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North Dakota State and Local Intelligence Center

Calendar of Events

All-Hazards Communications Unit Leader

Date: 10/16/2018 - 10/18/2018

Location: Bismarck, ND

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Communications Unit Leader Training

October 16-18, 2018
Bismarck, ND

The All-Hazards Communications Unit Leader (COML) course trains emergency responders to serve as radio communications unit leaders during all-hazards emergency operations. COML responsibilities include developing plans to effectively use incident communications equipment and facilities, managing distribution of communications equipment to incident personnel, and
coordinating the installation and testing of communications equipment. Since 2008, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Emergency Communications (DHS OEC) has conducted COML classes across the nation serving more than 4000 public safety personnel through its Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program (ICTAP).

Description
This course is designed for all Federal, State/Territory, tribal, regional, and local emergency response professionals and support personnel who have an emergency communications background. It is designed to familiarize them with the role and responsibilities of a COML under the National Incident Management System Incident Command System (NIMS ICS). OEC and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute have integrated the COML curriculum to jointly offer a standardized All Hazards COML course. This course provides DHS-approved and NIMS-compliant instruction with a goal of ensuring Federal agencies and State/Territory organizations have trained personnel capable of coordinating on-scene emergency communications during a multi-jurisdictional response or a planned event.

OEC/ICTAP instructors are approved by DHS and have extensive experience both as emergency responders and as COMLs. The course is presented with facilitated lecture, hands-on activities, and extensive interactive discussions. Instructors work through the discussions and activities to explain the processes used to achieve communication operability, interoperability, and how to incorporate additional communications solutions.

This course is three days long and is limited to 30 students.

It has been approved by North Dakota Police Officer Standards & Training (POST) for continuing education credit.

Class Prerequisites
To attend this course, applicants must have the following prerequisites:
1) A public safety communications background with exposure to field operations; this
experience should be validated by the authority who supervises the applicant.
2) Basic knowledge of local communications and communications systems; frequencies and spectrum; technologies; local topography; system site locations including knowledge of state, regional, and local communication plans; and communications and resource contacts.

Completion of the following FEMA training courses:
o IS-100, Introduction to the ICS
o IS-200, ICS for Single Resources and Initial Incidents
o ICS-300, Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents
o IS-700, National Incident Management System (NIMS), an Introduction
o IS-800, National Response Framework (NRF), an Introduction
In addition, ICS-400, Advanced ICS, Command and General Staff-Complex Incidents, is
recommended.

Course Dates and Location
This COML course is offered October 16-18, 2018, in Bismarck, North Dakota. It will be held at the Quality Inn, 1030 E. Interstate Ave., Bismarck. There is no charge for this training and course materials will be provided by OEC. All travel/per diem costs are the responsibility of the individual student or his/her agency.

A block of rooms is being held at the Quality Inn, 1030 E. Interstate Ave., Bismarck, ND. Call 701-223-1911 and ask for the "Western Border Communications Unit Leader" block. Reservations must be made by September 30, 2018 to ensure room availability.

Registration
Students must obtain a FEMA Student Identification (SID) number if they do not already have one. To register for a SID, applicants should go to https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasid. . On the right of the screen, clicking on “Need a FEMA SID” allows an applicant to register. Applicants will receive the SID via email.

Applicants should submit the signed copy of the General Admissions Application (FEMA Form 119-25-1) with scanned copies of all prerequisite Certificates of Completions, for IS/ICS prerequisite courses, to Dan Hawkins, DHS OEC Region VIII Coordinator by email at Daniel Hawkins.

The FEMA General Admissions Form can be downloaded at:
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/ff_119_25_1_75_5.pdf

Students are required to sign the form and obtain their supervisor’s signature.
Copies of prerequisite documentation that verify applicants have met the prerequisites and are eligible to participate in the course must be submitted and reviewed at least five (5) days prior to the course start date.
Registration is complete when all documentation has been received and verified by the DHS OEC regional coordinator. Admittance is limited to the first 30 qualified applicants. The OEC regional coordinator will notify applicants they are registered as soon as their prerequisites are verified, but no later than five business (5) days prior to the start of the course.

This site updated as of 2/21/2019.