Interfacing with other Departments on a Search Minnesota Wing Air Branch Director Course

Overview Coordinating with the Planning Section Coordinating with the Communications Unit

An org chart to start

What is the Planning Section? The Planning Section Chief - (PSC), a member of the General Staff, is responsible for the collection, evaluation, dissemination and use of information about the development of the incident and the status of resources. Information is needed to: – Understand the current situation – Predict the probable course of incident events; and – Prepare alternative strategies for the incident.

Ops/Planning Operations thinks about the here and now. Planning analyzes what is the current situation is and plans for the future. Planning puts the plan together with coordination from all departments, operations executes it. Initial or Reflex Actions are taken by operations. After that, planning section is established to plan out future periods.

Ops/Planning All clues/leads will be handed over to planning including documentation/artifacts and mission paperwork. Planning should be maintaining resource status boards and situation maps. – These are not the sortie boards.

Ops/Planning Debriefing information is critical to what planning is doing. – Helps them decide where to search next. – What worked, didn’t work. That information is folded into the IAP for the next operational period. Planning can take the info from the IAP to help start sortie paperwork.

Ops/Planning Status Meetings – Recommended that the staff have short meetings every few hours to ensure that everyone on the mission staff is up to speed and on the same page as to the latest information.

What is the Comm Unit? The Communications Unit Leader - is responsible for developing plans for the effective use of incident communications equipment and facilities; installing and testing of communications equipment; supervision of the Incident Communications Center; distribution of communications equipment to incident personnel; and the maintenance and repair of communications equipment.

Coordinating with Communications They are your connection to your crews. Without them, you are blind as to what is happening in the field. Work with them to develop a plan that works for both of you.

Things to Agree Upon How is information going to get between Comm and Air Branch? – ISR Radios – Runners with forms going back and forth – Computerized systems Instant Messengers

What you need to get from Comm Communications Plan: – A Plan showing: Channels/Frequencies that will be used including alternates and interagency frequencies. Check-in process (30 mins usual for aircrews when able) Lost Communications Procedures – May be a formal written handout for crews. – Often may be verbal in the early stages of a mission (i.e. Everyone on Channel 1) Communications equipment you need.

What Comm needs from you To be notified before sorties launch. Aircrews for high birds (if needed).

How they relate There is a constant flow of information between the two. – Comm is the voice of command, they are not command. When a crew calls in, they have to have – Air Ops is the brain – Constant communication between the two is essential.