Search Forum Home   Discussions  Simulation Tactics & Tips  Some ideas to t...  Some ideas to throw around    5/12/2007 5:42:27 AM host 46 posts Some ideas to throw around Our Agency has been playing around with IC for the last few months, to the point that we are putting together a formal course through our training staff. Some bumps that we have hit I would like to share to help all. Our current setup is seven laptops, 16 port switch, power strip, projector, all placed in pelican case for transport to several regions that we have. -We have found out that works best is to have several personnel familar with the interaction, to act as the interface with the sim. We tried to have Officers sit down at the terminal, after some instruction, but that didn't seem to keep their attention. With personnel at the terminal, we had the IC play the "hot seat" and give commands to indivdual terminal operators, playing the role as commanders. Once the "hot seat" guy when through a round, he/she was benched but was available as a Police/Fire/EMS commander for the next hot seat personnel to take over a section. Once a couple of folks got through, we would pick random IC and they would delegated roles. -We also have intergrated our emergency management section to the roles of advisors to the IC on structure and to help recommend resource spending. This was worked well, because our EM section gets to teach NIMS/ICS system and liaise with regional commanders/supervisors/officers. -In a crawl, walk, run, approach. We have played around with giving verbal commands, once that was familar, only typing, then only radio or cell phone. That gets busy quick and has been the closest we have come to real chaos. -We also have experimented with running a sim inside our Mobile Command Center. This works out commanders and the MCC at the same time, and gives a way to get commanders/Sups and Officers to the setting that they maybe running an incident out of the next day. -I also recommend playing around with the map editor and events editor and devlop a sim for your area. Jon Geary Police background Edited by: jegeary at: 9/12/06 8:23 pm  5/12/2007 5:42:56 AM host 46 posts Suggestions for Incident Commander Jon -- I liked your suggestions. Similarly, when we were testing the simulation here at BreakAway, we sometimes tried to communicate only via text messages in the simulation, as this helped to exacerbate the chaos. Are you using the newest version? I only ask because Incident Commander 1.5 became available about a month ago, and you say you have been playing several months. If not, we think it is far superior to the earlier version, and I hope you will give it a try, if you have not done so already. Bruce Milligan BreakAway, Ltd.  5/12/2007 5:43:17 AM host 46 posts Obtaining Incident Commander I have tried to obtain a copy through registration but I have not received anything. Any idea on how I can get a copy?  5/12/2007 5:43:36 AM host 46 posts Getting a copy of Incident Commander The Justice Department has not yet approved the release of Incident Commander (all that remains to be approved, apparently, is the logo), and that might be why you have yet to see a copy. Most of the people posting here were beta testers. This being the case, I will still check into whether or not you should be able to receive a copy, when the time comes. Can you send me a private email at bmilligan@breakawayltd.com with your full name, your agency, and contact information? I will then pursue a copy for you. Thanks. Bruce Milligan BreakAway, Ltd.  5/12/2007 5:44:04 AM host 46 posts Re: Some ideas to throw around Our agency ran our first full class using Incident Commander and it was well received by from management down to the officer. We had 12 students, and 3 pcs, with IC view "command" displayed on projector. The first two hours being an ICS review, the next we ran "courthouse bomb threat" with the entire class as the role of IC, Police, Fire, EMS, PW and school. We did this to highlight that it was really tough to come to a group decision and that a single point of command was best. After many pauses later, the class learned the interaction and got through the scenario. After lunch, we split the class in two and one side was Police and the other running everything else, running "school hostage/barricade". This helped exercise communication between the two groups. After many a curse words and some communication issues, the scenario was solved, with the over all theme that working out differences and communication was key. For the third session, we split into three groups one Police, one Fire, one IC and everything else, running "HAZMAT". I let them run it for about 5 min before giving them a mulligan when things spiraled out of control. I highlighted that there was a need to act swiftly and organize rapidly to begin to solve the problem. After the restart, they continued to play through the scenario until complete. After some trial and error, this is the best that we have come up with to integrate the Sim into a classroom and we would like to share with all of the readers. The students had nothing but good things to say and, from my instructing background, all students were awake and engaged the entire time of the day. Many compliments go out to the breakaway team for providing a excellent product. Jon Geary running v1.0 Police background  Page 1 of 3 123Next    Discussions  Simulation Tactics & Tips  Some ideas to t... Flat View Tree View Oldest To Newest Newest To Oldest