Brackett Composite Squadron 64 Squadron Communications Exercise Prepared By Capt. Robert D Sears, Brackett Composite Squadron 64 Civil Air Patrol Communications

Brackett Composite Squadron 64

Squadron Communications Exercise

Prepared By Capt. Robert D Sears, Brackett Composite Squadron 64

Civil Air PatrolCommunications




Exercise Objectives• Provide Comprehensive Communications Training (For complete

information refer to CAPR 100-1 and CAPR 100-3)• Prepare candidates for ICUT Evaluations• Provide real-time, hands-on training on actual equipment under real but

simulated conditions• Prepare candidates to serve effectively in squadron communications

activities• Prepare candidates to serve effectively in an Emergency Services capacity as

an MRO (Mission Radio Operator) or higher.• Provide candidates with hand-out material in support of the training and

exercises




Exercise HandoutsICUT• ICUT Evaluation forms• ICUT Evaluation Guidelines• Excerpts from CAPR 100-1 and 100-3• Phonetic Alphabet and Numbers• Sample Messages (written and spoken)

SAREX exercise• Simulated Exercise Overview• Blank and Sample Activity Logs• CAWGF 110a, CAPF 110, ICS 214• LAX Section TAC Charts• CAP Grid Maps

Common TOOLS• White Boards and pens• Pads for Notes




ICUT Evaluation Expectations• Each candidate shall have completed their online

training and testing prior to the exercise. Unqualified candidates may participate in the evaluations but will not be submitted for qualification until the online training is complete

• Each Candidate shall attend refresher training for successful completion for T1 (Technical) and OP2 (Operational) Evaluations as part of this exercise




Technical Evaluations (T1)Each candidate shall demonstrate the ability to:• Turn the radio on• Adjust the volume• Change channels• Adjust High/Low Power• Turn Scan On/Off• Set Squelch• Recover from pressing wrong buttons• Turn Radio Off• Disconnect and reconnect microphone• Demonstrate proper microphone speaking position







Operational Evaluations (OP2)Each candidate shall demonstrate the ability to:• Understand and explain the types of message priorities and importance of

proper message distribution• Understand and explain the use of MAYDAY, PAN-PAN, and SECURITE• Review and understand the communications prohibited practices• Understand and explain the difference between Tactical and Functional

Call Signs and when each is used.• Understand and explain the difference between a Directed Net and a Free

Net, and when each is used.• Demonstrate the ability to send, receive, and “fill” a message• Demonstrate the ability to keep a communications log




Message Priorities (OP2)Each candidate shall understand the meaning, order, and usage of the message traffic priorities:• Flash• Immediate• Priority• Routine




Flash This precedence is reserved for initial enemy contact messages or operational combat messages of extreme urgency. Brevity is mandatory. FLASH messages are to be handled as fast as humanly possible, ahead of all other messages, with in-station handling time not to exceed 10 minutes. Messages of lower precedence are interrupted on all circuits involved until the handling of FLASH messages is completed. Your station may be in the vicinity of a terrorist attack and able to pass a message about the attack for officials.




Immediate This precedence is reserved for messages relating to situations gravely affecting the security of the nation. It requires immediate delivery. Examples include reports of widespread civil disturbance, reports or warning of grave natural disaster, and requests for or directions concerning search and rescue operations. Immediate messages are processed, transmitted, and delivered in the order received and ahead of all messages of lower precedence. They are to be handled as quickly as possible, with in-station handling time not to exceed 60 minutes. Messages of lower precedence will be interrupted on all circuits involved until the handling of the IMMEDIATE message is completed.




Priority This precedence is reserved for traffic requiring expeditious action by the addressee or for conducting operations in progress when ROUTINE precedence will not suffice. PRIORITY precedence messages are processed, transmitted, and delivered in the order received and ahead of all messages of ROUTINE precedence. Examples include requests for supplies or equipment during the conduct of an operation, time-critical items requiring quick response, and situation reports. They are to be handled as quickly as possible, with in-station handling time not to exceed 6 hours.




Routine This precedence is used for all types of message traffic justifying transmission by rapid means, but not of sufficient urgency to require higher precedence. ROUTINE precedence messages are delivered in the order received and after all messages of higher precedence. ROUTINE is the most used precedence designator in CAP messages. Examples include any message that requires the documentation of its transmission and/or delivery; messages concerning normal operations, programs, or projects; and periodic or consolidated reports. They should be handled as soon as traffic flow allows, but no later than the beginning of the next duty day.




Emergency and Distress Keywords (OP2)• MAYDAY - This is the international distress signal and indicates that a station is threatened by grave and

imminent danger to life and property, and requires immediate assistance. In radiotelephone (voice), the word "MAYDAY" is transmitted three times. After the distress signal is sent, all traffic in progress, with the exception of FLASH precedence traffic, will cease and all stations will monitor. Any station in a position to render assistance will do so and all other stations will continue to monitor until the situation is rectified and the frequency is released for normal use.

• PAN-PAN - This is the international urgency signal and indicates the calling station has a very urgent message concerning the safety of a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle and/or the safety of a person or persons. In radiotelephone (voice), the phrase "PAN-PAN" is transmitted three times. It is normally considered to be Immediate precedence traffic. All traffic of lower precedence will cease. All stations will monitor and any station that can render assistance will do so. All stations will continue to monitor until the situation is rectified and the frequency is released for normal usage.

• SECURITE - This is the international safety signal and indicates that a station is going to transmit a message concerning the safety of navigation or send important meteorological warnings that will, or can, affect ships, aircraft, or persons. It is normally considered to be Priority precedence traffic and is spoken three times. All traffic of a lower precedence will cease. All stations will monitor and any station that can render assistance will do so. All stations will continue to monitor until the situation is rectified and the frequency is released for normal usage.




Prohibited Practices (OP2)• Identifying operators by name over the air. • Violation of radio silence. • Personal conversation of any type. • Use of given names or nicknames in place of authorized call signs. • Excessive tuning and testing. • Profane, indecent, or obscene language. • Use of excessive transmitter power output. • Interruption of scheduled net activities in progress. • Transmitting in a directed net without permission of the Net Control Station

(NCS). • Leaving a directed net without the permission of the NCS, except in emergency

situations or equipment failure. See paragraph 2-17 for proper procedure.




Call Signs (OP2)Each candidate shall understand and explain the use of call signs

• Tactical Call Signs - Authorization of stations consists of assigning a CAP tactical call sign to a CAP member, vehicle, facility or specific radio. Members who have completed ICUT training may apply for a CAP tactical call sign using procedures specified by the wing. Wing policy may require assignment or availability of a radio in order to be eligible for a tactical call sign, but will not require further training or a standard higher than ICUT accomplishment.

• Functional designators should reflect the nationally-standardized ICS/CAP positions or job functions that are represented, or geographic locations, or both. Examples of valid functional designators are “Air Ops” ”Ground Ops” “Flight Line” “Admin” “Transport four” “Ground Team Six” “Jackson Base” “Camp Six” “Highbird”, etc. Geographic prefixes are used ONLY with airborne relay stations or bases and other stationary facilities. A one or two-digit numerical suffix is optional and may be used with any functional designator if needed.




Net Types (OP2)• Free Net - In this type of net, the net control station (NCS) authorizes member stations to transmit traffic to other stations in the net without obtaining prior permission from the NCS. Roll Calls are not conducted on a free net. Free net operation does not relieve the NCS or other controlling entity of the responsibility for maintaining circuit discipline.

• Directed Net - In this type of net, stations obtain permission from the NCS prior to communicating with other stations in the net. Permission is not required for the transmission of FLASH messages, which shall be sent direct. In a directed net, traffic may also be sent in accordance with predetermined schedules.

A net is deemed to be a free net unless otherwise ordered. When it is required to change a free net to a directed net, or vice versa, one of the prowords THIS IS A FREE NET or THIS IS A DIRECTED NET may be used by the NCS.




Message Transmission (OP2)Each candidate shall demonstrate the ability to:• Send a sample message• Receive a sample message• Request and/or receive fill information

Key Elements of effective message transmission• Speaking speed• Proper use of prowords• Proper use of Phonetic alphabet




Communications Logs (OP2)Each candidate shall demonstrate the ability to keep a communications log. Each candidate will create a log during the Net and Operations segments of the exercise. (Note: All participants, Air, Ground, and Base staff, in any capacity in any mission keep a log of their activities. Logs are not limited to communications activities.)

(See Samples and Blank ICS 214, CAPF 110 and CAWGF 110a in your handout package)




Questions?




BreakReturn promptly in 10 minutes




Assign Teams for Evaluations




Report to your assigned evaluator




Critique




Lunch




Emergency Services Operations Activities




Simulated SAREX Scenario• Report of Missing Aircraft in route from Hemet

(HMT) to Hesperia (L26)• Available assets, 3 Aircraft, 1 Ground/UDF team,

Mission Base Staff• Extra tasks as requested by the Project Officer




Assets Available• 3 CAP C-182 aircraft: CAP401, CAP410,

CAP411• Ground/UDF Team: Ground Team 1• Mission Base: Brackett Base




Mandatory Aircraft Reporting• Engine Start / Radio Check• Wheels Up with estimated time to grid• Ops Normal (Mandatory recurring call on top and bottom of

hour, failure to call in WILL trigger a new and actual “missing aircraft” mission after 45 minutes)

• In Grid• Out of Grid and/or Return to Base with time en route estimate,

or to Next Assignment• Wheels Down




Mandatory Ground Team Reporting• Engine Start / Radio Check• Leaving base with estimated time to assigned station• Ops Normal (Mandatory repeating call on top and bottom of

hour, fail to call in may activate a new and actual “missing team” mission after 45 minutes)

• On Station• Leaving Station (Return to Base or Next Station Assignment)• Back at Base




Air or Ground Reporting – Special Note• Any call to base within 5 minutes either side of an

Ops Normal reporting time constitutes an Ops Normal Report and will be recorded as such.

• In CAPSTAR any communication resets the ops normal clock since contact was made. (Show CAPSTAR entry if available.)







Keeping Logs...discussion of who records what, and why?• Aircraft ?• Ground Teams?• Base Station?




Discuss lost communications scenarios

and solutions.




Open CAPSTARDemonstrate Use if there is

an active mission




Questions?




Let’s Do It !




Standard Scheduled Net Operations Activities

(Time Permitting)




Scenario:Routine Wing Level Net SimulationNet Control and Four Stations ParticipatingEstimated duration of exercise: 20 Minutes




Simulated Participants:• Net Control (Yosemite 164)• Brackett Composite Squadron 64• Cable Composite Squadron• El Monte• Any others with a valid Yosemite Call Sign




Actions:• Prepare Net• Open Net• Roll Call• Any traffic?• Pass traffic if any• Offer fill as needed• Final request for traffic• Close Net




Questions?




Let’s Do It !




Critique

Documents

Brackett Composite Squadron 64 Squadron Communications Exercise Prepared By Capt. Robert D Sears, Brackett Composite Squadron 64 Civil Air Patrol Communications