[KYHAM] KEN TRAINING For June 30: How To (NOT!) Function In a Command Post

[Ron Dodson]

This week, we feature another fine article by KY4SP in a
tongue-in-cheek vein.  Unfortunately many of us have really met
people (and not just hams either) who follow this school of
thought!  Enjoy!    Ron

========= AUTHOR's NOTE ============

*** This article reflects generalized scenarios that have been
related to me over the years by various people within the public
safety community, usually immediately after I mention my
affiliation with amateur radio. It is not intended to portray any
one person or specific incident, although many who have seen this
material say they "know this guy".***  
73, 
Tony Whobrey, KY4SP 
May 25, 2003 
---------------------------- 

As an amateur radio operator, sooner or later you will find
yourself involved in an emergency operation where you have the
opportunity to interact with one or more public safety agencies.
This guide will help you to present yourself in the "manner
expected" by most of these agencies. 

First and foremost when you arrive at the scene, place your
vehicle in a location where as many people as possible will
notice it. If there is already a public safety command post in
place a good technique is to park as close to the door as
possible so everyone has to squeeze by your car to get in or out.
Leave the engine running, so everyone will see that you might
have to leave on other important business at a moment's notice,
this is an especially important point if you have a diesel
powered vehicle. Be sure to lock the doors and leave all of the
radios turned up really, really loud. If your vehicle has a PA or
siren amplifier, use it to be sure your radios can be heard
clearly- a loud feedback squeal when any portable radio is keyed
within 40 yards indicates that the volume is about right.  

Once you have secured your vehicle, set all of your equipment up
as close to the already established dispatch positions as
possible.  You will, of course need electric power; unplug the
coffee pot and microwave oven and use these receptacles for your
station. If this power source doesn't seem adequate, set up a
portable generator and run extension cords in the command post
door, then under the dispatcher's chair and over to your
equipment. 

Turn your radio's volume up really loud, so you can hear it over
the noise from your generator and other unimportant radios in the
command post.  After you are set up, take some time to tell the
dispatcher how much more you know about his radio system than he
does.  Be sure and tell him that you talk to people thousands of
miles away on your HF equipment at home, and have lots of QSL
cards. Explain in minute detail how you have modified your radio
for out-of-band use, the entire staff will be comforted by the
fact that you can use your non-type accepted equipment on the
department's licensed frequencies, should all of their carefully
maintained stations simultaneously fail. Once you have done all
this, expect many requests for advice, since dispatchers
typically only know how to talk on 2 or more telephones and
various radio channels simultaneously, and are completely in the
dark when it comes to modifying radio equipment. 

Sometimes your assistance won't be needed in the command post
itself; this affords you an opportunity to roam on foot
throughout the operations area, in order to obtain a firsthand
view of important events. Be sure to make your presence known to
any group of 6 or more personnel that you find, they are sure to
want your input in regard to a variety of operational matters.  

You may be asked to perform tasks that while in support of the
overall operation, do not involve the use of any of your radio
equipment; don't be misled by such requests. Your time is far too
valuable to waste on such mundane tasks, these people should have
realized that they would need food and drink as the event
progressed, and it is certainly not your fault that everyone
present doesn't have a raincoat available. 

If news media are present, make sure they notice both of your
portable radios, so they will understand that you are a vital
part of the operation. If you are successful in this attempt, you
might get on camera; if you are asked to speak, give as much
information as you can, including any "inside" comments that you
overheard while at the command post. Have at least one of your
portables tuned to the incident commander's tactical frequency
during the interview, and make sure that the reporter's
microphone will pick it up clearly. Be sure to wear your call
sign in at least 3 highly visible places (a large gold
police-style badge is a good way to display your call) and use
one of your portable radios as a handy pointer to emphasize your
comments. Try to have some excuse to transmit on one or both of
your portable radios while on camera. 

After the event is over remove your equipment as soon as
possible, in order to have it immediately available for the next
emergency that might arise. Don't be concerned if you have to
step over or around others or ask them to delay their work while
you load your equipment; they will surely understand the
importance of your mission, since they have been walking around
your vehicle with its radios blaring for hours. Once you arrive
home, kick back, have a well-deserved cup of coffee (wonder why
that CP didn't have any?), and congratulate yourself on a job
well done.  ;^)