Authored by John W. Desmarais Updated 09-Jul-2008 Modified by Lt Colonel Fred Blundell

1. Authored by John W. Desmarais Updated 09-Jul-2008 Modified by Lt Colonel Fred Blundell TX-129 Fort Worth Senior Squadron For Local Training Rev 5.0 03-Jan-2014

2. This Training Slide Show is a project undertaken by Lt Colonel Fred Blundell of the TX-129 Fort Worth Senior Squadron, Fort Worth, TX for local use to assist those CAP Members interested in advancing their skills. The information contained herein is for CAP Member’s personal use and is not intended to replace or be a substitute for any of the CAP National Training Programs. Users should review the presentation’s Revision Number at the end of each file name to ensure that they have the most current publication.

3. Introduction • The Mission Staff Assistant (MSA) is an entry-level job at mission base. • Completed General Emergency Services • 101T card for MSA • The MSA’s primary responsibility is administration, particularly processing mission personnel.

4. Introduction(Continued) • The MSA may also perform basic functions of other specialty areas: • Information Officer • Safety Officer • Planning • Logistics

5. Public Relations • Interact with the media or other interested bystanders. • Assist the Information Officer with the media or other interested bystanders. • If no Information Officer is present, meet the media/bystanders and assist them as much as possible without interfering with the mission until the IO or IC can be notified.

6. Public Relations(Continued) • Nothing is released without permission from the IC or IO • Direct reporters, family and bystanders to the IO (IC if no IO). • Never guess or speculate. Always follow-up. • “I don’t know” or “You need to ask the IO” – Not “I am not allowed to tell you.”

7. Coordinating Visits by Interested Parties • Assist the IC or IO in Coordinating Visits of the News Media • You may have to deal with the media or bystanders in the absence of an information officer. Do the best you can by following the guidelines in CAPR 60-3, and working with the incident commander and other key staff. • Don’t be afraid to refer visitors up the chain

8. Memoranda ofUnderstanding • CAP has many ES partner agencies. • American Red Cross • FEMA • National Weather Service • Other state, local, and service organizations • What is the Purpose of MOUs? • Outlines how we will work with other agencies • Outlines the insurance coverage and reimbursement arrangements for operations

9. Calling in theTroops • Assist the incident commander in activating the mission team if asked. • Alert rosters: • Who/what is needed? • Who is qualified to do what? • Available resources. • Keep a Phone log • Prepare for planning and briefing

10. Mission Check-in • Process mission personnel and equipment during a mission. • Primary duties: • Sign-in and Sign-out. • Check credentials. • Set up (brief/debrief, meetings, status boards). • Collect and manage data.

11. Mission Check-in(Continued) • Credentials • Everyone must have valid and current: • CAP membership card • 101 card or database record • May need a valid and current: • ROA card • State & CAP Driver Licenses

12. Mission Check-in(Continued) • Mission Pilots must have valid and current: • FAA pilot certificate • FAA medical certificate • CAP Form 5 (1 year) • CAP Form 91 (2 years) • 101 Card • Membership Card

13. General Assistance • May be asked to assist in: • Conducting basic safety/hazard inspections • Setting up areas for briefings and meetings • Setting up and maintaining status boards • Locating personnel for next ops period • Building briefing packages (including basic weather) • Developing portions of the Incident Action Plan • Compiling mission data and documents • Maintaining logs and information

14. Safety Inspections • Risk management is used to eliminate or mitigate hazards. • Report any hazards or unsafe practices to the safety officer. • Wherever you are, look for hazards - use common sense • If imminent danger, take immediate action. • If not, report it to proper authority.

15. MishapInvestigations • Mishap -- an unplanned or unsought event, or series of events, that results in death, injury, or damage to or loss of equipment or property. • Classified as either bodily injury, property damage, or other. • Safety Officer is responsible for reporting.

16. MishapInvestigations(Continued) • If no MSO at the mission base: • Classify and notify per CAPR 62-2, Mishap Reporting and Investigation. • IC or unit commander immediately notifies the wing commander and wing safety officer. • If serious injury or death is involved, National HQ personnel are notified. • Safety Management System, within 48 hours of the mishap.

17. Situation Maps • Assist in maintaining situation maps and status boards. • Ensure information is entered correctly and in a timely manner based on your supervisors direction. • Know the ICS Map Symbols • It would be helpful to know how to plot latitude and longitude (may be a future requirement)

18. Maintain Clue Logs • Wing or local forms and checklists • CAPF 104 (reverse), Mission Flight Plan/Briefing Form • CAPF 106, Ground Interrogation Form • CAPF 109, Ground Team Clearance

19. Resource Availabilityand Tracking • Determine the status and availability of resources for a mission. • Identify and locate resources: • Wing, group or unit roster/list. • Verify resources: • Make sure equipment is operable.

20. Resource Availabilityand Tracking(Continued) • Track deployed resources: • Use an equipment sign-out log to control non-expendable assets. • Non-expendable assets must be inspected and returned to their proper locations at end of mission. • Document significant expendables used. • Make sure any equipment borrowed from another agency is returned (in the same or better condition as it was when you borrowed it).

21. ZULU 24 Hour Time • To avoid confusion in working with different time zones, Zulu or Coordinated Universal Time is used. • Measured from the Greenwich Meridian Line at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England • Calculations from local to Zulu time will depend on where in the country you are • Check with the Communications Unit Leader at the mission if you need help in calculating

22. Vehicle Inspections • Perform a vehicle safety inspection. • Normally the duty of the SO • Daily Vehicle Inspection Report • If necessary, update and maintain a vehicle operations (usage) log for the finance/admin section.

23. Mission Duties • Be professional and helpful in attitude • Don’t be afraid to ask questions or for help from your supervisor • Be careful, there can be many hazards around a mission base (wires, antennas, vehicles) • Watch your health. Don’t get so involved in duties you forget hydration, eating, rest, etc. • Remember to take into account of your duty time that it may involve a long drive home. Get plenty of rest. • Don’t try to do something you haven’t been trained to do.

24. Additional Studies • CAPR 173-3: Reimbursement policies and procedures • CAPR 60-1: CAP Flight Management • CAPR 60-3: CAP ES Training & Operational Missions • CAPR 60-5: Critical Incident Stress Management • CAPR 62-1: CAP Safety Responsibilities & Procedures • CAPR 62-2: Mishap Reporting and Investigation • CAPR 100-1 and -3: CAP Communications • CAPP 2: CAP ELT/EPIRB Search

25. QUESTIONS? ALWAYS THINK SAFETY!