Headquarters
Rocky Mountain Region Civil Air Patrol
PO Box 16688
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
OPERATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING PLAN
REPEATER PLAN
4 April 2011
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EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
1. Purpose. To establish an effective emergency communications plan which will provide a critical,
initial means of communications with a minimum time delay within the Rocky Mountain Region.
2. Scope. This plan pertains to the establishment of all radio communications for all units of the
Rocky Mountain Region CAP, during actual or official simulated emergency conditions.
3. Task Force Organization. The following task force areas cover the Rocky Mountain Region and
comprise the region emergency communications network:
Task Force Area
R1
R2
R3
R4
R5
Geographical Area
Idaho
Montana
Utah
Wyoming
Colorado
4. General Situation. The Task Force Organization provides a minimum number of key stations
with dependable communications capabilities at key locations throughout the Rocky Mountain
Region. During the initial stage of an emergency, region-wide coverage would be provided and
only a minimum number of stations would participate. Only those stations listed under Task Force
Organization will report to the emergency net. All other stations shall monitor for instructions
pertaining to their Task Force Area. This net can be expanded as the mission or conditions require
and as directed by the Net Control Station.
5. Mission. Task Force radio operators (primary, alternate and tertiary) shall be alerted by whatever
quick communications means is available. This includes but, is not limited to, HF radio, FM radio,
VHF A.M. radio, telephone, pager, cell phone, or Smart Phone type device. Email may be used if
it is available. All radio operators within Rocky Mountain Region shall assure immediate delivery
of all formal radio traffic as addressed. This includes relaying message traffic to other wings.
6. Network Execution.
a.
Activation. The following individuals may activate the network.
1.
Region Commander, Vice Commander, Chief of Staff or DCS Communications or
their designee.
2.
Any RMR Wing Commander, Vice Commander, or RMR Wing Director of
Communications.
3.
Any CAP Incident Commander or CAP Agency Liaison Officer within the Rocky
Mountain Region in conjunction with a specific mission.
b.
Frequencies.
1.
Primary channel: Romeo Mike Delta
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2.
Alternate channel: Romeo Mike Echo
3.
Tertiary channel: Romeo Mike Foxtrot
4.
Alternate Tertiary channels: The remaining channels in the Rocky Mountain
Region ALE suite of frequencies may be used.
5.
The secondary command directed net shall utilize VHF FM frequencies.
6.
The tertiary network shall use ISR radios to communicate across the “last mile”
when other means are not available.
7.
Other means may be necessary when the normal communications paths are
inoperable. This could include a “fan-out” of unit personnel which could include using
personnel to drive or walk messages to reach all unit members. When designing unit “fanout” and alert notification lists, consideration should be given to how the notifications
would be accomplished when normal communications systems are inoperable.
8.
Channel November Romeo Delta will be the primary conventional channel
monitored and used as a means to contact non-RMR including national headquarters
stations. Channel November Romeo Charlie will be the secondary conventional frequency.
c.
Ground and Air Mobile Stations. Ground and air mobile stations will be alerted to
standby status upon implementation of the RMR Emergency Network. Staging locations will be
determined at the time of implementation.
d.
CAP Alert Level.
1.
During CAP Alert Level Orange, the net will be conducted twice daily at 0630 and
1900 hours local time.
2.
During CAP Alert Level Red, at a minimum, the net will be conducted at 0630,
1200, 1900 and 2200 hours local time.
3.
Under CAP Alert Level Orange or Red, each wing should appoint a minimum of
one primary and one alternate station to participate in the scheduled nets in accordance
with the Communications Actions published by national headquarters.
e.
Region and Wing Requirements.
1.
Rocky Mountain Region wings must support this plan.
2.
Primary and secondary stations should be equipped with auxiliary power as unit
funds permit.
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3.
Wings must designate primary, alternate and tertiary stations required for initial
support of this plan in their annual Emergency Communications Plan due to RMR
headquarters and national headquarters no later than 10 January of each year. The region
Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications should be notified of any changes of the three
identified operators when changes occur. The three task force stations must have an
operable HF station at their residence or nearby alternate location such as at a business,
unit meeting place, ICP location or emergency operations center.
4.
Wing Emergency Communications Plans must include:
(a)
Emergency contact numbers and information for operators of the primary,
secondary and tertiary to include telephone, cellphone, pager, email, physical address, CAP call sign,
SELCAL/ALE call sign and frequencies available.
(b)
Is the station equipped with auxiliary power.
(c)
Are supplemental communications facilities available to the station through
federal or state government agencies. Identify the agency and its location.
(d)
Identify the name(s) of VHF FM repeaters accessible by the key station or
(e)
Is the repeater linkable to any other CAP repeater.
alternate.
f.
CAP Alerting System. Alert levels will be maintained per the current national level and
the designated Communications Actions and specific preparedness steps will be implemented.
OPERATIONS AND TRAINING PLAN
2-1.
Scheduled HF Network. The Rocky Mountain Region scheduled network will be conducted as
directed by the Net Control Station or an Assistant Net Control Station.
a.
Weekly Network. The weekly conventional network will be conducted on Wednesday at
1900 hours local time on channel RMD.
1.
Immediately following the close of the RMD net, the net will be conducted on
channel RME.
2.
Immediately following the close of the RME net, the Net Control Station may
optionally conduct a net on any of the remaining region ALE suite of channels.
3.
At least once a month the NCS shall initiate formal traffic to the wings for training
purposes.
4.
The region has been provided with only two HF radios capable of ALE. These two
radios are dedicated to the national ALE suite of frequencies. Due to this equipment
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limitation, the region is unable to conduct ALE operations on the region suite of
frequencies. The region has been provided with HF MLE radios for use on the region suite
of frequencies and shall use these radios to connect with the wings’ ALE radios.
2-2.
ALE .
a. Operations.
1. The Rocky Mountain Region ALE suite of frequencies may be used by all Rocky
Mountain Region stations in conventional, MLE or ALE modes. Personnel shall follow
the ALE operating guidance as distributed on CAP DC by National Headquarters, the
National Technology Center, and the volunteer National Communications Team as
well as published in this supplement.
2. The region ALE suite of frequencies shall be implemented no later than 30 April 2011.
3. Only Rocky Mountain Region Headquarters Message Centers are authorized to use the
national ALE suite of frequencies. Wings may contact the NOC for authorization to
use the national ALE suite for specific missions. Wings shall notify the region Deputy
Chief of Staff for Communications when such authorization is obtained.
2-3.
Special Frequencies. Rocky Mountain Region Headquarters does not hold any special frequency
authorizations. Rocky Mountain Region Headquarters members may obtain authorization to
operate on special frequencies authorized to a Rocky Mountain Region wing. Wing DC’s may
authorize individual members to utilize special frequencies. Wings may limit special frequency
authorizations to members who hold certain Emergency Services qualifications.
2-4.
Region Headquarters Radio Station Authorizations.
a.
Region Headquarters members shall complete the RMR form 100 and send the completed
form to the Communications Licensing Officer.
b.
Each transmitter must have its own authorization
.
c.
Any transmitter being licensed by a member must be fully compliant with NTIA standards.
A list of compliant radios is listed on the National Technology Center website.
d.
It is the responsibility of the licensee to notify the region Communications Licensing
Officer whenever their personal information (address, telephone number, radio manufacturer and model)
changes.
e.
Region Headquarters’ call signs shall consist of the assigned Air Force Voice Call Sign
(AFVCS) and digits from 1 to 99.
f.
40 to 49 will be assigned only to stations which perform a communications function and
are assigned to the communications staff.
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REPEATER PLAN
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Repeater Plan. Rocky Mountain Region Headquarters is not responsible for any repeater
installations.
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Command.
a.
This plan supersedes all previous Communications Operations and Training, Operations
and Training and Repeater plans.
b.
These plans pertain to Headquarters Rocky Mountain Region and all subordinate units.
c.
All units shall advise this headquarters, attention DCS Communications of any factors
which may limit or prevent the execution of this plan.
Attachments:
1. Task Force stations
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