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Communications Officer -
Career Track Information
References
CAPP 214 - Specialty Track Study Guide - Communications Officer is
your guide for what you need to do in order to progress within the
career track. The same as all other CAP career tracks, you first earn a
"Technician" rating, then "Senior" and finally "Master."
-
For promotion to
Capt, you must have achieved a Technician rating in at least one
career track.
-
For promotion to
Maj, you need a Senior rating in any career track.
-
For promotion to Lt
Col, you need a Master rating.
Communications
Specialty Track Quick Reference
In order to qualify for
each level in the Communications Specialty Track, there are a number of
items you must complete to satisfy the requirements. Each of these is
listed in
CAPP 214.
·
Technician Rating
o
Hold a
valid CAPF 76 (Radio Operator Authorization – ROA card)
o
Complete
the Technician level online examination covering CAP communications
regulations.
o
Complete
Level I.
o
Participate in 25% of the local nets in the year.
o
Participate in one mission in any communications capacity.
o
Participate in one Communications Exercise sanctioned by the Wing
Director of Communications.
o
Attend a
minimum of one communications meeting.
o
Become
familiar with all aspects of CAP radiotelephone communications.
·
Senior
Rating
o
Successfully complete the Technical level.
o
Complete
the online examination.
o
Completion of Level II
o
Participate in three operational missions with at least one as
Communications Officer.
o
Participation in at least three communications exercises as sanctioned
by Region Headquarters.
o
Attendance at three communications meetings, at least one at Region or
Wing level.
o
Active
participation in communications serving as a net control station for a
minimum of two nets.
o
Become
familiar with more detailed communications in CAP:
§
Frequency
Use and Net Schedules
§
Communications plans and emergency preparations
§
CAP radio
station licenses, authorizations and call signs
§
Aeronautical Search and Rescue station operation
§
Emergency
beacon operation
§
Corporate
aircraft radio station authorization procedures and operations
§
Search
and Rescue
§
Emergency
Power Operations
§
Basic
Antenna Installation and Adjustment
·
Master
Rating
o
Completion of Senior Rating
o
Completion of the online examination
o
Understanding of additional CAP operational procedures and
communications knowledge:
§
Duties of
the Mission Communications Officer
§
Goals of
the CAP Communications Program
§
HQ CAP-USAF
Command Radio Nets
§
Licesning
and authorization procedures
§
Basic
electrical laws and circuits
§
Basic
receiving systems
§
Basic
transmitting systems
§
Basic
amplitude modulation principles
§
Basic
single-sideband (SSB) principles
§
Basic RF
Modulation principles
§
Basic
radioteleprinter principles
§
Testing
and monitoring transmissions
§
Frequency
measurements and transmitter adjustments
§
Antennas
§
Propagation Theory
§
Mobile
and portable emergency equipment
§
Use of
test equipment
o
Completion of Level II
o
Participation in at least five missions in a communications capacity,
two as a communications officer and one as communications officer in a
state-wide capacity.
o
Participation in at least five communications exercises sanctioned by
Region Headquarters – begin and run at least one exercise.
o
Attend
three communications meetings, one of which must be a region level
meeting. Plan and conduct one communications meeting at a local level.
o
Active
participation in communications, serving as net control for at least 25
nets, five of which must be on SSB.
o
Lead at
least one communications training class at the local level.
Help
Your best source of
information for how to achieve your career goals is your squadron's
Professional Development Officer. Much information is online, so you
need to be comfortable accessing the Internet. Many
required tests are found online as well. Additionally, your Group
or Wing Communications officers are excellent sources of information.
For more technical training needed to achieve the higher ratings you may
look towards the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) at
http://www.arrl.org.
How To Do It
The best way to start
the Communications Track is to read the regulations. CAPR 100-1 VI and
CAPR 100-3 provide tremendous amounts of information. Use the list
items above as a check list as you complete various items, writing the
date and any additional information needed (type of net, mission number,
etc.). Remember to ask questions of other communicators and participate
as often as you can in nets, training exercises, and missions. |
