CAP-CAWg Communications

1. CAP-CAWgCommunications What�s on the Horizon in CAP Communications

2. CAWg Conference � 17-19 Oct 2003 HF Communications NHQ/DOK encourages all CAP wings to make greater use of HF communications. CAWg hasn�t received any new HF radios since the Micom2s. New HF radios not likely until 2006. Those will probably be Micom2e ALE radios. Next group of HF radios is supposed to be shipped as systems (with power supplies, antennas, maybe cables.) I�d change �wants all CAP wings� to �encourages all CAP wings�. I wouldn�t say �soon�. More HF�s won�t be showing up until we get funding from the AF. Earliest possible date on that is 06. But, yes, they will be ALE. When we get appropriate funding we�ll buy everything, including the antenna. Don�t know about cables.I�d change �wants all CAP wings� to �encourages all CAP wings�. I wouldn�t say �soon�. More HF�s won�t be showing up until we get funding from the AF. Earliest possible date on that is 06. But, yes, they will be ALE. When we get appropriate funding we�ll buy everything, including the antenna. Don�t know about cables.

3. CAWg Conference � 17-19 Oct 2003 Inter-Squad Radios (ISR) Initial ISR funding has been identified, NHQ will start to ship ISRs to the wings this Fall. CAWg may get 50 to 75 in the first pass. ISRs, at least initially, will not be issued to individuals. They will go into �fly away� kits. �Few ISRs� means a few kits controlled by CAWg. �Many ISRs� means more kits, some controlled by CAWg and others controlled by the groups. ES, CP and AE will draw kits when they need them for activities. You can be a little more specific on ISRs. We have the funding and have contracted for almost 3000 of them. Your wing will be receiving some this fall. Probably several dozen. You can be a little more specific on ISRs. We have the funding and have contracted for almost 3000 of them. Your wing will be receiving some this fall. Probably several dozen.

4. CAWg Conference � 17-19 Oct 2003 VHF Frequency Usage CAP has multiple VHF frequencies. Most message traffic uses the primary repeater pair [143.90/148.15]. If you are setting up an event, and don�t need to use the repeaters, use another freq. Don�t use a �long range� repeater if you can get by with a shorter range one. Don�t use any repeater if you can get by using simplex. Very good. Specifically, use the tactical frequency (148.1375) for ground tactical ops and use the A/G frequency (149.5375) for aircraft. I like your encouragement to spread out and use the assets we�ve been provided. Very good. Specifically, use the tactical frequency (148.1375) for ground tactical ops and use the A/G frequency (149.5375) for aircraft. I like your encouragement to spread out and use the assets we�ve been provided.

5. CAWg Conference � 17-19 Oct 2003 VHF Frequency Usage Mission communications will probably be handled differently in the future. Different functions within large missions should be on separate frequencies. Some functions may need more than one frequency. Some functions will need repeaters, but many will not. Some functions will leave VHF totally and move to UHF (on ISRs) or HF. Yep. In the future we�ll have more mobile HF for use by ground teams out of VHF range.Yep. In the future we�ll have more mobile HF for use by ground teams out of VHF range.

6. CAWg Conference � 17-19 Oct 2003 CAPP 214 & Net Participation Per NHQ/DOK, net participation (either VHF or HF) will remain as a requirement for advancing in the Communications Officer specialty track. DOK feels that some net experience is vital to becoming a qualified CAP communicator. They are re-evaluating the amount of net participation that is necessary for qualification (now at 25%). A new CAPP 214 is being written and the percentage may change. Please change �DOK insists�. I don�t get my way that much. How about �DOK feels�?Please change �DOK insists�. I don�t get my way that much. How about �DOK feels�?

7. CAWg Conference � 17-19 Oct 2003 BCUT/ACUT What and Why Basic Communications User Training (BCUT) is for people who are not comm troops, but occasionally use radios. Advanced Communicators User Training (ACUT) is designed for troops who want or need to know more about communications. In CAWg, a BCUT is good for two years and an ACUT never expires. Good point. Specifically BCUT is for those who use radios occasionally. ACUT is for those who need to use them more often, especially for those who have one issued or register their privately owned radio. I�d reconsider the policy of ACUT never expiring. You can do that if you want (the reg allows it) but if you don�t have some level of occasional review you�ll end up with people on your roster that have been dead for years and you don�t know about it.Good point. Specifically BCUT is for those who use radios occasionally. ACUT is for those who need to use them more often, especially for those who have one issued or register their privately owned radio. I�d reconsider the policy of ACUT never expiring. You can do that if you want (the reg allows it) but if you don�t have some level of occasional review you�ll end up with people on your roster that have been dead for years and you don�t know about it.

8. CAWg Conference � 17-19 Oct 2003 BCUT/ACUT What and Why In Emergency Services (for mission communications), the only specialties that require an ACUT are CUL and GTL. Most others, either directly or indirectly, require a BCUT, even MSA (the exceptions are MS, LSC, and FASC). MRO may get additional requirements. Communications technically belongs to Logistics, but the Comm Center will usually be �chopped� to Operations. We�re looking at tightening up the ES requirements a bit. Specifically the MRO needs more �dispatch� and NCS type training to be effective. GTL�s should be able to get by on an ACUT. Some of the others are okay with a BCUT. Comm falls under logistics in the ICS system but the function should be overseen by comm. Comm provides the training, the equipment, and the rules. We are team players and our role on the team is to do comm. The new ES curriculum and standards are not designed to shut comm out. Quite the contrary. They are designed to define comm�s role in the ES mission and tell us what we need to know; I.e. what do you need from us?We�re looking at tightening up the ES requirements a bit. Specifically the MRO needs more �dispatch� and NCS type training to be effective. GTL�s should be able to get by on an ACUT. Some of the others are okay with a BCUT. Comm falls under logistics in the ICS system but the function should be overseen by comm. Comm provides the training, the equipment, and the rules. We are team players and our role on the team is to do comm. The new ES curriculum and standards are not designed to shut comm out. Quite the contrary. They are designed to define comm�s role in the ES mission and tell us what we need to know; I.e. what do you need from us?

9. CAWg Conference � 17-19 Oct 2003 BCUT/ACUT Changes 7th Group communicators are currently working on a computer based BCUT course. This course is intended to be taught at the squadron level, to an individual or a small group, by any ACUT holding communicator. The formal ROA classes will no longer teach the BCUT syllabus. A BCUT will be required for admission to the ACUT course. This will allow the ROA classes to present an increased amount of technical material. GoodGood

10. CAWg Conference � 17-19 Oct 2003 BCUT/ACUT Changes When 7th Group finishes this course, they will present it to CAWg/DC and we will evaluate it for use throughout the wing. 7Grp anticipates the course (a PowerPoint presentation with both audio and video) will be a single, self-contained unit on a CDRom. If and when accepted by CAWg, we will send copies of the CD to each group DC and they will be authorized to make as many copies of the CD as they need (1 per squadron?).

11. CAWg Conference � 17-19 Oct 2003 Message Format Precedence (Flash, Immediate, Priority, or Routine) Date-Time-Group (�182347Z Oct 03�) �From� address (who wrote or authorized the message) �To� addressee(s) (these are the �action addresses(s)�) �Info� addressee(s) (the �non-action addressee(s)�) Then �BT� or �Break�, the message text, a final �BT� or �Break�, and then any necessary operator notes.

12. CAWg Conference � 17-19 Oct 2003 Proper Message Format Routine 182347Z Oct 03 From: HQ CAWg/DC To: HQ All Units/DC, CC Info: HQ All Units/DO, DOS BT This is a properly formatted message. BT Delivery ACK requested You can also add operator notes after the second BT. Things like �Delivery ACK requested� or other handling instructions. The key point we need to get across to communicators is that messages they receive are received for the purpose of passing to an ADRESSEE. They are not intended for their personal reading pleasure. What needs to happen is every commander of every unit needs a designated traffic station with an alternate or two. So stations know who they are responsible for passing traffic to.You can also add operator notes after the second BT. Things like �Delivery ACK requested� or other handling instructions. The key point we need to get across to communicators is that messages they receive are received for the purpose of passing to an ADRESSEE. They are not intended for their personal reading pleasure. What needs to happen is every commander of every unit needs a designated traffic station with an alternate or two. So stations know who they are responsible for passing traffic to.

13. CAWg Conference � 17-19 Oct 2003 Message Notes What about �Mayday�, �Pan�, and �Securite� Aren�t they priorities? No, they are �urgency signals� and are treated as if they were just above �Immediate� precedence. They will preempt any traffic below �Flash�. The urgency signals will go in the body of the text, not the header. What about �REDCAP�? It just tells the message recipient what type of message it is. This is also included in the body of the text and not the header.

14. CAWg Conference � 17-19 Oct 2003 When Drafting Messages� IN THE EMAIL VERSION OF YOUR MESSAGE, DO NOT FORGET TO USE LOWER CASE LETTERS. IF EVERYTHING IS IN UPPER CASE LETTERS, PEOPLE WILL THINK YOU ARE SHOUTING AT THEM. AND YOU WILL BE. We have both upper and lower case letters available. Please use them both. It makes the message much easier to read and to understand. However, all messages will be transmitted over the radio as if they were in upper case (except URLs, etc.). Really? I�ve never heard that on an HF net. Every net I�ve operated in all letters are assumed to be uppercase. Like old teletype, voice nets normally don�t support upper and lower case. I suppose you can do that if you like but reading a message with proper capitalization and punctuation will slow down your net. I agree with this rule for emails but I�d recommend reconsidering for voice nets. Our minimally trained people have enough problems with the few rules we already put on them. : DReally? I�ve never heard that on an HF net. Every net I�ve operated in all letters are assumed to be uppercase. Like old teletype, voice nets normally don�t support upper and lower case. I suppose you can do that if you like but reading a message with proper capitalization and punctuation will slow down your net. I agree with this rule for emails but I�d recommend reconsidering for voice nets. Our minimally trained people have enough problems with the few rules we already put on them. : D

15. CAWg Conference � 17-19 Oct 2003 The RTO �RTO� is the military acronym for �Radio Telephone Operator�. An RTO is the radio operator in direct support of a command or staff officer. An RTO is a �force multiplier� because they relieve that officer of having to listen to a lot of irrelevant �chatter�. CAWg Comm is considering including some RTO training into our ACUTs. During my AF career I never came across that acronym, but, okay. Whatever. The key point here is that it sounds like you are saying the same thing I mentioned a few slides back about �traffic stations�. That is, stations designated to pass traffic to certain individuals or commands. The problem with the current CAP system is that we leave it all up to chance. What we need to do is give radio stations jobs and be specific so they know what they�re responsibilities are. They need to know who they are supposed to receive traffic for. How else can we route traffic through our system to an individual? The answer is that right now we can�t; that is, with any assuredness it�ll get there.During my AF career I never came across that acronym, but, okay. Whatever. The key point here is that it sounds like you are saying the same thing I mentioned a few slides back about �traffic stations�. That is, stations designated to pass traffic to certain individuals or commands. The problem with the current CAP system is that we leave it all up to chance. What we need to do is give radio stations jobs and be specific so they know what they�re responsibilities are. They need to know who they are supposed to receive traffic for. How else can we route traffic through our system to an individual? The answer is that right now we can�t; that is, with any assuredness it�ll get there.

16. CAWg Conference � 17-19 Oct 2003 Tone Squelch on Receive Some VHF radios have tone squelch (TSqel) enabled. That means they can only listen to one repeater at a time. If you need to monitor more than one repeater at one time, you need to know how to disable this feature. Different radios have different controls. You need to be familiar with (or have manuals for) the radios you use. As Pete and Mark say �RTFM!�.As Pete and Mark say �RTFM!�.

17. CAWg Conference � 17-19 Oct 2003 Mission Traffic During Nets Mission message traffic (always Priority or Immediate) has right of way over normal net traffic (which is usually Routine). A mission in progress does not mean that the net must be cancelled. If mission conditions permit, the net should proceed as scheduled. If a mission is in progress, the net control station (NCS) will contact the IC and get permission to proceed. Very good. The key point here is that our people need to understand how to use the traffic precedence system you introduced on slide 11. Then it becomes very clear. Actual mission traffic should be at least �Priority� and the really important stuff should be �Immediate�. If people understand the system they can easily see that their regular net is �Routine� so any actual mission traffic would always take precedence. Very simple. They just need to be taught how to apply a precedence to all communications, even informal chit chat as well as routine net operations.Very good. The key point here is that our people need to understand how to use the traffic precedence system you introduced on slide 11. Then it becomes very clear. Actual mission traffic should be at least �Priority� and the really important stuff should be �Immediate�. If people understand the system they can easily see that their regular net is �Routine� so any actual mission traffic would always take precedence. Very simple. They just need to be taught how to apply a precedence to all communications, even informal chit chat as well as routine net operations.

18. CAWg Conference � 17-19 Oct 2003 Mission Traffic During Nets The ICs should allow the net to proceed unless they are confident that the net will interfere with mission activities. When starting the net, the NCS should state that mission traffic has priority and may preempt any and all other traffic. If a mission is in progress and the NCS is not aware of it, someone aware of the mission should notify the NCS. Yep. I�d say it like this, �This net is routine in precedence. Traffic which has higher precedence will take priority. Stations with higher precedence traffic will call the NCS.�Yep. I�d say it like this, �This net is routine in precedence. Traffic which has higher precedence will take priority. Stations with higher precedence traffic will call the NCS.�

19. CAWg Conference � 17-19 Oct 2003 Mission Traffic During Nets Any net participant hearing mission traffic that the NCS doesn�t hear should break in and inform the NCS. Routine net traffic will continue after the mission traffic is concluded. This applies to both formal and informal traffic. Anyone checking into the net while on mission status should use their tactical call sign (Yosemite 755) and not their functional call sign (CAPFlight 123). We use the acronym �NCS� for Net Control Station. A station could potentially have more than one operator and it is the station that has the duty. The operator doing it could change. Rather than suspend the net during higher precedence traffic, shouldn�t the NCS just stop lower precedence traffic and allow the station with higher precedence traffic to proceed? Then, they advise the NCS when they are complete and the net continues. Normal network operations.We use the acronym �NCS� for Net Control Station. A station could potentially have more than one operator and it is the station that has the duty. The operator doing it could change. Rather than suspend the net during higher precedence traffic, shouldn�t the NCS just stop lower precedence traffic and allow the station with higher precedence traffic to proceed? Then, they advise the NCS when they are complete and the net continues. Normal network operations.

20. CAWg Conference � 17-19 Oct 2003 Cadet VHF Nets CAWg is setting up two regional Cadet Nets (one in the North and one South). The nets will be run by the cadets. SM communicators will mentor and monitor. In the South, the Cadet Nets will start at the conclusion of the regular nets. How they will run in the North is undecided. Content of the nets will determined by the cadets (within CAP regulations). Very good. Be sure to let your counterparts on CAP-DC know how this goes. Very good. Be sure to let your counterparts on CAP-DC know how this goes.

21. CAWg Conference � 17-19 Oct 2003 Questions? If there are no questions, then I must have put everybody to sleep.