4. Recon Team

4.1. Description

The Recon lead is in charge of managing the recon group. The Recon Lead reports to the Operations Lead.

4.2. Missions

The Recon team’s tasks are to assign tasks (from Operations) to a particular recon unit, report completed tasks to Operations, and to track recon units in the field.

The division of labor between Operations and Recon is: Operations is in charge of deciding what should be done; Recon does the administrative tasks to track and perform the work.

The Recon team will typically consist of three or four people:

• A Recon Lead, in charge of managing the group and accomplishing Recon’s goals.

• Recon Net Control Operator (and possibly a scribe)

• A recon assistant / runner

For this document, “Recon Team” refers to Recon personnel working at the ARK. In addition there are Recon Units which are groups of Recon personnel assigned to perform tasks in the field.

4.3. Responsibilities

For more information about Operations and Recon procedures, see the LAH CERT Operations Procedures document

• If there are no higher priority tasks: use the Preplanned route list to assign tasks to field teams

• Get tasks and priorities from Operations

  • track using the ‘Ad Hoc’ sheet

• Track each Recon Unit’s current assignment

• Track tasks through their lifecycle: unassigned; assigned (to recon unit); complete

• Report completed tasks to Operations

  • use Preplanned and Ad Hoc status sheets

  • send copies to Planning, Scribe, and IT teams

• Receive incident reports from Recon Units

  • assign incident numbers

  • forward incident reports to Operations

  • send copies to Planning, Scribe, and IT teams

• Assign tasks to Recon Units as necessary

• Manage the ARK recon personnel

• Brief recon units

  • Brief before they leave the ARK

  • Debrief as they return

• Track recon units

  • As they complete assignments

  • Periodic health and welfare checks

• Manage recon units

  • Ensure breaks and provisions

4.4. Location of Duties

Recon area of ARK

4.5. Material Needed

• Recon containers

• Recon radio (in fire station training room)

  • Radio case

  • Headset

  • Hand switch

  • Battery

• Recon antenna (in ARK near EOC ham radio)

  • Antenna base

  • Antenna mast

  • Antenna

  • Antenna cable

• Printer/copier

Ask Planning Scribe for forms from the Printed Forms box:

• Incident Form (LAH 102) (x10)

• Preplanned tracking form (x1)

• Ad Hoc tracking form (x1)

• Message form (ICS 213) (x10)

• Message log (ICS 309) (x10)

4.6. Immediate Actions (within first hour):

• Establish the Recon Team (get Operations to assign personnel from Staging)

• Set up the Recon ham radio station

• Get initial tasks from Operations: either pre-established tasks (Critical Infrastructure; zone surveys) or incident specific tasks

  • Make sure relative priority of tasks are clear

• Have Operations decide how many Recon Units should be staffed. Work with Staging to get these groups established

  • Need to decide how many people per vehicle to use, depending on tasks, experience, and available personnel

• Brief initial Recon Units. Make sure to cover:

  • Tasks initially assigned

  • Expectation for how long to deploy for

  • When to report back to NCO

    • incidents

    • completion of task

    • heath and welfare

    • period of time

  • The need to monitor and respond to phone calls/text messages

• Periodically report progress to Operations

4.7. Continuing Actions:

• Periodically report task status to Operations

  • Review new tasks

  • Review current number of Units to match available personnel and tasks

• Continue to track field units status and accomplishments

  • assign additional tasks as needed

  • determine breaks and shift changes

• Be prepared to brief relief at end of shift

• Do not talk to the press, or other casual or outside inquiry. Refer inquiries to the Town EOC.

• During demobilization, replace vest, completed paperwork and supply items in Operations zip lock bag and turn it in to the Demobilization Team.