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By Hugh Cameron, Emergency Services Training Officer
An auxiliary of the United States Air Force, the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) performs 90% of inland search and rescue in the country. CAP is a volunteer organization with three missions: aerospace education, cadet programs, and emergency services. In Tennessee, we have a total of 1,124 members, cadets (age 12-18), and senior members participating in these missions.
Most CAP training occurs at the level of the squadrons, which are scattered throughout the state and seldom near each other. Using Elluminate vRoom, I can link the units together for training, regardless of location.
The squadron joins the vRoom with a PC projector camera and microphone. They can see the subject matter expert (SME) on the screen and ask questions, while the SME can see the squadron members on his screen. Topics include: mission pre-briefing, ground team training, critical incident stress management, mission safety, and many others. While not revolutionary, this use of Elluminate vRoom has created a new cost-effective way to for us to connect our members.
Training Scenario: Virtual Mission Control Room
In the future, I can envision expanding our use of Elluminate technology. Here’s a fictitious example of how Elluminate vClass™ could be used during a mission to create a virtual control room. The Civil Air Patrol National Operations Center (NOC) receives an urgent request for air and ground assistance. The Fox Creek Dam has begun to leak water, and it appears that a Level Blue inundation is imminent. CAP must take aerial photographs of the flood progression and provide ground rescue assistance.
The Tennessee Wing is activated. An Incident Commander (IC), who is 120 miles away from the flood area is called by the NOC and is given the initial request and related information. The command trailer, with remote satellite internet link, is 60 miles away. The nine Tennessee aircraft, as well as the mission pilots, observers, scanners, planning section chiefs, air operations, ground branch directors, and other required personnel, are all over the state. The Incident Commander mus t mobilize the necessary people and equipment as quickly as possible. Time is critical.
The IC uses Elluminate vClass to create the virtual Mission Control Room. The first notification goes out to the Operations Section Chief, Mission Staff Assistants, and Planning Section Chief, who join the IC in the virtual control room. They gather maps, asset location logs, and the alert roster. An initial mission briefing is created.
The alert aircrews are activated and directed to connect to the virtual mission control room at the airport. The command trailer operator connects to the virtual room and receives the maps, coordinates and setup requirements for the forward mission base at the Jackson County Airport (1A7). The Mission Safety Officer, Branch Directors (air and ground) are now present in the virtual room. Only a few minutes have elapsed.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency has now activated, and their emergency control center links into the virtual control room. They take overall command as part of the National Incident Management System. They will use the link to transfer and receive information from the CAP.
The mission pilots arrive at their aircraft and begin the pre-flight process. The aircrews connect into the virtual room and gather the latest information, weather, and mission tasks. They can be seen through the video feed and have their identification verified. The Ground Team Leaders connect and get their briefing. Mission operations begin. Only one hour has elapsed. The command staff is communicating. The forward mission base is being prepared. The aircrews and ground teams are moving.
Many of the CAP aircraft have satellite upload and download capability for photos, video, and text communication. Almost in real time, information begins to flow into the virtual mission control room. The National CAP Headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base is now connected.
A second Elluminate vClass room is set up to provide information to the press and other officials. The information files and recordings of the virtual mission control room are made available. Accurate, directed, and timely information is now available to mission control, the press and other agencies. The elapsed time is 1-1/2 hours.
The mission continues to a successful completion. Lives are saved, and property is preserved. The mission debriefing uses all of the session recordings made during operation of the virtual control room.
