sUAS Teams, Puerto Rico, and Tropical Storm Dorian

[etodd]

CAP Headquarters has assembled a team of sUAS MPs and they are traveling today. FEMA has asked for CAP to deploy sUAS, for SAR and more, to be ready as soon as the storm passes Puerto Rico.

Three of the Wings that jumped on board early, got the training and are prepared, now have members headed to an actual approved mission. Wishing them safe passage and a successful mission over the next few days.

Praying for the people of P.R. that maybe it'll miss them.  If CAP sUAS flies, hoping to see how it all goes and what we can learn from this mission that will help the program in the future.

[Holding Pattern]

Is this an official PIO release?

[Fubar]

Is this an official PIO release?

We are currently without a PIO.

[etodd]

Yes, this is one of my pet peeves with organizations like this that have Public Relations people, but no Marketing people. They think the PR folks are handling all of it. Its apples and oranges.  We see Press Releases about an event go out days, sometimes weeks, AFTER the event. And most of the media could not give a flip at anything that old. We see it on our CAP pages, and think its wonderful, but the public isn't seeing jack.

In this news climate we have now of perceptions of help not getting to people quick enough ... we should be shouting it from the rooftops that the Civil Air Patrol is headed to help "now". To be there ready for SAR as the storm passes.  Incredible opportunity to let our light shine. And the mainstream media will be in PR, and should know we are there. We should grab some of the spotlight, and let the public see us.

Nothing in my post has anything with any semblance of OPSEC issues. And you can market all this without doing so.

When I think of CAP marketing, it always reminds me of the two guys with black markers in the newsroom of Good Morning Vietnam. "Hide everything!"  LOL

[OldGuy]

PM me - I am a PIO, happy to help prepare press releases, media advisories and act as a remote PIO for this mission. Happy to help, will need to coordinate and be subject to the IC, of course.

[etodd]

Looks like our sUAS Crews we deployed to Puerto Rico Tuesday, before the storm, are now sitting there practicing with the new InstantEye drones, while watching the Hurricane pass north. We can at least let everyone know "CAP was there ahead of the storm and prepared!".  Our real first big deployment for FEMA.

Not sure if they will be needed in the U.S.Virgin Islands. They got hit, and have lost most power from what I've seen.

FLORIDA Wing looks like they will be needing help from an all hands on deck standpoint.

[CAP9907]

I did see the FEMA MA that specified "manned and/or unmanned" aerial assets... first time I've seen that..

~9907

[etodd]

I did see the FEMA MA that specified "manned and/or unmanned" aerial assets... first time I've seen that..

Yes, FEMA requested it, so we flew crews down and put them in a hotel to hunker down if the hurricane hit. So they could immediately start SAR.

[CAP9907]

Ya, I got that..   my point was that I've seen a bunch of MA's in this Region, but never requesting unmanned assets; this was a first for me. (and as per usual for FEMA MA's, the original funding was generous..)

[Holding Pattern]

Any word on a PIO being spun up for this, even just remotely? The story untold is the reason CAP is the "best kept secret" and so we must work to get the word out!

[etodd]

Any word on a PIO being spun up for this, even just remotely? The story untold is the reason CAP is the "best kept secret" and so we must work to get the word out!

They already missed the boat on the Puerto Rico story. Ours guys flew back tonight. (Thursday)  Maybe somebody will write up something for the next "quarterly" CAP magazine. LOL

Here are some of them getting some practice time in this morning on a Puerto Rico beach before leaving.

[Gunsotsu]

[slightlyofftopic]
I'm not sure which I find more hilarious, the way out of CAPM 39-1 hat, or the vest that screams "LOOK AT WHAT I'M DOING" in complete disregard to what the task guide says about being discrete.

Outside of looking tacticool,  there's zero reason why sUAS crews (except cadets), should be wearing ABUs/BDUs/CFUs on an actual mission/deployment.
Polo, tac pants, vest, and any needed PPE. That's it.
 
[/slightlyofftopic]

[Luis R. Ramos]

I find no problem with a senior member wearing ABUs or BDUs if worn as stated in 39-1. Unfortunately, his hat is not authorized by 39-1.

I find NO PROBLEM with his vest. Authorized in appropriate regs, members can wear designations in the vests. A "drone pilot" message would let authorities know that person may be there in an official capacity and not just taking shots for entertainment.

[etodd]

Yep. Couldn't make it past page one without sidetracking the excitement of real mission work, and going to uniforms. Its CAPTalk after all. LOL

[CAP9907]

Yep. Couldn't make it past page one without sidetracking the excitement of real mission work, and going to uniforms. Its CAPTalk after all. LOL

It may seem trivial to you, but it may be a symptom of a greater issue.

If this Member cannot or will not follow the Manual about something as simple as a uniform, what else may he be disregarding? The first page of a checklist because he 'knows' his drone is good to go? Checking the tire pressure of his Plane or Van because they look good?

My point is: if a Member cannot adhere to the smaller details, how can we trust them with the larger issues?

Also, this is bad from a PR perspective.. we need to follow our own rules and look the way that CAP and the AF expect us to look.

[Gunsotsu]

It may seem trivial to you, but it may be a symptom of a greater issue.

If this Member cannot or will not follow the Manual about something as simple as a uniform, what else may he be disregarding? The first page of a checklist because he 'knows' his drone is good to go? Checking the tire pressure of his Plane or Van because they look good?

My point is: if a Member cannot adhere to the smaller details, how can we trust them with the larger issues?

Also, this is bad from a PR perspective.. we need to follow our own rules and look the way that CAP and the AF expect us to look.

This.

And, also:
O-5019
Plan and Command a CAP UAS Flight
2. Prior to Startup
For every CAP flight the PIC must ensure the crew is wearing a proper CAP uniform (CAPM 39-1) and is carrying a current CAP Membership card.

The PIC in that photo failed that task. As a sUAS MP, instructor, and check pilot, you should know that. 

[Holding Pattern]

As an aside... this uniform conversation is precisely why you should coordinate data releases with a PIO.

[Fester]

The information I read was that it wasn't a REAL mission as it wasn't an AFAM.

[Fester]

It may seem trivial to you, but it may be a symptom of a greater issue.

If this Member cannot or will not follow the Manual about something as simple as a uniform, what else may he be disregarding? The first page of a checklist because he 'knows' his drone is good to go? Checking the tire pressure of his Plane or Van because they look good?

My point is: if a Member cannot adhere to the smaller details, how can we trust them with the larger issues?

Also, this is bad from a PR perspective.. we need to follow our own rules and look the way that CAP and the AF expect us to look.

This.

And, also:
O-5019
Plan and Command a CAP UAS Flight
2. Prior to Startup
For every CAP flight the PIC must ensure the crew is wearing a proper CAP uniform (CAPM 39-1) and is carrying a current CAP Membership card.

The PIC in that photo failed that task. As a sUAS MP, instructor, and check pilot, you should know that.

+1

Times a million.

[Fubar]

The information I read was that it wasn't a REAL mission as it wasn't an AFAM.

We sure spent a lot of money sending them down there without there being a real mission...