ES n00b - What should I be sure not to forget?

Started by NIN, May 17, 2019, 05:49:36 PM

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Eclipse

Quote from: Holding Pattern on May 17, 2019, 08:45:27 PM
Quote from: Eclipse on May 17, 2019, 08:25:16 PM
^ Not  CAP "thing" and wholly unnecessary for CAP ES operations.

Not a thing for you, but having a near instant recovery after a hard drive crash that happens to have bells and whistles for any USAF personnel visiting sure should be a CAP "thing."

CAP isn't remotely tasked with fixing CAP-USAF computers, and it's silly to assert it should be.

"That Others May Zoom"

Eclipse

ICUT is a good idea, and someone at the SAREx should be able to knock out the practical for you, but with your time in,
if you can't do the online in like 10 minutes, then it's time to hang it up.

See if you can get the FAM/Prep for UDF done as well, then you could go out on en ELT.


"That Others May Zoom"

Holding Pattern

Quote from: Eclipse on May 17, 2019, 11:32:44 PM
Quote from: Holding Pattern on May 17, 2019, 08:45:27 PM
Quote from: Eclipse on May 17, 2019, 08:25:16 PM
^ Not  CAP "thing" and wholly unnecessary for CAP ES operations.

Not a thing for you, but having a near instant recovery after a hard drive crash that happens to have bells and whistles for any USAF personnel visiting sure should be a CAP "thing."

CAP isn't remotely tasked with fixing CAP-USAF computers, and it's silly to assert it should be.

Nowhere did I assert anything about fixing CAP-USAF computers.

Eclipse

#23
^ The only "USAF personnel" at a SARex are going to be CAP-USAF people.

And as you type "but...",  it's not a CAP ES role to be fixing anyone's PCs during a mission,
regardless of why some rando USAF person is there or if they dropped their PC in the parking lot.

Honestly, this Apocalypse mentality holds CAP back in so many ways.

The vast majority of missions are accomplished with a few forms, a couple of laptops, some cell phones,
and a few radios.

Members do not need Time Travel GPS Units,  Arc Reactors, or a carload of Pelicans filled with "you never know".

An ipad and a hotspot are actually all anyone needs.

"That Others May Zoom"

NIN



Quote from: Eclipse on May 18, 2019, 12:38:27 AM
Members do not need Time Travel GPS Units,  Arc Reactors, or a carload of Pelicans filled with "you never know".

<looks in the back of White Lightning>

Uhhhh. Hmmm.
Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
I have no responsibilities whatsoever
I like to have Difficult Adult Conversations™
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NIN

Quote from: Eclipse on May 17, 2019, 11:36:32 PM
ICUT is a good idea, and someone at the SAREx should be able to knock out the practical for you, but with your time in,
if you can't do the online in like 10 minutes, then it's time to hang it up.

See if you can get the FAM/Prep for UDF done as well, then you could go out on en ELT.
I have the online part knocked out twice, I keep missing the practical. It will be done tomorrow.

I mean, geez, I've talked on CAP radios for over 30 years....
Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
I have no responsibilities whatsoever
I like to have Difficult Adult Conversations™
The contents of this post are Copyright © 2007-2024 by NIN. All rights are reserved. Specific permission is given to quote this post here on CAP-Talk only.

Holding Pattern

Quote from: Eclipse on May 18, 2019, 12:38:27 AM
^ The only "USAF personnel" at a SARex are going to be CAP-USAF people.

And as you type "but...",  it's not a CAP ES role to be fixing anyone's PCs during a mission,
regardless of why some rando USAF person is there or if they dropped their PC in the parking lot.

Honestly, this Apocalypse mentality holds CAP back in so many ways.

The vast majority of missions are accomplished with a few forms, a couple of laptops, some cell phones,
and a few radios.

Members do not need Time Travel GPS Units,  Arc Reactors, or a carload of Pelicans filled with "you never know".

An ipad and a hotspot are actually all anyone needs.

You've never had a laptop fail in the field I see. FWIW, I was referring to using TENS on CAP laptops, which are quite up to the task, allow you to get to e-services, and have the fringe benefit of then being good for CAC/PIV use for those members capable of using them.

You seem to have gotten it into your head that I'm repairing non-CAP property somehow, but even then, that belies an ignorance of what a live CD/USB OS is for. The entire point is to bring a machine online in a secure environment, and to supplant the need for a hard drive should the hard drive for whatever reason fail.

Eclipse

TENS for CAP members is silly affectation.

When a notebook dies, rarely, you just use something else.

A CAP notebook that dies isn't likely going to run TENS, either, and during a mission
ICS staff have better things to do then reload notebooks.

But whatever, Apocalypse gonna Apocalypse.

"That Others May Zoom"

NIN

Quote from: Spam on May 17, 2019, 11:28:01 PM
NIN:

kidding about the size of your state aside, this is a good question (albeit liable to degenerate into "gear nerd fights"). I would suggest three things more bearing in mind your personal training state/goals:

1. Remember to take any personal meds, including your choice for headaches.

Meh. I have my hydrochlorothiazide if I really get wound up.

Quote
2. Pattern rightly mentioned checklists/books... to amplify, take both your mission staff TASK GUIDE, as well as your mission staff REFERENCE TEXT:
https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/Mission_Base_Staff_Task_Guide_D05D81F929EB2.pdf
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52f294c6e4b0bede38b4d35c/t/5a88cc53c83025f59a757e23/1518914784873/Mission+Base+Staff+Reference+Text+-+May+2003.pdf

I have my checklists, but not the guides.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  I'll survive, this time.

Quote3. I'm betting that you haven't done ICUT; if you'll be breaking into supporting Comm (and its required for MSA), take a laptop to spend some time working through the course during slack time. ICUT is now hosted on the new Axis LMS at: 
https://elearning.capnhq.gov/lms/_portal/user/index.php

I've knocked out the online portions twice (once about 4 years ago, and again about 3 months ago) so our new Wing DC will be working the practical part with me today.
Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
I have no responsibilities whatsoever
I like to have Difficult Adult Conversations™
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NIN

Thanks buckets, gang, for the hook up on things. Apart from forgetting my combat boots (I have my flight boots, at least), this  weekend has gone pretty well.

I managed to pull off several MSA tasks, get my ICUT practical knocked out, took a whole bunch of photos for PA and spent the afternoon in the comm shack passing traffic.

Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
I have no responsibilities whatsoever
I like to have Difficult Adult Conversations™
The contents of this post are Copyright © 2007-2024 by NIN. All rights are reserved. Specific permission is given to quote this post here on CAP-Talk only.

Huey Driver

Quote from: NIN on May 18, 2019, 08:31:26 PM
Thanks buckets, gang, for the hook up on things. Apart from forgetting my combat boots (I have my flight boots, at least), this  weekend has gone pretty well.

I managed to pull off several MSA tasks, get my ICUT practical knocked out, took a whole bunch of photos for PA and spent the afternoon in the comm shack passing traffic.

Whoever is running PA and snapping those close-up photos, is killing it!
With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right...

NIN

Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
I have no responsibilities whatsoever
I like to have Difficult Adult Conversations™
The contents of this post are Copyright © 2007-2024 by NIN. All rights are reserved. Specific permission is given to quote this post here on CAP-Talk only.

Spam

Quote from: NIN on May 18, 2019, 08:31:26 PM
Apart from forgetting my combat boots (I have my flight boots, at least), this  weekend has gone pretty well.

You know, one of the weird things is, I almost mentioned my personal experience of neglecting to throw my boots into the car during an actual missing person mission in Cumberland Gap circa 1997 (in which the Wing DO was appointing me the IC). I had to turn around and waste another 40 minutes driving back home to get the boots on the way to the national park, arriving at 0200L.  I debated mentioning "be sure to have your turnout gear ready", and didn't.  Well, we won't forget now will we?

LOL
Spam




coudano

You're an MSA...  your 24 hour kit consists of a small rubbermaid tub of coffee supplies (mr coffee, filters, coffee grounds, creamer, sugar, trash bags paper towels, cups) .  Your gear check will occur immediately after sign-in, before the mass safety brief and invocation!!!    You can wait to be sent on an errand to get a box of bagels / donuts (make sure you hack 'inspect a vehicle' and 'navigate in a vehicle by map' when you do this mission critical sortie, or you can spark initiative and just show up with them  :P

Spam

Quote from: coudano on May 19, 2019, 04:01:42 AM
You're an MSA...  your 24 hour kit consists of a small rubbermaid tub of coffee supplies (mr coffee, filters, coffee grounds, creamer, sugar, trash bags paper towels, cups) .  Your gear check will occur immediately after sign-in, before the mass safety brief and invocation!!!    You can wait to be sent on an errand to get a box of bagels / donuts (make sure you hack 'inspect a vehicle' and 'navigate in a vehicle by map' when you do this mission critical sortie, or you can spark initiative and just show up with them  :P

LOL

Creamer. Don't forget the creamer, "Noob"!

V/r
Spam

NIN

Quote from: coudano on May 19, 2019, 04:01:42 AM
You're an MSA...  your 24 hour kit consists of a small rubbermaid tub of coffee supplies (mr coffee, filters, coffee grounds, creamer, sugar, trash bags paper towels, cups) .  Your gear check will occur immediately after sign-in, before the mass safety brief and invocation!!!    You can wait to be sent on an errand to get a box of bagels / donuts (make sure you hack 'inspect a vehicle' and 'navigate in a vehicle by map' when you do this mission critical sortie, or you can spark initiative and just show up with them 

You laugh but...

Our mission base was the small "terminal" building (calling it a "terminal" would be like calling my living room a "home theater") at the airport. Its about 600 sq ft of one room, a bathroom and the airport manager's office.  Along one side of that main room there is a kitchenette (counter with a fridge, sink, microwave and a coffee maker).

After I got ready for the day, I rolled into the building about 0630, way, way before anybody else.  Setup the extension cords and power strips on the tables. Got my PC setup, fired up my hot spot (we have our own router at this airport, but I neglected to get the password the night before), got into WMIRS and prepared to sign people in. True story: I've never really used WMIRS. Especially for that. Figured it out. 

I look over at the counter "Oooh, coffee maker. I better make coffee." I get a pot going, then texted one of my sq pilots driving over from the motel. "Bring me creamer!" There was plenty of sugar. No creamer.  Who does that? Not even the powdered junk.

20 minutes later my pilot shows up with a thing of french vanilla creamer (I did ask for creamer, not "half & half" ... won't make that mistake again). And donuts.

The IC, one of our former wing commanders, rolls in right after him.

He looks at me "I didn't know you were going to be here today! What are you going to be doing?"

"MSA trainee, sir."

"You? MSA?"

He looks over at the coffee maker with its full pot, looks back at me. "Did you make that?"

"Yessir."

"Only the best MSA ever. I think you're fully qualified."

So yeah, it pretty much worked exactly like that, minus the rubbermaid.
Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
I have no responsibilities whatsoever
I like to have Difficult Adult Conversations™
The contents of this post are Copyright © 2007-2024 by NIN. All rights are reserved. Specific permission is given to quote this post here on CAP-Talk only.

NIN

Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
I have no responsibilities whatsoever
I like to have Difficult Adult Conversations™
The contents of this post are Copyright © 2007-2024 by NIN. All rights are reserved. Specific permission is given to quote this post here on CAP-Talk only.

Color Guard Rifleman

Quote from: NIN on May 17, 2019, 05:49:36 PM
Its been ... awhile ... since I last went to an ES mission.

My spiffy new 101 card is handily marked "*MSA".  Headed to a mission base tonight for an overnight and all day mission tomorrow.

What things in the modern OPSQUAL/TRAINEX/SAREX/ICS age should I be sure not to forget?
(I already have "sleeping bag, et al" on my list there. You can be sure I'll be in the right uniform with the necessary accouterments)

Even though you have been in CAP for a while and have been on few ES missions, be able to take criticisms. You probably know a lot about ES, but other people might have been in different situations and be able to teach you how to handle them.
C/SMSgt Murphy Killeen, CAP
2019 MIWG Encampment Squadron 2 First Sergeant
Recruiting NCO

See the source image

NIN

#38
Quote from: Color Guard Rifleman on May 19, 2019, 03:17:09 PM
Even though you have been in CAP for a while and have been on few ES missions, be able to take criticisms. You probably know a lot about ES, but other people might have been in different situations and be able to teach you how to handle them.

This is great advice, not only for me (former GTM and MO) but for CAP folks in general.


I got shown a few things, was told several times "Oh, you already figured that out. Awesome" and even had the person coordinating the event tell me "I had a list of worries going into this weekend. Then I saw your name on the list and I had less worries." 

Sat in the comm trailer as an operator for a few hours at the end of the day. Managed to make one of our C/Lt Col's day when I arrived.

"I have a job for you."

"Yessir?"

"I have an old broken down senior, I need you to show him how mission comms works."

"OK, sir, who?"

"Me"

I got quite a bit out of that situation, from the "book" way of logging comms to the practical way of setting up the two VHF rigs to monitor several frequencies and allowing transmitting on the primary ops freq.  I logged & observed while he operated and showed me the ropes, then we switched seats (he needed a bio break) and I operated while he logged and coached.

The Wing DC came in at the end and he and I were chatting about the eventual disposition of the comms section in the command post trailer. Turns out, everything I had observed he already has a plan to fix.  Except the network, and he and I cooked up a plan to fix that.


Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
I have no responsibilities whatsoever
I like to have Difficult Adult Conversations™
The contents of this post are Copyright © 2007-2024 by NIN. All rights are reserved. Specific permission is given to quote this post here on CAP-Talk only.

NIN

Oh, and as MSA-T, I wound up playing "Super IT troubleshooter guy" when the IC got locked out of one of the main laptops, and then I had to troubleshoot the wifi in the building, network printing, the wifi in the command post trailer, the printers in the command post trailer... :)

Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
I have no responsibilities whatsoever
I like to have Difficult Adult Conversations™
The contents of this post are Copyright © 2007-2024 by NIN. All rights are reserved. Specific permission is given to quote this post here on CAP-Talk only.