ES: First Steps
By: Capt Ben Dickmann, Group VI ES Officer
ES STEPS:
- Earn General Emergency Services (GES) Rating
- Part I: Online GES Test
- Part II: FEMA IS100
- Pick an ES Qualification and Start Training
- Sign up for a UDF or Ground Team
General Emergency Services (GES) Rating
Your first step is to earn you General Emergency Services (GES) ES rating! GES is required before you can start training in any other ES specialty rating (i.e., as an aircrew member, mission base staff, or as a ground team or urban direction finding team member) that will allow you to participate in CAP's ES missions. GES is available to all Senior Members who have completed their Level 1 training and to Cadets who have completed their Curry Achievement. Once you have these requirements satisfied, you need to go here: http://www.cap.gov/visitors/members/operations/operations_training/ges_requirement/ This link will give you all the information needed. Read the task guide and watch the slides, and then go on to the CAPF 116 Part I examination. The test is open book. Once you finish this, you need to go onto the FEMA IS-100 exam. Here's the link again to that information: http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is100a.asp
Pick an ES Qualification and Start Training
Now that you've go that out of the way, you can move on to specialty training. If you aren't sure where to go from here, speak to your commander/ES officer, or myself. I generally recommed getting your Urban Direction Finding (UDF) rating first or your Mission Scanner if you want to go into Aircrew. To do this I would reccomend downloading the Ground & Urban Direction Finding Team Tasks book at http://www.cap.gov/documents/u_052704140516.pdf. This will give you the outline of what you need to learn to attain these ratings. At the end of the booklet you will find the Specialty Qualification Training Record (SQTR). This is like your "report card", as you learn each task, an approved evaluator needs to witness you succesfully demonstrating the task. They then sign your SQTR with the date and their CAPID number, I also suggest they initial it. You will also notice at the bottom of the SQTR that you need to participate in two missions in the role you are training for to complete the rating. These two different missions need to be either actual or training, but must have a valid Mission Number to count. Ask the leader of the mission for this number. You can only use a mission number once for each mission participation credit. For example, if you are training for UDF and MRO, you can only use that mission number for 1 of those SQTR's, not both. Once you finish the training, make sure they are signed correctly, and enter them into eServices. I usually do these at the same time as soon as a task is signed off, I enter it into eServices that night so I don't forget. To do this, you need to go to http://www.capnhq.gov and follow the instructions to set up your account. There are other tutorials available to show you how to enter your quals into eServices, or I can walk you through it, one-on-one.
So, you've finished entering your SQTR online and have the signed paper copy in hand...now what? Well, take your SQTR to you commander and let him/her know it's done. (They should know this because they should have read and signed it already), and let them know to file it in your personell file, and to approve it online. From there it comes to me, and then from me to wing. Once wing signs off, you are full fledged and "licenced" to perform on missions in that role.
Sign up for a UDF or Ground Team
Now that you are a qualified ES member, put your skills to good use! Many units have their own UDF Team that operates under the unified command system. I encourage you start responding to missions with your unit's team. If your unit does not have a team, drop me an email and I will make sure you are notified of all missions assigned to Group 6.
If you're ready to take it to the next step and get into the "hardcore search and rescue side" of CAP, you want a Ground Team. Group 6 has two Ground Teams and we're always looking for more members. Email me and I'll make sure to get you going.
As with many things in CAP, Emergency Services has a few hoops the member has to jump through. These obstacles can be challenging at times but they are there to ensure the member knows his or her stuff, is ready to respond and executes our missions in a safe manner. If there is anything I can help you with, please email me at bdickmann@flwg.us. Thank you for your time.