New Operations Officer Question

[jdh]

I was wondering if anyone could give me a path to follow for the Operations Officer. Eventually I want to have Incident Commander Level 3. In our squadron I will also be covering ES since we dont have enough personnel to split it from Ops at this time. What quals would be good for me to obtain is there a laid out path somewhere that I can see that shows the order to obtain them in?

[Camas]

I'm going to assume you're a pilot so hopefully you're familiar with the 60-series regulations. You'll want to be very sharp on the material contained within. Also go over CAPP 211 and 213; these are specialty track pamphlets you'll want to study. Hope this helps.

[jdh]

Not a pilot at this time, have to find out if I am still eligible to fly. Was grounded back in 2006 do to a medical condition that is now fixed, just havent talked with the FAA about it yet. Have been reading the CAP Ps, Rs, Ms that are in the study guides but Im looking for more of a path though the Op Qual items that are shown on the 101. Im hoping to find a path that is the most efficient and has the least amount of bouncing around.

[Camas]

If no one in your unit can provide you with help perhaps you might want to check with those involved with ES and/or operations at your group or wing level. I'm not a pilot so I'm no expert. My earlier post was just some thoughts.

[Storm Chaser]

While related, the Operations Officer duty assignment and corresponding Specialty Track are separate from Operations Qualifications specialties. To be an effective Operations Officer, you need to be proficient with your unit's operations and capabilities, and familiar with those of your group or wing. If you're not a pilot and your unit has an airplane, you may want to become a Mission Scanner and Mission Observer, as that training and experience will help you as an Operations Officer. If you don't have a Stan/Eval Officer, you'll have to be familiar with those responsibilities as well. You may also want to have a basic knowledge of aircraft maintenance requirements.

The Operations Officer is not only responsible for air operations, but for ground operations as well. You may want to become, as a minimum, UDF qualified and, preferably, GTM3 (or higher) and GTL. While these are all Operations Qualifications, they will give a better understanding of the typical operations ran at the unit level. In addition, you want to be proficient with Ops Quals and CAPR 60-1 and 60-3. One of your primary responsibilities as an Operations or Emergency Services Officer is to manage the program that will train and equip your members to support our operations.

The qualifications mentioned are also baseline qualifications if you wish to become an IC3 one day. I would also recommend Mission Staff Assistant, which would help you understand how a mission base works and allow you to assist other ICS staff members. You want to take advantage of ICS-300 and 400 when offered, as they're not always easy to come by (depending on where you live) and will be needed further on.

Once you start working on Branch Director or higher, I recommend you attend the AFRCC Basic Inland SAR Course and the Inland Planning SAR Course. While these two courses are not currently required for qualification, they'll offer vital SAR management and planning information.

Once you master air and ground operations from a tactical perspective, you can start working on Ground or Air Operations Branch Director. One of these will be needed to continue working on Planning Section Chief, which is needed for Operations Section Chief and IC3. I recommend you also work on Mission Safety Officer and other section chief qualifications. The whole process will likely take a few years.

[jdh]

While related, the Operations Officer duty assignment and corresponding Specialty Track are separate from Operations Qualifications specialties. To be an effective Operations Officer, you need to be proficient with your unit's operations and capabilities, and familiar with those of your group or wing. If you're not a pilot and your unit has an airplane, you may want to become a Mission Scanner and Mission Observer, as that training and experience will help you as an Operations Officer. If you don't have a Stan/Eval Officer, you'll have to be familiar with those responsibilities as well. You may also want to have a basic knowledge of aircraft maintenance requirements.

I do plan on doing the Mission Scanner and Observer training as well as any other Ops Quals that I can. Prior to my enlistment I was a Firefighter/EMT/HazMat Tech with ICS/Rescue Tech and took every class I could get into (one of my biggest obsessions in learning everything I can). While enlisted I was an AH-64D Crew Chief and have an A&P so I have the maintenance part down.

The Operations Officer is not only responsible for air operations, but for ground operations as well. You may want to become, as a minimum, UDF qualified and, preferably, GTM3 (or higher) and GTL. While these are all Operations Qualifications, they will give a better understanding of the typical operations ran at the unit level. In addition, you want to be proficient with Ops Quals and CAPR 60-1 and 60-3. One of your primary responsibilities as an Operations or Emergency Services Officer is to manage the program that will train and equip your members to support our operations.

The qualifications mentioned are also baseline qualifications if you wish to become an IC3 one day. I would also recommend Mission Staff Assistant, which would help you understand how a mission base works and allow you to assist other ICS staff members. You want to take advantage of ICS-300 and 400 when offered, as they're not always easy to come by (depending on where you live) and will be needed further on.

I have IS100,200,300,400,700,800, and a lot of other 200 and 700 sub-level course from my time as an IC for Hazmat and fire operations. I am going to retake 300 and 400 when I get a chance though since it has been several years since I have used any of it.

Once you start working on Branch Director or higher, I recommend you attend the AFRCC Basic Inland SAR Course and the Inland Planning SAR Course. While these two courses are not currently required for qualification, they'll offer vital SAR management and planning information.

Once you master air and ground operations from a tactical perspective, you can start working on Ground or Air Operations Branch Director. One of these will be needed to continue working on Planning Section Chief, which is needed for Operations Section Chief and IC3. I recommend you also work on Mission Safety Officer and other section chief qualifications. The whole process will likely take a few years.

Is there anywhere that I can see a flow chart or path map that shows the progression from ES 116 though the other Quals or would I have to print out each of the SQRTs and then make one on my own?

[SarDragon]

While related, the Operations Officer duty assignment and corresponding Specialty Track are separate from Operations Qualifications specialties. To be an effective Operations Officer, you need to be proficient with your unit's operations and capabilities, and familiar with those of your group or wing. If you're not a pilot and your unit has an airplane, you may want to become a Mission Scanner and Mission Observer, as that training and experience will help you as an Operations Officer. If you don't have a Stan/Eval Officer, you'll have to be familiar with those responsibilities as well. You may also want to have a basic knowledge of aircraft maintenance requirements.

I do plan on doing the Mission Scanner and Observer training as well as any other Ops Quals that I can. Prior to my enlistment I was a Firefighter/EMT/HazMat Tech with ICS/Rescue Tech and took every class I could get into (one of my biggest obsessions in learning everything I can). While enlisted I was an AH-64D Crew Chief and have an A&P so I have the maintenance part down.

We don't do our own maintenance, so that's pretty much useless in CAP. Sad, but true.

The Operations Officer is not only responsible for air operations, but for ground operations as well. You may want to become, as a minimum, UDF qualified and, preferably, GTM3 (or higher) and GTL. While these are all Operations Qualifications, they will give a better understanding of the typical operations ran at the unit level. In addition, you want to be proficient with Ops Quals and CAPR 60-1 and 60-3. One of your primary responsibilities as an Operations or Emergency Services Officer is to manage the program that will train and equip your members to support our operations.

The qualifications mentioned are also baseline qualifications if you wish to become an IC3 one day. I would also recommend Mission Staff Assistant, which would help you understand how a mission base works and allow you to assist other ICS staff members. You want to take advantage of ICS-300 and 400 when offered, as they're not always easy to come by (depending on where you live) and will be needed further on.

I have IS100,200,300,400,700,800, and a lot of other 200 and 700 sub-level course from my time as an IC for Hazmat and fire operations. I am going to retake 300 and 400 when I get a chance though since it has been several years since I have used any of it.

Once you start working on Branch Director or higher, I recommend you attend the AFRCC Basic Inland SAR Course and the Inland Planning SAR Course. While these two courses are not currently required for qualification, they'll offer vital SAR management and planning information.

Once you master air and ground operations from a tactical perspective, you can start working on Ground or Air Operations Branch Director. One of these will be needed to continue working on Planning Section Chief, which is needed for Operations Section Chief and IC3. I recommend you also work on Mission Safety Officer and other section chief qualifications. The whole process will likely take a few years.

Is there anywhere that I can see a flow chart or path map that shows the progression from ES 116 though the other Quals or would I have to print out each of the SQRTs SQTRs and then make one on my own?

What I highlighted. Note that there are a couple of ways to go up the ladder to get to Ops Section Chief.

[jdh]

Now for a different question. Is there a report that shows me which members are active and which ones aren't? I am starting to put my Plan of Action together on what I want to see in regards to ES and general operations qualifications for the squadron. edit: this will be my plan for the next 6 months.

Examples of some of the goals in my list are to have:
100% of active members GES qualified
50% GTM3 (no more than half of those GMT3-T)
10% GTL
50% ICUT
6 seniors with CAP drivers Licenses
etc.

The list gets pretty long.

[sarmed1]

The only "active" would be regular members vs patron members.  Otherwise i would say it is up to you squadron to determine/identify active vs inactive members on your roster.

Personally I would shoot for 100% completing ICUT; that way you can hand anyone a radio to use in an "emergency"
If you have a vehicle assigned, I would also shoot for all seniors 21 and over to have a CAP drivers license.

mk

[jdh]

The only "active" would be regular members vs patron members.  Otherwise i would say it is up to you squadron to determine/identify active vs inactive members on your roster.

Personally I would shoot for 100% completing ICUT; that way you can hand anyone a radio to use in an "emergency"
If you have a vehicle assigned, I would also shoot for all seniors 21 and over to have a CAP drivers license.

mk

I will push for 100% on ICUT within the year but right now its less than 6% in the squadron and this is a 6 month goal, would rather hit or exceed the goals on my first Plan of Action than to fall short. After this first 6 month plan I plan to increase the percentiles for each of the items I will have on this plan plus start adding more. We are a small composite squadron with 30 members right now but we are building and I would rather my Plan of Action be more motivating (by less demanding jumps) than discouraging

[bwana50]

I found this thread interesting since I have also been recently appointed Ops Officer.

jdh, I like the sound of your training goals for the unit (100% GES qualified, etc.).  Would you be willing to send me the rest of your list, and would you mind if I plagiarize/adapt it for our unit?

(BTW - post #1 for me here!)

[Bear555]

bwana50 +1 for me.

I didn't find any clarity anywhere else yet on actual responsibilities

[Spam]

OK, here you go. In general terms, you have to go do your homework, starting with the regs, available to all on capmembers.com, and then the Specialty Track Study Guide pamphlet for your specialty track (Ops):


CAP REGULATION 20-1
2 JANUARY 2013
Org of CAP
http://www.capmembers.com/media/cms/R020_001_73F1BA70FD9EB.pdf
See Part 3 - position descriptions - pages 28 - 31 cover all the Operations related position descriptions and responsibilities.


Then Pamphlets 211-213 give specifics:
CAPP 211 5 DECEMBER 2013
Operations Officer Specialty Track Study Guide
http://www.capmembers.com/media/cms/P211_62F4269290B38.pdf


Recommend you carefully note the differences between being an Ops/ES Officer, as opposed to an officer who does operations and trains people in ES. The former is a manager/planner/administrator desk job, and the latter is a flying/ground ops/base staff one who actually is executing operations and training.  You can be both, but you should understand the different roles.


You should also understand that your progress towards specific ratings is a related but separate issue from being the best Ops Officer a commander could ever want. If for example, you are not qualified in a specialty (and SET - Skills Evaluator - qualified in it) then you're not the right one to be teaching trainees, just as only check pilots can give check rides... but you can still be an outstanding MANAGER OF TRAINING (ES officer) by arranging a plan and instructors and venue. Make sense?


My second CO back in the 80s recommended that ALL of his officers carry an Ops/ES specialty track on their training goals (even our 72 year old female Admin Officer) in order to learn how their "main" job (Admin/PA/Finance, you name it) could contribute to this core mission, whether they were aircrew/GT or not.  I've encouraged that as well, in my successive commands.


Welcome to Ops! Go get 'em tiger!


V/R,
Spam

[Jaison009]

30 members is far from small for squadrons lately.

The only "active" would be regular members vs patron members.  Otherwise i would say it is up to you squadron to determine/identify active vs inactive members on your roster.

Personally I would shoot for 100% completing ICUT; that way you can hand anyone a radio to use in an "emergency"
If you have a vehicle assigned, I would also shoot for all seniors 21 and over to have a CAP drivers license.

mk

I will push for 100% on ICUT within the year but right now its less than 6% in the squadron and this is a 6 month goal, would rather hit or exceed the goals on my first Plan of Action than to fall short. After this first 6 month plan I plan to increase the percentiles for each of the items I will have on this plan plus start adding more. We are a small composite squadron with 30 members right now but we are building and I would rather my Plan of Action be more motivating (by less demanding jumps) than discouraging

[JC004]

Now for a different question. Is there a report that shows me which members are active and which ones aren't? I am starting to put my Plan of Action together on what I want to see in regards to ES and general operations qualifications for the squadron. edit: this will be my plan for the next 6 months.

Examples of some of the goals in my list are to have:
100% of active members GES qualified
50% GTM3 (no more than half of those GMT3-T)
10% GTL
50% ICUT
6 seniors with CAP drivers Licenses
etc.

The list gets pretty long.

I would not use percentages.  It could always have you chasing a number you can't achieve because one cadet has gone off to an academy and some SM spends a few months away each year.

I would focus on capabilities.  Say that you want to have a Ground Team with a minimum of 12 members, the ability to staff a mission base, or have 3 full aircrews.  Plus equipment/supply - a mobile communications kit, a mission base kit, a team kit for UDF/GT...

[jdh]

Now for a different question. Is there a report that shows me which members are active and which ones aren't? I am starting to put my Plan of Action together on what I want to see in regards to ES and general operations qualifications for the squadron. edit: this will be my plan for the next 6 months.

Examples of some of the goals in my list are to have:
100% of active members GES qualified
50% GTM3 (no more than half of those GMT3-T)
10% GTL
50% ICUT
6 seniors with CAP drivers Licenses
etc.

The list gets pretty long.

I would not use percentages.  It could always have you chasing a number you can't achieve because one cadet has gone off to an academy and some SM spends a few months away each year.

I would focus on capabilities.  Say that you want to have a Ground Team with a minimum of 12 members, the ability to staff a mission base, or have 3 full aircrews.  Plus equipment/supply - a mobile communications kit, a mission base kit, a team kit for UDF/GT...

Now that I have people trained I am working on putting together teams and putting them on a rotating schedule, based on their availabilities, in the event that we get alerted. We have mobile comms (have nowhere to set a perm repeater so we always use portable) and Im working on getting together a mobile base kit (have a personal kit: comp, printer, scanner, mobile hotspot, white board with markers, pens, paper, ICS/CAP forms), and Im working on setting up team gear as well as individual bags for the teams that will be kept at the unit for rapid deployment. Everyone will have their own bags for training but we are putting together identical bags that the teams can grab and go when alerted.

[JC004]

I can send you my draft ES Team equipment/supplies spreadsheet.  I am re-digitizing it (file was lost in a data loss) and making some edits.  I'm also going to include a list of software for the computer, apps for mobile devices, and a list of electronic publications (forms, regulations, reference materials), in my update.

A couple cadets interested in ES, who can take some added responsibility, will inspect the new kits regularly with the help of a SM.