Nebraska Wing members from three units gathered for a communications training day focused on increasing the wing’s number of mission radio operators.
About 18 adult members and cadets from the Omaha and 155th composite squadrons and the Capital City Flight, most requalified with Introductory Communications User Training, convened at Camp Ashland.
The morning session covered Civil Air Patrol rules and regulations, CAP communications systems, radio operations and operator responsibilities, radio procedures, message protocols, and best practices, emphasizing the basic mission to “get the message through.”
In the afternoon, participants discussed call signs before engaging in a tabletop exercise simulating air and ground teams communicating with a mission base. Members gained hands-on experience with different types of handheld radios.
During the exercise, members practiced completing CAP forms and communications logs. They also focused on using procedure words and the radio operator’s alphabet.
Facilitating the session were Lt. Cols. Dan Kirwan, Nebraska Wing communications training officer, and Gary Gross, wing director of cadet programs, and Maj. William Opocensky, wing message center station operator.
Kirwan credited Gross for leading the tabletop exercise.
“Without his effort, this training would not have included that element,” Kirwan said. “It served as an excellent capstone to the day.”
After only about three months in the communications training officer role, Kirwan was eager to conduct training to increase the number of MROs qualified to operate the wing’s communication system.
“We had 19 active MROs in the wing, but more than 120 members with the introductory training,” he said. “Many took the first step but didn’t continue with the qualification.”
During the training session, Kirwan said, “I know I threw a lot of information at the students, but they all did very well. Once we began the tabletop exercise, there were very few corrections needed and no serious issues at all.”
The wing “needs capable mission radio operators to support communications at our incident command posts or in the field,” Gross said. “You might travel throughout the state for mission communications needs, operate from a fixed mission base, serve as an MRO in a ground team vehicle, or establish a radio relay station in the Sandhills.
“There are plenty of opportunities to learn and many adventures along the way.”
Cadet Staff Sgt. Josiah Morrison of the 155th Composite Squadron said he participated in the session because he wants to become a mission radio operator for his squadron’s ground team. “I would most definitely recommend this training to others,” Morrison said.
First Lt. Jerry Arnold of the Capital City Flight said he participated because, “as a mission pilot, I want to be as informed on comms as possible.” He found the hands-on practice most valuable, as it helped reinforce cockpit communication procedures.
Reflecting on new insights gained from the training, Cadet Master Sgt. Westley Morrison of the 155th squadron said, “Even though one person may know what they are doing, not everyone on the radio does. This can lead to communication problems and confusion.”
“I want to teach others the proper ways to communicate over the radio so they can have the confidence to speak clearly and effectively,” Morrison said.
Another member of the 155th, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Pageler, found using the radios while remembering proper procedures the most challenging aspect of the training.
“In an actual situation, you need to know what information to pass on and who it needs to go to,” Pageler said. He appreciated how the tabletop exercise reinforced effective communication procedures.
The wing “needs capable mission radio operators to support communications at our incident command posts or in the field,” Gross said. “You might travel throughout the state for mission communications needs, operate from a fixed mission base, serve as an MRO in a ground team vehicle, or establish a radio relay station in the Sandhills.
“There are plenty of opportunities to learn and many adventures along the way.”
Kirwan encouraged the participants to continue practicing. “Operate the radio whenever possible,” he advised. “Participate in communication nets, missions, and exercises, because you only improve with experience.” _____Lt. Col. David MillerDirector of Public AffairsNorth Central Region
Maj. Wilma GerenaPublic Affairs OfficerNebraska Wing
