Interest Sought: Weekend Communications & Combat Lifesaver Class

Following Commsprepper coming on board with the MVT Forum, we have discussed starting to run some communication classes. We discussed this at a recent class dinner and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. We are looking at a weekend format, with the comms training taking place on the Saturday. To make the trip further worthwhile, we have looked at classes to offer on the Sunday, and consider that TC3 (Combat Lifesaver) may be ideal, because there has been considerable interest in this class since we stopped running it.

A few points that we are looking at:

1) This class does not have to take place in Romney, and with the approaching winter we will consider hosting the class at either the VTC in Romney, or at an inside (with outside facility) location probably near to Culpeper in VA. Feedback on  that?

2) Looking ahead at dates, and given the stated need for people to have about 3 months notice to plan for a class, we may look at a first class on the weekend of December 3/4 2016. Thoughts?

3) This will not be a ‘tactical’ class, and will not require tactical equipment, beyond medical equipment such as IFAKs. Thus it is not a ‘dirty’ class and may appeal to a different sub-set of students.

4) Price is TBD. Probably around $100 per day.

Comms Class Outline (Saturday)

Max Velocity Tactical Radio Communications

Objectives:  The Max Velocity Tactical Radio Communications course is structured to provide students with a familiarization of the various radio services available to civilians.  The course will provide students with the knowledge necessary to identify individual/group radio communications requirements and select the appropriate radio service and equipment to meet those requirements.  The course will consist of instructional blocks, hands on equipment demonstrations, and group discussions.  Course will close with a group Q&A period to address topics not covered in the course.

Structure:  Course consist of four two hour blocks

Required course material: Notebook, writing instruments, and calculator.

Suggested Reading: United States Marine Corps Radio Operators Handbook MCRP 3-40.3B FMFM 3-36 (available online)

Course handouts: American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Band Plan and USMC Radio Operators Handbook

Block 1 (8:00 – 10:00)

– Types of radio communications
– Local (tactical)
– Regional
– National/International
– Monitoring (intelligence collection and situational awareness)

– Available radio services for civilians (technical characteristics, vulnerabilities, and risks)
– Citizen Band (CB)
– Family Radio Service (FRS)
– General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)
– Multi-User Radio Service (MURS)
– Amateur Radio Service (HAM)
– Commercial radio options (pay services)

Block 2 (10:00 – 12:00)

– Developing and Identifying Individual and Group Radio Communications Requirements.
– Family, community, retreat group, etc
– Funding and resources
– Licensing
– Network development
– Operational plan development

– Matching radio services to meet operational requirements.
(Group discussion)

Block 3 (13:00 – 15:00)

– Technical Terms and Operational Explanations
– Basic radio theory
– Modulation types (AM, FM, SSB)
– Operational characteristics
Handhelds, mobiles, base stations
– Antennas, cabling, power
– Equipment Demonstrations
– Handhelds
– Base stations (VHF / HF)
– Modes of operations
Voice and digital
– Setting up equipment and basic trouble shooting

Block 4 (15:00 – 17:00)

– OPSEC Group Discussion
– Operating in the clear
– Enhancing operational complexity
– Direction finding and signal detection
– Risk mitigation strategies

– Questions and Answers
(Group Discussion)

Course critique and closing comments.

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Combat Lifesaver Outline (Sunday)

The below is from the old class page and may be updated:

Max Velocity Tactical offers Combat lifesaver (Tactical Combat Casualty Care – TC3) classes.

This will be an approximate 8 hour period of instruction. There will be no live firing as part of the TC3 package. Instruction will focus on U.S. Army combat lifesaver TC3 prototcols. It is a ‘classroom’ based course of instruction with hands-on and ‘trauma lane’ drills.

Curriculum:

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What level of interest does this class generate? What about interest in the various classes: comms and TC3? Who would come for one or both? Which? Feedback?