Mission Radio Operator Skills and Requirements

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Mission Radio OperatorSkills and Requirements

• Developed as part of the National Emergency
  Services Curriculum Project

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Whats the role of the Mission Radio Operator

• Mission Base Communications
• Communications support in the Field
• Relay sites
• Staging Areas
• Equipment installation support

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Basic Procedures

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

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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

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What frequencies to use?

• Simplex Operations
• Duplex Operations
• HF Operations
• Other agencies frequencies
• Check your local operating procedures and
  emergency plans before the incident

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Message Handling

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

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Choosing a Good Communications Site

• High Ground
• Line of Sight
• Accessibility
• Sources of Radio Interference

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Regaining Communications

• Check the Radio

• Move to Higher Ground
• Have you tried Duplex?
• Have you tried Relays?
• If necessary or mobile - Move?
• Dont forget about the telephone

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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

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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

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Scheduled Radio Checks Continued

• When making your radio check give
• The time of the radio check if being relayed or
  it was delayed
• The teams location
• The teams status

• Dont be afraid to ask for a confirmation and
  read-back of critical messages

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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

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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

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Reporting a Clue or Find Continued

• Follow the report format found in the task guide
• Avoid speculation - no guessing
• Avoid inflammatory or unclear descriptions
• Dont be afraid to use other forms of
  communications like cell phones - radio isnt the
  only way

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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

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ICS Form 213 General Message
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ICS Form 214 Unit Log
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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

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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
• P-0101 Demonstrate the ability to Keep a Log

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QUESTIONS?
THINK SAFETY!