Regaining Communications • Check the Radio • Move to Higher Ground • Have you tried Duplex? • Have you tried Relays? • If necessary or mobile - Move? • Don’t forget about the telephone

9. Scheduled Radio Checks • When? • As briefed • When completing sortie actions • Departure and returning to Incident Base • Entering and Leaving Assigned Search or Disaster Areas • Any extended stop - like meal or fuel breaks • As prudent Judgement Suggests

10. Scheduled Radio Checks Continued • Before Calling In at the time required, determine at minimum: • Your location • Your Status • Anything you will need from the station you are calling

11. Scheduled Radio Checks Continued • When making your radio check give: • The time of the radio check if being relayed or it was delayed • The team’s location • The team’s status • Don’t be afraid to ask for a confirmation and read-back of critical messages

12. Send a Position Report • When assigned to support a team in the field, aircrew or ground team, it will probably be necessary for you to report your location. • Know where you are, not only coordinates but also land marks • Transmit your location clearly and calmly • Confirm the location received your transmission properly by requesting a read back

13. Reporting a Clue or a Find • When supporting a team in the field it may be necessary for you to transmit the location or descriptions of a clue or find • Know the location of the clue or find • Know the conditions of survivors or victims • Be sure to have a clear picture of what is happening on scene • Establish good communications - move if necessary

14. Reporting a Clue or Find Continued • Follow the report format found in the task guide • Avoid speculation - no guessing • Avoid inflammatory or unclear descriptions • Don’t be afraid to use other forms of communications like cell phones - radio isn’t the only way

15. Safety Procedures • Do your best to provide a safe environment for you and the personnel around you • Lightning protection • Routing, Securing and Marking Cables and Wires as necessary • Placing antennas so as to avoid RF exposure and EMI • Ground your communications systems

16. ICS Form 213 General Message

17. ICS Form 214 Unit Log

18. Mission Radio Operator Tasks • L-0001: Basic Communications Procedures for ES Operations • L-0002: Perform Radio Operating Procedures • L-0003: Employ Appropriate Radio Frequencies and Repeaters • L-0004: Message Handling Procedures • L-0005: Choose a Good Communications Site

19. Mission Radio Operator Tasks Continued • L-0006: Take Steps to Regain Communications • L-0007: Conduct Scheduled Radio Checks • L-0008: Send a Position Report • L-0009: Report a Clue or Find • L-0010: Communications Safety Procedures

20. QUESTIONS? THINK SAFETY