Rescue International

The 1st and still the best all hazard Interoperability/Disaster
communications training for America's 1st responders

Instructed by Bruce Barton, Director Rescue International
(Additional instruction provide by industry and manufacture experts subject to availability)

IWCE2010 Class update :

March 9th ComTec 2 Disaster/Interoperability training at IWCE
were happy to announce that Ross Merlin of the Office of Emergency Communications (DHS) will be joining us for presentation on the function of OES and the Interoperability Field Operations Guide, Mr. Merlin provide a major role in it's development.
We will also be looking at the emerging Femto Micro Cell technologies and expect to have working Sprint and ATT units running on the Clearwire Clear 4G Wireless network now up and running in Las Vegas

We want to thank all the sponsors that helped at the 2009 IWCE training

C-AT on the use of interoperability crosspatch units and the effects of de-sensing on radios used on such equipment.

TracStar for providing Internet access and providing a JPS and Telex satellite connection to the real world thru a Wave Communicator program from Twisted Pair. And use of a Flyaway Satellite terminal .

Infinity Gear radios for there GPS demo and help with the Lab session with their new GPS radio SPK/MIC and field programmable radios

We hope to see many of them back again in 2010

Watch for new open enrollment classes or sponsor a class in your area. Remember federal Interop funding covers 100 % of training costs with no matching required.

Interoperability 101 is a one to three day class designed to bring an extra edge to radio communications officers and technicians, that are charged with the responsibility of maintaining and operating portable communications systems during major deployments and disaster operations. The class will look at the requirements to set up temporary communications networks and providing interoperable command communications with other agencies working the same incident.

Attendees will be given a no nonsense hands on approach with tricks of the trade and lessons learned in getting communications working under the worst conditions in urban or remote locations. This class is presented by Bruce Barton, a 36 years veteran of the public safety, SAR and disaster response and communications field. Bruce has designed and operated portable communications for Search & Rescue and Disaster response teams across the world. He was responsible for communications and responded with the US State Departments Disaster team to Soviet Armenia earthquake, Rescue International’s responses to Hurricanes Andrew, Opal, Floyd and over 2 months of rescue and recovery operations for Katrina and many other major disasters. He has developed Disaster and Public Safety communications equipment and published a training manual and program that has be used world wide. Now he adds the latest in Interoperability to the program and draws on his years of experience in disaster rescue and recovery operations.

Bruce has designed and built a wide ranges of portable communications systems over the past 25+ years. He helped developed some of the first interoperability cross-band systems using a VOX based controllers to link two different agencies and promoted the use of interoperability disaster communications in the early 80’s. He designed and implemented a deployable 16 channel VHF and SINGARS radio system with 21 Telex IP based remote consoles and over 125 ICOM radios in the system, for the National Guard Bureau and SRI Intl.

Attendees will look at how to incorporate from the simplest homemade solutions to the latest Hi Tech solutions in portable communications and interoperability systems, attendees will have a chance to work hands-on with different manufactures equipment that will be available at the class during the hands on and demo session.

Lessons learned from 30 years of disaster response will be looked at to help avoid problems that attendees may face in the future.

FOR IWCE, NATGUARD and SAR-X attendees
All attendees completing the class will receive a certificate of attendance and can take an optional online COMTEC 2 Ops exam and receive a certification from Rescue International for an additional $25 fee. This varies by class format, length, location and sponsors needs.

Attendees in the local area are asked to bring with prior approval any examples of related equipment that they may have available.

Unit INTEROP 101 Communications and response unit with mobile tower ready for training class deployment

We will be Back for our fifth year at the IWCE Las Vegas with two training sessions March 8-9

Interoperability 101 a half day Com Tec 3 Awareness level training for communications officers, command officers and management personnel responsible for Disaster and Major Event interoperability communications and field deployments. Look at lessons learned from past disasters and exercises as well as a no-nonsense hands-on look at emergency services field communications. Follow with an optional full second day of additional technical level training on Tuesday for communications officers that want more advanced training or to complete the RI Com Tec operations or technician certifications. A RI certificate of attendance will be issued for both classes.

Tuesday March 9 8AM to 5PM with breaks and lunch will be a full day SAR/Disaster ComTec 2 Operations level training. Classroom in the AM and hands on in the afternoon. Certificate of attendance from RI given. ComTec2 Certificate is available on line after passing test. Fee $25

UPDATE we will be joined by Ross Merlin of DHS Office of Emergency Communications for presentation on the Nation interoperability Field Guide

Questions on the class can be addressed to bbarton@rescueinternational.org
This class is available at you location in a 1-2 or 3 day class format. Please e-mail for details
This class meets the requirements for grant training funds from most federal and state relief association programs and Federal Homeland grant programs.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES FOR HELPING TO MAKE OUR CLASSES AND TEAM RESPONSES POSSIBLE:

Rescue Cross, Interop 101, Interoperability 101, COMTEC , COMTEC-L and contents are Copyrighted
by RI and Bruce Barton 1996-2010 and may also be subject to Trademark protection