After Action Report
11/09/05 District 14

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Submitted by:
Name: Dean Haskins
Call: KAØPII
E-mail Address: ka0pii@att.net
District: D-14 El Passo and Teller Counties
Month of Activity: November 9th
Year of Activity: 2005

Description of Activity:
Demonstrate ARES capabilities and support Peterson Air Force Base units in their
field exercise, condor Crest 06-01

Duration in hours:
7

Serving Amateur Radio Group(s):
Pikes Peak ARES District 14

Served Agency(ies):
21st Space Wing, Inspector Generals Office Peterson Air Force Base

Describe Served Agency Participation
21st SW IG Office was to evaluate several installation units response to a lost
nuclear weapon which had fallen from an aircraft. Communications, safety,
security, convoy operations, mutual aid with civilian authorities were to be
evaluated.

Number of amateurs participating:
11

Optional - List of amateurs participating
KA0PII
K0HBZ
KB0IAP
N0NKG
KC0HIL
K7CIF
N0MIK
KC0MQK
K0TER
K4ARM
KC0HCS

Man hours for the event (checkins*duration)
98

List the goals of the activity:

Demonstrate availability and professionalism of civilian assets
Provide timely communications between field and base operational areas
Demonstrate ability to provide reliable communications from other than ideal
geographic locations
Demonstrate digital commuinications capabilities and pass acutal weather traffic
and other messages as requested, using this mode of operation.
Maintain an accurate log of all messages handled
Send electronic mail (e-mail) to selected individuals using amateur radio assets
froma a field location
Provide comple after action comments, as requested, to served agency before
close of business November, 10, 2005.

Were those goals met: (Y/N)
Y

Explain:
Former military members were assigned to work at the military installation and
were familiar with military customs and procedures. One vehicle not registed
with the Department of Defense was allowed acess to Peterson Air Force Base,
PAFB, without incident.

Communications were established ahead of an established 8AM goal, including
digital comms, simplex VHF and UHF repeater operations from field to PAFB.

Voice traffic was handled from a geographic depression via VHF and relayed to
PAFB without delay.

Digital comms were initially difficult to establish as there was no available
egress for cables from the PAFB site. A node was established and a X-Band link
activated from a parked vehicle which was done in a timely manner and all future
digital communications worked flawlessly once alternate routes, if needed, were
investigated.

Message logs were handwritten in the field and collected and digital traffic is
self logging with all electronic traffic available following the exercise, if
needed.

Wes, K0HBZ, was able to successfully pass Airmail traffic to selected
individuals from an off-site location where he was set up as ARES Operations.

Failure of all USAF communications from field to base, including cell phones,
resulting in ARES assets becoming actively involved in the exercise. This
included an amateur radio autopatch from the On Scene Commander, OSC, to the
Battle Staff commander at PAFB.

What went well?:
Failure of a magnetic mount antenna was immediately replaced with a spare,
failure of a portable printer at PAFB was immediately replaced, previous
experience with cross band operation for digital communications played a pivitol
role in the succes of this assignment. all this shows that training, back up
equipment and knowledge of local communications assets outside the realm of what
you have physically with you, will prove to be your 'Ace in the hole' for most
situations.

Every aspect of amatuer radio went extremely well.
See comments below:

'You guys impressed the beegeebers out of the MSG and deputy commanders

IG is happy with how we did business.

I need a listing of names for thank you letters and where to send them for the
best appreciation impact

Thank your folks - outstanding job"

Areas needing improvement:
As this was an initial cooperative effort, all areas are up for discussion.
Location of external antennas, handling of sensitive information, access to
military facilities, exposure to ARES assets and capabilities and possibly
further investigation of USAF assets which could be deployed to work hand in
hand with ARES personell.

Lessons Learned:
Continue training as it pays off. Especially when you have a new served agency
to work with.

Additional Training needed:
Trainining on pre-formatted ICS-213's for digital communications will enhance
our value, cut down on voice repeats and provide a modicom of security for
sensitive information which may need to be handled.

Ideas for future exercises:
None

Comments:
Follow-up with USAF PAFB communications personell as requested by the Inspector
Generals Office and possibly schedule a power point presentation for interested
parties at PAFB.