EMC070 Focus - Ability Levels
To:   Emergency Communications Units - Information Bulletin
To:   Emergency Management Agencies via Internet and Radio
By:   Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) of the
      California Governor's Office of Emergency Services
 
EMC070 Focus - Ability Levels              For release 3/10/97
 
How and where unit participants are assigned for work is an interesting
and demanding task. Of necessity there are a variety of ways of assessing
the talents, skills and abilities of personnel. Much depends on the view
of the unit leadership as well as the assigning officer. In general, good
units have a thorough knowledge of their personnel and have them listed in
appropriate categories.
 
Depending on the depth of a unit, and its likely assignments, personnel
may be categorized in these GENERAL areas: Operations, Administration,
Management and Technical. Training can be placed in either Operations or
Management.
 
Experienced emergency coordinators and radio officers soon become aware
of the level of abilities required for specific OPERATIONS assignments of
their communications unit participants.
 
Here is one way to consider it, focused around the ICS field application:
 
EOC       level 3  (Emergency Operations Center
IC        level 2  (Incident Command)
Staging   level 2  (ICS Staging or marshalling area)
Aides     level 1  (Formerly called "Shadows". They who accompany the
                   person to whom assigned, such as the Incident
                   Commander, Operations Chief, etc.)
NCS       level 3  (net control station)
 
The abilities required for the Aide ("Shadow") operator are the most
demanding because the physical exposure to hazards of the incident by
literally accompanying the person everywhere he/she goes.
 
For Amateur Radio Service licensees, it helps to expand your
expectations of where you will be assigned. If you expect to "only
operate your own equipment or only on Amateur frequencies" you may be
missing out on some of the most rewarding opportunities you will ever
face. There are many forms of service needed in communications
situations, so being open to the possibilities brings very interesting
applications of your skills -- some of which may really surprise even
you!
                                  ---
ACS Web page: http://acs.oes.ca.gov   ACS Landline BBS 916-262-1657
FTP archive:ftp.ucsd.edu/hamradio/packet/tcpip/incoming for new
bulletins and ftp.ucsd.edu/hamradio/races for earlier bulletins
OES ACS staff manager Stan Harter Email: stanharter@juno.com
State Chief ACS Officer Cary Mangum, Email crm@oes1.oes.ca.gov
or via Packet W6WWW@KM6PX.#NOCAL.USA.NA
 
Ideas, materials and topics are solicited for use in these bulletins.
Send messages WITH attachments to cmangum@mail.macnexus.org
EOM EMC070