NESA '06 Announced

[Horn229]

Just got this in an e-mail from Maj Brockman.



National Ground Search and Rescue School
Team Leader Course Dates:  30 July to 5 August 2006
Basic Course Dates:  23 to 29 July 2006 and 30 July to 5 August 2006
Advanced Course Dates:  23 to 29 July 2006 and 30 July to 5 August 2006
Wilderness First Responder Course Dates: 23 to 29 July 2006
Fee:  $155

Mission Base Staff School
Basic Course Dates:  23 to 29 July 2006
Advanced Course Dates:  30 July to 5 August 2006
Fee:  $155

Mission Aircrew School
Mission Observer Track & Mission Pilot Track Dates:   29 July to 5
August 2006
Fee:  $155

[PACAPSM]

OK, where, when, and what times?

And, Thanks!!!

[Horn229]

Where - Camp Atterbury, about 35 miles south of Indianapolis, IN.
When - Dates of listed above
Time - Tends to vary, will be sent out in the welcome packets. 

[Horn229]

Got this in an e-mail yesterday from the NESA e-mail list.

As promised, the NESA Registration is open today. On our main page at: http://www.homestead.com/ngsar/home.html there is a button that will take you into the 2006 Online application called "REGISTER FOR 2006 NESA" at the bottom of the page and the participant information page has been updated with the 2006 Release Forms as well. And so it begins.

A link to post your transportation information will be posted in the next week or so so that all participants and staff can post or update the travel information directly to the database.

The staff biography database will also be updated in the next week or so for those applying for staff

Happy Holidays and we look forward to working with you again in 2006.

John D.

JOHN W. DESMARAIS, Sr., Lt Col, CAP
Deputy Director, Ops Support & Homeland Security
Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters

Voice: 334-953-4228
DSN: 493-4228
Fax: 800-555-7902
Ops Center: 888-211-1812
E-mail: jdesmarais@cap.gov

[DeputyDog]

Can anyone give me a typical schedule of a day at the Mission Base Staff School- Basic? Also, any advice from anyone about the course?

[Horn229]

Can anyone give me a typical schedule of a day at the Mission Base Staff School- Basic? Also, any advice from anyone about the course?

Wake up
Breakfast
Classes
Lunch
Classes
Dinner
A Class or two
Free time
Sleep


Repeat for the next 3 days. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights there is Canteen time, so you can be there if you choose, during your free time.

*waits for "What's canteen?*

[DeputyDog]

Can anyone give me a typical schedule of a day at the Mission Base Staff School- Basic? Also, any advice from anyone about the course?

Wake up
Breakfast
Classes
Lunch
Classes
Dinner
A Class or two
Free time
Sleep


Repeat for the next 3 days. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights there is Canteen time, so you can be there if you choose, during your free time.

*waits for "What's canteen?*

Thank you! I'll bite...."What's 'Canteen'"?
What time is wake up (I am getting old...)?

[MIKE]

Main Entry: can·teen
Pronunciation: kan-'tEn
Function: noun
Etymology: French cantine bottle case, sutler's shop, from Italian cantina wine cellar, probably from canto corner, from Latin canthus iron tire -- more at CANT
1 a : a portable chest with compartments for carrying bottles or for cooking and eating utensils b : a flask for carrying liquids (as on a hike) c : MESS KIT d British : a chest for storing flatware
2 a : a bar at a military post or camp b : a general store at a military post : EXCHANGE c : an establishment that serves as an informal social club (as for soldiers or a community's teenagers) d : a small cafeteria or snack bar

[whatevah]

Can anyone give me a typical schedule of a day at the Mission Base Staff School- Basic? Also, any advice from anyone about the course?

I haven't been paying much attention to the forums lately (shame on me) so I missed this post...

MBSS is probably the easiest course at NESA.  You get more sleep than the rest of NESA (well, except when the noisy pilots keep you awake ), and all of your classes are in air-conditioned rooms, away from all the smelly ground team people.     It'll get boring some of the time, because of the almost non-stop classes, but they give you breaks and stuff to keep you awake.

I'll be teaching one class each week, so I've got the schedule drafts. 

For the basic course, it's pretty much classes all day with a break for lunch and dinner.  after dinner it's sometimes free time, but could be a special class or table-top scenario.   You'll do several table-top missions during the week, with the last day being just the final tests and final mission.  It'll be a full week, and you'll learn a lot of stuff.  Communications, public affairs, interviewing techniques, Operational Risk Management, Critical Incident Stress Management, Organization of missions, a SAR dog demo (you'll be in the SAR dog building the entire week) and some other stuff like that.

I'll be doing a class on role of the Information Officer, so be sure to say hi, and tell me you saw my post here on CAPTalk.   I'll also stop by a few times to get some pictures.  I'll be the NESA photographer for both weeks. :angel:

oh, for advice... just bring a good notebook and an open mind, some of the information may be second nature for you, but some of it may be a little different than what you're used to.

[Horn229]

2 a : a bar at a military post or camp b : a general store at a military post : EXCHANGE c : an establishment that serves as an informal social club (as for soldiers or a community's teenagers) d : a small cafeteria or snack bar

[/quote]

That's actually pretty accurate for what we have. It's basically an area where you can buy soda, snacks, NESA promo items, and watch a movie. Now let me say this now, so you won't forget during GSAR. DON'T SLAM THE DOOR!

[whatevah]

Now let me say this now, so you won't forget during GSAR. DON'T SLAM THE DOOR!

and for goodness sakes...  if you're closing the windows because a storm is coming, don't slam them shut, either.  a kid shattered one of the windows in the NGSAR classroom building last year doing that.

[Horn229]

Now let me say this now, so you won't forget during GSAR. DON'T SLAM THE DOOR!

and for goodness sakes...  if you're closing the windows because a storm is coming, don't slam them shut, either.  a kid shattered one of the windows in the NGSAR classroom building last year doing that.

Ya, then some smart fellow decided to go and play with the glass, thus cutting his hand. 

[ladyreferee]

Ok, how about a typical day for NGSAR?  What are some other important things to bring or know about this event?   Thanks!

[whatevah]

day schedule depends a little on the weather, if it's going to be bad storms all day long, you'll stay indoors for classes or completing the simple tasks.  otherwise, most of the week is a mix of classes and then going out to use the training from the class and to accomplish the requirements of the tasks.  some of the tasks require a lot of time in the field.   you'll get 3 meals a day, if you're lucky all 3 will be in the chow hall, but some might be bag lunch or something out in the field.

also, they try to have a least one overnight stay in the field, using shelters and such.  if the weather is bad, they'll bring everybody back for safety (a lot of lightning in the storms out there, lighting + trees + tent = not fun).  so, you might get "lucky" and sleep in the barracks all week.

the packing list is pretty good, and you'll need to have everything listed in the gear requirements in the task book.  an extra camelback is usually a good idea, and bug spray is also highly recommended.  last year, they did aerial sprays for the bugs, but the chiggers didn't seem to be affected, and those things are nasty.  so bring some good chigger spray!

[Horn229]

Ok, how about a typical day for NGSAR?  What are some other important things to bring or know about this event?   Thanks!

A typical day. Hmm. Sunday and Monday are spent getting the classroom stuff done and out of the way, basically it's all of the here's what you do inthe field, here's what you do if you get lost, and here's how to wear/pack your gear. Tuesday through Thursday are the field days (Electronic DF, Land Nav, Search Lines/Missing Person training), these three days we are in the field for the majority of the day. Tuesday and Wednesday nights, are also spent sleeping in the field.

Friday morning is spent getting the remaining tasks signed off, and for those that didn't pass DF/Land Nav on Tuesday or Wednesday get a few hours to retry. Immediately following lunch everyone gets ready for the Final Exercise, then 3-4 hours are spent doing a final mission. The next morning is Graduation.

So there really isn't a "normal" day, there's something differrent going on all the time. We also usually break up the school into two groups, so that we can rotate everyone through everything. Such as Teams 1-4 do DF the first day, while teams 5-8 are doing Land Nav, then the ext day they switch.

What to bring? Everything on the packing list, and everything listed in task O-0001 in the GT Taskguide. Extra items? spare boots that are comfortable and broken in, extra BDU pants, some money for the stuff you forget to bring, beef jerky or some sort of snack to have while in the field, and whatever else you feel like carrying. Remember, whatever is in your gear (24 and 72) you need to be able to carry for several miles with ease.

Over the last 7 years at GSAR, I've had to carry all my gear for several miles before reaching the campsite, and there have been years where I had to throw my gear in the back of a truck then jump on a bus and be driven to the campsite. I've also had cadets drop from heat exaution while carrying all their gear, and I've had cadets drop simple because their body required more water than the average person.

One of the stupidest things you can do at GSAR is not drink water. When in the field, depending on how hot it is, you should be going through 2 quarts of water every hour. Out of 6 teams that I've been in charge of (roughly 50 people) I've had two go down for heat related injuries. That ain't fun for the cadet who dropped nor for me, as they are losing valuable training time, and I have to deal with the commandant explaining why I wasn't makig sure my people were drinking enough.

Ok, enough of my ranting for now. So ya, extra boots/BDU pants, munchies, and drink WATER!

[Horn229]

(a lot of lightning in the storms out there, lighting + trees + tent = not fun).

Who uses a tent? Spare poncho and paracord, baby.

[Matt]

(a lot of lightning in the storms out there, lighting + trees + tent = not fun).

Who uses a tent? Spare poncho and paracord, baby.

Bah... MUD HUT!!!!

[whatevah]

well, I met DeputyDog a few hours ago when he signed in, but didn't know who it was until a few minutes ago.  gotta love wireless networks.   the base network is as slow as molasses during the day, though.  About the same at night, too.

[Pylon]

well, I met DeputyDog a few hours ago when he signed in, but didn't know who it was until a few minutes ago.  gotta love wireless networks.   the base network is as slow as molasses during the day, though.  About the same at night, too.

We're going to start having CAPTalk get-togethers at major CAP events now, haha. 

Enjoy NESA!

[Nathan]

I'll be at NESA, for those of you who don't know me from CadetStuff...