Authored by John W. Desmarais 18-May-1998 Updated 18-May-2008 Modified by Lt Colonel Fred Blundell

1. Authored by John W. Desmarais 18-May-1998 Updated 18-May-2008 Modified by Lt Colonel Fred Blundell TX-129 Fort Worth Senior Squadron For Local Training Rev 5.0 02-Feb-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. What is anInterviewing Team? The interviewing team is a small, lightly equipped, mobile unit used to conduct interviews to find new information and to investigate leads during a search Information collection should be considered one of the most important functions of a search, in that one piece of information could bring a search to a rapid close

4. Who to Interview? • People in remote areas and relatively quiet suburbs tend to notice unusual sights or sounds • Forest service personnel • All night gas stations • Farmers • People who work outdoors • Persons frequenting places where people gather and may have discussed events

5. Interviewer Attitude • Professionalism in questioning citizens will do much to reveal information. Steps to take include: • Properly identify yourself as a member of Civil Air Patrol. Wear a proper uniform and show an ID card. Photo IDs are best • Do not give details of the mission to interviewees. Do not "put words in their mouths" • Only give enough detail to help the interviewee recall the situation

6. Interviewer Attitude (Continued) • Let the witness tell his story in his own words and in its entirety. Afterwards you can question him about details or to establish the validity of his information • Use CAPF 106 and/or the Missing Person Questionnaire only after the interview is complete. Most people interviewed will not follow a form exactly to relate information • Tape recording the interview with the interviewee’s permission can help, but should not be a requirement

7. Interviewer Attitude (Continued) • Be skeptical of statistical information given by untrained observers, such as altitude or angle of attack • Courtesy and patience when dealing with a witness is essential • Never rush a witness because he or she may leave out important information

8. Interviewer Attitude (Continued) • If the witness is a child, question very carefully and have him tell his story several times and in several ways • Talk to the child's parents about the child's reliability under such circumstances • Make sure that you don’t offend the parents in the process

9. Interviewer Attitude (Continued) • Leave the mission operating base telephone number and the interviewer’s name with the witness and ask them to call in if they recall any other helpful information • This let’s the interviewee know that you are interested in additional relevant information

10. Speed of Information Distribution Data collected must be transmitted to the Mission Coordinator or designated person as soon as possible • Use the telephone primarily and two-way radio alternatively if it must get back, couriers may be a wise idea as well • CAPF 106 and other standardized forms facilitate transmission of data by using the block numbers or sequenced sections instead of saying the whole phrase

11. Guidelines forConducting anInterview Introduce yourself and state the exact purpose of the interview, but don’t be forceful • Try to make yourself available to the person • By forcing an immediate interview, you may frustrate a person with prior engagements to rush and forget an important detail • Create a comfortable atmosphere • What climate would you feel comfortable talking in?

12. Guidelines for Conducting an Interview (Continued) Start with non-threatening questions. It helps in two ways: • Reduces tensions between the interviewer and the interviewee • Shows you care about the interviewee’s feelings Understand his/her need to express emotional feelings

13. Guidelines forConducting anInterview(Continued) Know yourself and how you come across - you get back what you project Know what you are after and have a general plan of attack Prepare the interviewee for personal questions Listen! Listen! Listen!You will learn nothing if you do all the talking

14. Techniques to getPeople Talking Use structured questions (questions that require only a simple one or two word response) to clarify a point. Use unstructured questions (questions such as why...? How about ...? What do you think may have happened? Etc.) to get the interviewee thinking and talking about the subject of interest. Once you have the person talking, encourage him to continue. Listen!

15. Techniques to get People Talking (Continued) Don’t project an end to the interview • Show acceptance - nod, uh-huh, yes..., Please continue, etc. • Silence forces him to continue • Ordinarily those being interviewed will add additional information and it will probably be the most important information received

16. Techniques to get People TalkingContinued To probe an area of interest (particularly a touchy or sensitive area): • Restate words that the person just used, but don’t interrupt • Summarize back what you perceived him to communicate

17. Evaluating Information Received Guide the interviewee into giving you more information to either support or deny each theory that you make Remember, you are trying to put together a picture of what may have happened, and the information gathered is only one piece of a big puzzle

18. Evaluating Information Received(Continued) Do not try to analyze leads in the field. You don't have the "big picture." • If asked for your opinion or analysis by the mission base staff- give it. • Don't jump to conclusions, but listen to what is being said and form theories as you go

19. QUESTIONS? ALWAYS THINK SAFETY!