Use of CAP Radios on Federal Installations Produced by the Southeast Region Communications Team in cooperation with the AFAUX/CAP Spectrum Manager.

All radio operations conducted on any military installation falls under CAPR “Spectrum Management”

6.2.2 “All CAP base stations located on Federal installations require advance federal frequency coordination, performed by the CAP communications spectrum management office, NHQ/DOKEF, working with the facility spectrum coordinator.”

What about missions, when we don’t have time to establish coordination. CAPR says “CAP operational missions on federal facilities, such as SAR / DR operational and training missions, do not require advance coordination.” These missions are pre-approved through Air Force coordination when the activity is in its planning stages.

So it is important to remember that all pre-planned activities exceeding 48 hours on an installation or facility where CAP communications will be used must follow the requirements of the DOKEF and the Spectrum Management program.

What about encampments? According to , “Planned special event operations exceeding 48 hours in duration on federal installations, such as encampments, require advance spectrum coordination, performed via the CAP communications spectrum management office, NHQ/DOKEF, working with the facility spectrum coordinator.” So you need to start the process the day you find out where and when you will be having an activity on an installation.

What is considered a Federal Installation? is very specific – “Federal Installation includes any US government office; any military base, military training facility, National Guard or Reserve training center or base; posted federal lands; any facility that is owned or managed under a Cabinet Level department, such as the Department of Energy, Bureau of Land management, National Parks Service, US Coast Guard, Customs and Border Patrol, National Weather Service, and US National Research Laboratories. Native American reservations are not “federal installations…”

6.2.3 “All requests for special spectrum management support should be directed to NHQ/DOKEF. Units wishing to install radio stations/antennas on military installations must coordinate in advance by ing Units may not contact military base spectrum management staff directly concerning specific antenna locations or frequencies.”

So what does all this mean? As soon as you are informed of any activity lasting 48 hours, but preferably all activities no matter what time length, the Wing Director of Communications or an authorized representative must contact DOKEF (CAP spectrum management office) to start the documentation.

DO NOT wait more than 1 week as it could take up to 90 or more days to get the documentation reviewed by all parties involved. It starts with the CAP spectrum management office, then to AETC (Air Education Training) at Randolph AFB, then up the line for approval. It is sent back down that same chain to the CAP spectrum management office who will inform you if you can or can’t use radios on the requested installation.

What if they say no for CAP equipment, can we use CB or FMRS or HAM gear?

N O CAP members are not authorized to use any non CAP communications equipment on any federal installation for CAP activities.

NOW WHAT DO WE DO ? So sorry, as you did not get the paperwork into DOKEF in a timely manner, higher authority has not provided approval so NO radio operations are authorized or approved.

What should we have done? As soon as you know about the activity, send an to stating the type of activity and the from - to dates. The form will be ed back to you. Fill it out completely, and return it to that office. ( Do not use the form in this presentation)

The form is very simple. Fill in the blanks. If you have any questions, contact the spectrum manager.

Who should fill out the form? Whoever is responsible for the communications activities for the project. However, the Wing Director of Communications must be in the loop as they are the responsible person for communications within their Wing.

What do I need to complete the form? The next 4 slides shows you what is on the form.

Do not fill in the “SPECTRUM MANAGERS:” box in the previous slide. This is for the DOKEF only.

PLEASE go back to the last slide and read the NOTE at the bottom of the form. DOKEF has a number of documents that must be completed and attached to your form before it can be sent to AETC. If you do not provide the properly completed form to DOKEF early enough for the chain of required offices and agencies to review and return the approval, you will not be authorized to operate any HF, UHF or VHF radios on the installation.

Some helpful hints – You will need to know the Lat / Lon of the area you want to operate from. Where will the base radio be? Where will the Communications trailer be?

You will need to know the legal address (street, city, zip, building number) of the primary building you will be using for your base station. If you are placing a Comm trailer on the site, you need to identify the exact location.

You must identify a CAP member Point of Contact that will be on site during the whole time of the activity.

It may be a good idea to include a separate page with the on site CAP activity / Commander’s name and cell phone number in case of any emergency.

You will need the Base or Installation Spectrum Manager’s (ISM) or Facility Manager’s name and contact information. (Your site contact person should be able to provide that information to you).

You will need to know what equipment and frequencies you will be using and the time frame when it will be in use. If ALE you must list what ALE net you are going to use.

If you are planning on checking into the daily HF nets, train in ALE and VHF operations and things like this, you must check the 24/7 box close to the top of the form.

Most of the rest of the form should be easy for any communicator to complete.

BUT REMEMBER, Time is of the essence. You need to get this to DOKEF at least 90 days before the start of the activity. To be safe, get it there at least 120 days ahead of time.

What can go wrong – will. If one of the members of the chain are out of the office, there could be a delay.

PLAN AHEAD, get it done as soon as you know it is going to happen.

Any and all questions must be directed to v v