Civil Air Patrol Communications SQTRs Col. Jerry Wellman NHQ Asst. Comm Chief 22-23 August 2018 Anaheim, CA One Civil Air Patrol, excelling in service to our nation and our members!

Overview Way back in 2005 (maybe earlier) a group of experienced communicators began a process called the “Communications Curriculum.” This effort was to create a series of modules for both communications leaders and for communicators for incidents. You have seen this project begin to bear fruit as CAP communicators have stepped up for major incidents and now for DOD assignments

Overview The curriculum project involved many communicators over many years. The desire was to create a talented and skilled pool of communications leaders, managers, and operators. One of the first products was ICUT which replaced BCUT and ACUT If rules of engagement are necessary or an introduction of other briefers, suggest adding those ahead of the ideas.

Modules In the past three years, the NHQ communications training team has produced a number of “modules” on a variety of communications subjects. These modules are found in eServices, in the Learning Management System. Until now, these modules are for member education, they do not apply to any operations qualification for communicators. Recommend keeping bullets brief, not paragraphs. Generally we try to follow the 1-6-6 rule. Quite simply, this “Rule” says that each PowerPoint slide should have one main idea, a maximum of six bullet points, and a maximum of six words per bullet point. Obviously that rule is trumped by being able to truly get the thought and point across. Consider who will be briefing and receiving this information and how. If personnel will be reviewing independently, more may be needed on the slide itself, or details provided in the notes. Consider using pictures, charts or images, but be sure that we have the rights to use them before including them, and if data is perishable or dated, mark it accordingly.

All-Hazards At this year’s NESA, a group of 16 CAP members participated in CAP’s very first CAP-taught and FEMA/DHS certified All-Hazards Communications Unit Leader (COML) course. This group was also the final evaluation group for two new SQTRs to replace the CUL and MRO operations qualifications. Recommend keeping bullets brief, not paragraphs. Generally we try to follow the 1-6-6 rule. Quite simply, this “Rule” says that each PowerPoint slide should have one main idea, a maximum of six bullet points, and a maximum of six words per bullet point. Obviously that rule is trumped by being able to truly get the thought and point across. Consider who will be briefing and receiving this information and how. If personnel will be reviewing independently, more may be needed on the slide itself, or details provided in the notes. Consider using pictures, charts or images, but be sure that we have the rights to use them before including them, and if data is perishable or dated, mark it accordingly.

COML and RADO COML will replace CUL RADO will replace MRO. In the next few months you will see an end to the ability to qualify for CUL or MRO specialties. These two specialties will, at some fixed date to be announced, expire out of the system over three years. Recommend keeping bullets brief, not paragraphs. Generally we try to follow the 1-6-6 rule. Quite simply, this “Rule” says that each PowerPoint slide should have one main idea, a maximum of six bullet points, and a maximum of six words per bullet point. Obviously that rule is trumped by being able to truly get the thought and point across. Consider who will be briefing and receiving this information and how. If personnel will be reviewing independently, more may be needed on the slide itself, or details provided in the notes. Consider using pictures, charts or images, but be sure that we have the rights to use them before including them, and if data is perishable or dated, mark it accordingly.

COML and RADO There are three levels to COML and RADO. The basic level and intermediate level roughly equate to our current CUL and MRO specialties. The RADO+ and COML+ (plus) level will indicate that a member has completed both the CAP and the FEMA required tasks to be rated as a “Type 3 All-Hazards” COML or RADO.

Outcome The desired outcome is a cadre of CAP communicators who have a demonstrated, and current, communications proficiency … and a trained and qualified to both CAP and DHS/OEC standards. And… that CAP’s Type 3 qualified COMLs and RADOs can function on local Incident Management Teams.

When? Over the next 12 months the NHQ Communications Training Team will be finalizing both the SQTR tasks and a “task guide” for evaluators to use as each required task is approved. CAP NHQ/DOK will be working with NHQ/DO to finalize approval procedures such as who can approve these new qualifications..

Jerry Wellman NHQ Asst. Comm Chief jwellman@cap.gov or dok@capnhq.gov Questions? Jerry Wellman NHQ Asst. Comm Chief jwellman@cap.gov or dok@capnhq.gov Adding in your mailing address and telephone numbers are optional. Suggest that you use your cap email address if you have one since briefings are often times posted publicly One Civil Air Patrol, excelling in service to our nation and our members!