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Monthly Packet Message Passing Exercise

Date: 12/11/24 Start: 9:00 AM End: 11:30 PM Location: SCC BBS Packet Network
Credential Credit (What's this?): Yes

The Monthly Packet Message Passing Exercise will be commence on the third Wednesday of most months.  Please read the Training page for this event for additional information you need to know before starting this exercise.

For December 2024, this practice will begin on the second Wednesday, the 11th to avoid running into the holiday schedules for many people.

The intent of this exercise is to provide a near-dress rehersal environment that simulates the process of a Xanadu served agency requesting mutual aid support for a packet operator:

  1. Requesting for volunteers by the Xanadu EOC (this event posting)
  2. Volunteering for the assigndment (signing up for this event)
  3. Accepting the assignment by the operator (via assignment email)
  4. Simulating travel and arrival at the virtual reporting location (optional)
  5. Attending local situational briefing, tactical call assignment, procedures, etc. (via assignment email and other received instructions)
  6. Completing shift duties (the message passing "fun stuff")
  7. Turning in of completed ICS-309 and other identified material as required for logging participation for this practice as listed in the assignment email.

The simulated scenario will be different for each month.  Likewise, the messages and the forms used will vary from practice event to practice event.

The practice starts at 09:00 on the Wednesday scheduled for the event. NEW: The practice ends at 17:00 on the following Tuesday afternoon.  A "review and debrief" Zoom meeting MAY be held at 19:30 on the following Wednesday, if scheduled (i.e., one week after the start date). Information will be provided in the assignment email.

You can join this event at any time during the operational period to participate.

Basic logistics:

  • An assignment email will be sent to those that signed up before 20:00 on the Tuesday evening prior to the Wednesday start.   This email includes both assignment and local briefing information.  Please use your local briefing assignment information (e.g., tactical packet call assighment) only for the duration of this practice session.
  • Do not start the assignment until both of the following are true:
    • It is on/after the 09:00 Wednesday start time, and
    • You have received the assignment email.
  • Complete the practice at your own timing and pace.  Your personal operational period will start when you check-in to the Xanadu EOC and will end when you have completed your ICS-309 for turn-in to the instructor.
  • Reminder: read all BBS notices (XSCPERM, XSCEVENT, and XND@XSC "city" notices before checking in to the practice net.

Please email the instructor:

  • You signed up before Tuesday 20:00, it is now Wednesday at 09:00 or later and you didn't receive an assignment email (it can take several hours), or
  • If you signed up for the event after the Tuesday 20:00 evening prior, or
  • Have to drop or cannot complete the event for any reason.

Instructor email for this month: Mark Laubach, K6FJC -at- ARRL -dot- NET

To increase preparedness, it is suggested that every 3 to 4 months, you tear down the packet station equipment you would use for a mutual aid assignment and set it up in alternate location (e.g., garage, back yard, local park, etc.).  Create a checklist of all the items you need for the alt location.  This is only a suggestion and if you are inclined to give this a go, let us know with your participation sign-up.

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The simulated scenario for this month:  T.B.D.

Late sign-ups are accepted for this event.  However, you must notify the instructor by Internet email in order to receive the assignment for this practice.  The instructor will try to respond to late signup requests within 24 hours of email receipt.

REMINDER: Yes, there are SCC County Standards for packet messages.  See here.

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Participation will be logged for all participants that send all the requested PackItForms and pack

The following positions are available for this event. You can state your preference when you sign up for the event. The event coordinator will attempt to accommodate your request. Based on the event and its requirements, the event coordinator may move hams to positions other than those requested.

Click on a position title for a description of the specific requirements for that position

PositionAvailable
OutpostPM Station46
PackItForms Manual44
Packet shell Manual50
Manual other.50
Just for Fun5
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