1 Mission Radio Operator SQTR Tasks L0001 – L0010, P-0101 Prepared By Lt Colonel Fred Blundell TX-129 Fort Worth Senior Squadron For Local Training Rev

1

Mission Radio Operator

SQTR Tasks L0001 – L0010, P-0101

Prepared By Lt Colonel Fred BlundellTX-129 Fort Worth Senior Squadron

For Local Training Rev 8.1 02-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.

PREFACE

The following presentation covers the Training Tasks required by the Mission Scanner SQTR presented in

eServices as of 25-Apr-2013. The Task information is taken from the current CAP Publication “Mission Base Staff

Tasks” – Evaluation Performance Measures, Published 11-Apr-2005. This presentation is not meant to be a

replacement for the subject task’s explanation in their respective Task Guides as it concentrates on the subject

tasks evaluation requirements.3

4

Role Of The Mission Radio Operator

Provide Mission Base Communications

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

Basic Communication Procedures

(Task L-0001)

Always listen before transmitting Know what you are going to say ahead of time Use Prowords and Alpha Numeric Designators Understand your radio equipment and channels Use the proper calling procedures

• Aircraft: CAP _____• Non-Aircraft

Assigned Call Sign Stations: Texas Cap _____ Functional Designators: Mission Base,

Ground Team 1, Highbird, etc.

5

Radio Operating Procedures

Task L-0002 Radio Connections

• 1st – Antenna• 2nd – Power Source• 3rd - Microphone

Radio Controls• On/Off Control• Volume Control• Zone / Channel Selector• Push Button selections

Microphone Technique• Hold Microphone 3” away from

mouth• Speak in a normal tone of voice

6

Radio Operating Procedures(Task L-0002 Continued) Proper Calling and Acknowledgement

• Calling and acknowledging a station : Announce the other station’s call sign first followed by your

station’s call sign – “Ground Team 1 this is Denton Mission Base; Over”

Use Prowords and Alpha-Numerics• Use both PROWORDS and ALPHA-NUMERICS to shorten

and clarify messages Know the INTERNATIONAL URGENCY SIGNALS

• MAYDAY – MAYDAY – MAYDAY International Distress Signal

• PAN-PAN – PAN-PAN –PAN-PAN International Urgency Signal

• SECURITE – SECURITE – SECURITE International SAFETY SIGNAL 7

Prowords(Task L-0002 Continued)

8


9


10

Numeric Pronunciations(Task L-0002 Continued)

11

Radio Operating Procedures(Task L-0002 Continued)

Procedure for grid assignment changes• To be determined by Communications Unit Leader• Always use Alpha-Numerics• Always require message to be read back by receiving

station

Mission Status Boards and CAPSTAR• Understand how your particular operation uses and

updates their status boards• In TEXAS ONLY, understand the use of the

Communications Module in CAPSTAR

12

Radio ChannelsTask L-0003

Identifying the primary radio operating channels• The Communications Unit Leader or your operations

Communications Plan will identify the radio channels to be utilized.

• Each CAP radio has 16 Zones (Banks) of channels with each zone being capable of storing 16 channels.

Zone 1 – CAP Simplex Analog Channels Zones 2 & 3 – CAP Digital Repeater Channels Zone 4 & 5 – Interoperability Channels with other agencies Zone 6 – Canadian Border Channels Zone 7 – Liaison Agency Channels Zones 8 through 11 – Analog Repeater Channels Zones 12 through 15 – Digital Repeater Channels Zone 16 – CAP Simplex Digital Channels

13

Message Handling Procedures

(Task L-0004)

Message handling procedures will be established by the Communications Unit Leader

General Procedures:• Always write down the questions you are told to ask

other stations and the station’s call sign. Repeat the question back to the requestor

• Always write down the answer given by the responding station with their call sign. Repeat the answer back to the issuer

• Always deliver the written message answer back to the requestor in person unless a courier system has been established

14

Message Handling Procedures(Task L-0004 - Continued)

If Formal Message Traffic is anticipated utilize the Formal Communications Traffic CAP or ICS Form

Fill out all Communications Traffic Forms completely (use N/A for unused spaces)

Disperse Formal Communications Forms as directed

Communications Logs:• All communications are to be recorded in the

Operational Period’s Communication Log CAP Form 110 (This includes all communications flowing through the communications center – Radio, Phone, Cell Phone, etc.)

15

Selecting A Good Communications Site

(Task L-0005)

Remote Radio Communications Site Selection

• Select the highest possible safe and accessible location

• Remember that our VHF-FM communications are “line-of-site” obstructions will block or weaken signals

• Take into consideration natural and man made radio interference sources

High Power Lines Transformers Underground cabling Other radio interference (radar, commercial radio

transmissions and other RF sources) Computer Equipment Physical Obstructions (hills, mountains, buildings, bridges,

etc.) 16

Steps To Regain Lost Communications In The

Field(L-0006)

Make the following checks and/or changes to regain lost communications:

• Check the power and antenna connections• Move to higher ground• Change operating modes (Simplex / Repeater)• Set up a relay operation• Use other means of communication (phone, email,

internet)

17

Conducting Scheduled Field Radio Checks

(Task L-0007)

Before you check in:• Know the time in Zulu• Know your location• Know your team’s status

When to check in:• As directed by the Incident Command

Center• At time of departure and return to

check in point• When entering and leaving your

search area• Unexpected and prolonged stops• Operational checks• When a “clue” or find is discovered• When you have questions

18

Conducting Scheduled Field Radio Checks

(Task L-0007 Continued)

What to report:

• Whatever information is necessary - accurately, clearly and concisely

• Always confirm that your transmissions have been received correctly be requesting they be read back by the receiving station

19

Sending A Position Report(Task L-0008)

Know your position and how you are going to describe it prior to reporting it (Lat/Lon, municipality, intersection, geographic description)

Transmit your location using alpha-numerics (if a decimal point is used, say “DECIMAL POINT”)

If using Lat/Lon, be sure you clarify if you are referencing ‘seconds’ or ‘tenths of a minute’

Always require the receiving station to read your location back to you.

20

Reporting A Clue / Find(Task L0009)

Contact the Incident Command Center and identify that you have discovered a clue / find

Identify your location as previously discussed Identify the clue / find in simple and concise

verbiage, reporting only what you see Identify the clue’s / find’s status Identify the resources needed Have the receiving station read back your

information Request instructions DO NOT DISTURB WHAT YOU HAVE FOUND OR

THE AREA AROUND IT!21

General Safety Procedures

(Task L0010) Lightening is the #1 safety hazard – IT IS DEADLY!

• If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to get struck• Immediately disconnect all antennas and power sources

from the radio whenever thunder or lightening is present• If in the field:

On foot – Seek sturdy shelter inside a building or vehicle or seek the lowest terrain

In a vehicle – Move to low ground

Radio / Antenna Installation Safety• Install antennas to minimize RF exposure and EMI• Mark all guy wires and transmission cables for visibility• Route antenna cables and radio wiring out of travel paths

or cover them an tape the coverings to the floor or tape the wiring directly to the floor.

22

Keeping A Log(Task P-0101)

When working an incident, staff members are required to keep a log which is written legibly and completely. At a minimum each log should contain the date, time (Zulu) and the event being noted. Logs may become legal Documents of Record or evidence. Keep them wisely.

For the following specific operations the following information should be recorded:

23

Keeping A Log(Task P-0101 Continued)

For Ground Operations –

Departure and return times to base

Routes to and from the search areaEntering and leaving the search areaSearch direction changesWitness interviewsTime/Location of clue, target and other

findsTime/Location of Operational Check InEncounters with Public safety or MediaChanges to instructionsDistress Beacon signal acquisition and

silencingAny significant event or as instructed by

the GTL

24


For Air Operations –

• Briefing Details including sortie numbers

• Names/ID Numbers of crew members

• Engine start and stop times • Take off and landing times• Communications/Operational

Checks• Assigned search area/grid

identifier• Search area entrance/exit times• Significant weather, turbulence,

etc.• Time and location of finds (clue &

site)• Scheduled/unscheduled stops• Crew condition and changes• Refueling/maintenance

occurrences• Ground Team interaction

25


For Incident Command Post Staff Operations –

• Date and time of log activation/deactivation• Name of operation, supervisor, and recording

personnel• Briefing notes issued to recording personnel• Operational change instructions• Operational Period meetings• Significant events, directions given/received,

actions taken• Any significant, safety or other notable

occurrence 26

27

QUESTIONS?

ALWAYS THINK SAFETY!