“This evening’s training comes page 141 of the ICS 100 Instructor’s Guide under the heading of Logistics Section.

The Logistics Section Chief is designated only after the Incident Commander determines whether there is a need for a Logistics Section. It is up to the Logistics Section Chief to activate any additional staffing that is needed. The Incident Commander will perform all logistics functions if no Logistics Section is established. The Logistics Section is responsible for all services and support needs, including:

• Ordering, obtaining, maintaining, and accounting for essential personnel, equipment, and supplies

• Providing communication planning and resources

• Setting up food services for responders

• Setting up and maintaining incident facilities

• Providing support transportation

• Providing medical services to incident personnel

While you may not feel that your skills as an Amateur Radio Operator are being fully utilized when performing the activities assigned to the Logistics Section, imagine trying to operate your station in theater to support an Incident without the necessary supply chain and services.  You can be the best operator on the team, but without coffee, water, food, clean restrooms, paper products, transportation, and medical services your skills may be diminished if eliminated.  Creating and maintaining an efficient supply chain for equipment and supplies is fundamental to the operational capability of any Incident Command structure.

This is Alpha Alpha Five Echo X-Ray

This evening’s training comes page 139 of the ICS 100 Instructor’s Guide under the heading of Planning Section.

The Planning Section Chief is designated only after the Incident Commander determines whether there is a need for a Planning Section. It is up to the Planning Section Chief to activate any additional staffing that is needed. The Incident Commander will perform all planning functions if no Planning Section is established. The major activities of the Planning Section may include:

• Preparing and documenting Incident Action Plans

• Managing information and maintaining situational awareness for the incident

• Tracking resources assigned to the incident

• Maintaining incident documentation

• Developing plans for demobilization

This concludes tonight’s training and with that I turn it back to net control.

This is Alpha Alpha Five Echo X-Ray

This evening’s training comes page 137 of the ICS 100 Instructor’s Guide under the heading of Operations Section.

The Incident Commander determines whether there is a need for an Operations Section and, if so, will designate an Operations Section Chief. It is up to the Operations Section Chief to activate any additional staffing that is needed. When the Operations Section Chief is designated, the staging and management of operational resources moves from the Incident Command to Operations. If no Operations Section is established, the Incident Commander will perform all operations functions. The major activities of the Operations Section may include:

• Implementing strategies and developing tactics to carry out the incident objectives

• Directing the management of all tactical activities on behalf of the Incident Commander

• Supporting the development of the Incident Action Plan to ensure it accurately reflects current operations

• Organizing, assigning, and supervising the tactical response resources

The Operations Section is responsible for directing and coordinating all incident tactical operations.

The Operations Section:

• Is typically one of the first organizations to be assigned to the incident.

• Develops from the bottom up.

• Has the most incident resources.

• May have Staging Areas and special organizations.

This concludes tonight’s training and with that I turn it back to net control.

This is Alpha Alpha Five Echo X-Ray

This evening’s training comes page 134 of the ICS 100 Instructor’s Guide under the heading of General Staff Overview.

As we previously learned, an Incident Commander is responsible for all incident management functions including: operations, planning, logistics, and finance and administration.

Depending on the incident needs, the Incident Commander may delegate some or all of these functions by establishing Sections. If a Section Chief is assigned to an incident, he or she will report directly to the Incident Commander.  Together, these Section Chiefs are referred to as the General Staff.

Let’s take a brief look at the responsibilities of each Section Chief. The Operations Section Chief is responsible for developing and implementing strategy and tactics to accomplish the incident objectives.

The Planning Section Chief oversees the collection, evaluation, and dissemination of operational information related to the incident.

The Logistics Section Chief assists the Incident Commander and Operations Section Chief by providing the resources and services required to support incident activities.

The Finance and Administration Section Chief is responsible for all of the financial and cost analysis aspects of an incident.

This concludes tonight’s training and with that I turn it back to net control.

This is Alpha Alpha Five Echo X-Ray