CONDITIONS

You have been assigned to keep a log on a mission, and must log the actions of your unit, section or team on the ICS Form 214 for use during debrief after the mission.

OBJECTIVE

Correctly maintain a log of actions during an incident.

TRAINING AND EVALUATION

Training Outline

1. When working an incident, staff members are required to maintain a log of all significant actions. This is important for record keeping of the accomplishments and setbacks, determining search effectiveness during debriefing, and as a legal record of CAP actions amongst many other things.
2. The mission log is started once a unit or section is opened and maintained until personnel are called in and at home safely to the incident commander. A separate log should be maintained for each varying unit or section that is assigned to the incident, and subordinate units at varying levels will normally also keep a log. This log is turned in with the debriefing paperwork and becomes part of the official mission record.
3. The following actions are always recorded in the log:

FOR GROUND OPERATIONS

1. Departure and return times to mission base.
2. Routes taken to and from the search area.
3. Times of entering and leaving search areas.
4. Any time the search line changes direction.
5. Times/locations of clue detections or witness interviews.
6. Time/location of find.
7. Time/Location of communications checks.
8. Any event or action related to the team&s ability to complete the sortie requirements (natural hazards encountered, injuries to team members, etc.).
9. Encounters or instructions from local authorities.
10. Encounters with the media.
11. Mileage/Flight time at key intersections, when leaving pavement, at other key locations, etc.
12. Time of distress beacon or other emergency signal acquisition.
13. Times distress beacon located and silenced. Also, if available, include the name(s) and organization(s) of person(s) involved in silencing the distress beacon, the manufacturer, serial number, dates of manufacture and battery expiration, vehicle information (type, vehicle registry, description), and the name of the owner.
14. Personnel assignments to and from the team/unit.

Note: This log (ICSF 214) may be kept as an attachment to the CAPF 109

FOR AIRCREW OPERATIONS

1. Briefing details
2. Names of crew members
3. Engine start time
4. Take Off time
5. Communications checks
6. Time beginning assigned grid or route
7. Time departing grid or route
8. Significant weather, turbulence, other
9. Time of landing
10. Time of engine shutdown
11. Crew changes if any

Note: this log (ICSF 214) may be kept as an attachment to the CAPF 104

FOR MISSION BASE STAFF OPERATIONS

1. Time/date unit or log started or activated
2. Name of unit, supervisor, and individual keeping the log
3. Notes from initial briefing
4. Time and noted from staff meetings
5. Significant events, actions taken, direction received or provided
4. For each log entry, the log keeper writes down the following on the ICSF 214:
1. The time.
2. The event taking place (see list above)
3. Mileage and/or location as appropriate.
4. Name of individual annotating the log each time there is a change.

Additional Information

More detailed information on this topic is available in the Incident Command System Curriculum.

Evaluation Preparation

Setup:

Prepare narrative of 10 events/actions and times. Provide the individual with the list, a pen, and an ICS Form 214.

Brief Student:

Tell the student that he is the log keeper for his unit, and that the 10 events listed in the narrative have occurred. Tell him to log the events/actions on the on team log form.

Note: this evaluation can be accomplished during a training exercise by observing the events taking place and checking the log to see that they are properly annotated.

Evaluation

Student must receive a pass on all performance measures to qualify in this task. If the individual fails any measure, show what was done wrong and how to do it correctly.