NERAC is pleased to announce the following COML and COMT training opportunities:

NERAC will be providing backfill and overtime support for both courses. Spots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please direct all questions to Austin Murray at amurray@mapc.org or via phone at (617)933-0755.

COML:

1. E969 NIMS ICS All-Hazards Communications Unit Leader (COML) training course
2. May 1st – 3rd, 2018
3. Wayland Public Safety Building
4. 38 Cochituate Road, Wayland, MA 01778
5. Register HERE by Thursday, April 26th

COMT:

1. Communications Unit Technician (COMT) training course
2. June 4th – 8th, 2018
3. Wayland Public Safety Building: 38 Cochituate Road, Wayland, MA 01778
4. Register HERE by Thursday, May 3rd

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

COML:

This offering is a three day course, designed for all local, regional, tribal, and state/territory emergency response professionals and for support personnel with a communications background. It is designed to familiarize these professionals with the roles and responsibilities of a Communications Unit Leader (COML) under the NIMS ICS and to provide hands-on exercises that reinforce the lecture materials.

Under the NIMS ICS structure, the COML is the focal point within the Communications Unit. This course provides DHS-approved and NIMS-compliant instruction to ensure that every state/territory has trained personnel capable of coordinating on-scene emergency communications during a multi-jurisdictional response or planned event. All OEC instructors are approved by DHS and have had extensive experience both as emergency responders and as COMLs. The course is presented with facilitated lecture and hands-on exercises. It involves extensive interactive discussion and exercises. OEC/ICTAP instructors work through the discussions and exercises to explain in detail the processes used to achieve communication operability, interoperability, and how to incorporate additional communications solutions.

Prerequisites:

1. IS-100.b, Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS), ICS-100;
2. IS-200.b, Incident Command System (ICS) for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents;
3. ICS-300, Intermediate Incident Command System (ICS) for Expanding Incidents;
4. IS-700.a, National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction;
5. IS-800.b, National Response Framework (NRF), An Introduction

COMT:

This offering delivers introductory and refresher training for the ICS Communications Technician (COMT) position.It introduces public safety professionals and support staff to various communications concepts and technologies. This include state-of-the-art interoperable communications solutions, Land Mobile Radio (LMR) communications, satellite, telephone, computer and data technologies used in incident response and planned events. This course helps participants establish the essential core competencies required for performing the duties of the COMT in an all-hazards incident. This course addresses all responsibilities appropriate to a COMT operating on a local, regional, tribal or state/territory-level All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT). The course is instructor-led training that supports learning through discussion, lecture, and active participation in multiple exercises. The course provides a realistic, hands-on approach to mastering the tasks and skills of a COMT.

It is designed for local, regional, tribal and state/territory emergency response professionals and support personnel in all disciplines who have a technical communications background. This five day workshop is taught by OEC/ICTAP instructors who have both practitioner and Communications Unit experience.

The course utilizes facilitated lectures, student exercises, and hands-on lab work. It also includes interactive discussions among attendees. OEC/ICTAP instructors work through the discussions, exercises and hands-on lab work to explain processes used for successful establishment and operation of the technical communications resources supporting an incident or planned event.

Prerequisites:

1. A public safety background with experience in field operations;
2. Awareness of fundamental public safety communications technology;
3. Basic knowledge of local communications and communications system, frequencies and spectrum, technologies, local topography, system site locations including knowledge of local, regional, and state communication plans, and contacts;
4. Completion of IS-100b, IS-200b, IS-700a, and IS-800b (ICS-300 is also recommended);
5. Supervisor’s written recommendation that the student has met these prerequisites.