Emergency Services FAQ
 | This article needs to be updated. (January 2024) |
Emergency Services
I was unable to find anything on the web site about an Aircraft Survival Kit, and I was wondering if you could send me a list of what is available?
The contents of the AIRCRAFT SURVIVAL KIT vary from region to region and season to season. Check with your wing or region for specific requirements.
Listed below is a typical AIRCRAFT SURVIVAL KIT.
AIRCRAFT SURVIVAL KIT- 3 PERSON - 3 DAYS
(1 ea) * USAF Aircrew Survival Manual AFP36-2246, 122 pages, current military (9 ea) Aqua-Bloc® 8.45 fl. oz. water pack, 1 per day per person (1 ea) * 5 qt plastic, water storage bag ( 1 ea) 8 oz. bag, hard survival candy (3 ea) food bar, 3600 calories - non-thirst provoking. 5 year storage life, 3 servings per person per day (1 ea) ACR Firefly Plus strobelight/flashlight, requires 2 AA batteries, included (3 ea) * space blanket, silver/orange foil, 56""X96"", featherlite & waterproof (3 ea) emergency sleeping bags manufactured from space blanket foil, windproof & waterproof (1 ea) * fire starter with 10 fire tabs, works ""one-handed"" in case of injury (1 ea) * signal mirror, acrylic 3""X5"" (1 ea) * magnetic pocket compass MC1 (1 ea) zipper thermometer (1 ea) * USAF survival knife, 5"", with leather handle, sheath & sharpening stone (1 ea) * heavy-duty finger saw with finger rings and 2 blades (1 ea) * 10"" machete with sheath, belt clip & sharpening stone (1 ea) snare kit with two self-locking steel snares / (1 ea) * emergency fishing kit, fresh or salt water (1 ea) * survival whistle ACR/WW3, distinctive high pitch sound (1 ea) white nylon cord, 50', 500 lb test (1 ea) water purification tablets, 50 tablets - 6 gal water (1 ea) first aid minor emergency packet #1 - 25 items (1 ea) first aid packet #2 - misc. heavy bandages, 41 items (1 ea) personal hygiene kit c/o 3 toothbrushes, toothpaste, talcum powder, 3 pocket combs, 6 toilet paper, 3 soap and 3 garbage bags (1 ea) 36 hour canned candle (1 ea) 18"" X 36"" sheet aluminum foil (4 ea) AA batteries for strobelight/flashlight, 3-5 year storage life (3 ea) * plastic survival sunglasses (3 ea) 40"" X 48"" emergency poncho - orange (1 ea) *insect repellent stick - 1 oz. (1 ea) 2' X 6' signal panel - chartreuse & orange with tiedown cords. All items are stored in a 14"" X 16"" X 6"" USAF survival field pack. Water resistant & airtight, with rubber sealed metal zipper & shoulder straps for emergency backpacking. 24 lbs.
How do I complete my General Emergency Services (GES) qualification?
2-3. Specialty Rating Requirements and Performance Standards. For each specialty rating, SQTRs have been developed to train and qualify members in stages. The most current versions of the task guides for all specialties are found on the NHQ CAP/DOS website.
e. General Emergency Services (GES). To participate in emergency services training or operations, personnel must be current traditional members (not patrons, cadet sponsors, AEMs, or legislative members) having completed level one and cadet protection training (senior members) or achievement one (cadets). Individuals in temporary membership are not eligible for liability coverage under the FECA or FTCA. Individuals in temporary membership status are eligible to accomplish academic training activities, but are not authorized to observe mission base training and operations due to liability issues. In addition, they may not participate in any flight activities (including flight line activities) or ground, urban direction finding team, or CERT field activities. Other than these, there are no prerequisite requirements for GES. The General Emergency Services specialty rating is required of all individuals qualifying in emergency services and will be completed prior to commencing training for any other specialty. This training authorizes members to attend missions, observe activities and perform administrative and general operations support tasks under the direction of qualified staff personnel, essentially as a license to learn. Successful completion of the current CAPT 116, General Emergency Services Questionnaire and OPSEC Training, qualifies the member in the General Emergency Services Specialty Rating. To remain current in the GES specialty all current holders will complete new CAPTs 116 and OPSEC Training within 180 days of issuance of new examinations.
Is there minimum number of members required on a ground or urban DF team?
Yes. Ground teams will not be released without a qualified ground team leader and at least three qualified ground team members or supervised trainees. Urban DF teams will not be released with less than two personnel and CERTs will not be dispatched with less than three personnel. For more information, see CAPR 60-3, para 1-17.
How does one meet the requirements for award of an Emergency Services (ES) Qualification Badge and/or patch?
Paragraphs 3 and 4 of CAPR 35-6 covers the requirements for award of Emergency Services (ES) Qualification Badge and the CAP Emergency Services Patch.
Where can I find information about General Emergency Services Tasks?
You can find General Emergency Services training materials and links online at: Training Material[dead link]
Are squadrons required to maintain emergency services qualification files such as copies of SQTRs on its senior members other than what is in e-services?
See documentation requirements in Paragraph 1-5c of CAPR 60-3.
What are the requirements for someone to train CAP members in their ground team member level 3 tasks? Do they just have to be GTM3 qualified and have their SQTR completed?
They need to be a qualified evaluator in accordance with CAPR 60-3, paragraph 2-2 to sign off on tasks. That does not prevent other members from supervising them on missions or providing other instruction, but the tasks need to be signed off by a qualified evaluator. For ground team members that would be a member qualified to the same level or higher or other specialties that can sign off. For example a Ground Branch director could sign off on tasks done remotely if they can verify accomplishment, but they don't have to. See CAPR 60-3.
Additionally, some wings have chosen to limit their list of evaluators further via approved supplement, so you may want to check with your wing to be sure that has not been done.
Where can I download the task guides Urban DF and Ground Team Member?
These are available at: https://nesa.cap.gov/about/schools/gsar
Can a member who is a Skills Examiner Trainer (SET) sign their off a task on a his/her own SQTR for a new ES rating. For example, John Doe is SET qualified as MRO, MSA. He is not MS qualified. Can he sign off tasks for MS on his own SQTR?
No, a member cannot sign off tasks for themselves. A separate qualified supervisor needs to evaluate the task.
Where can I find the specific requirements for the Ground Team Qualification Badge?
Paragraph 5 of CAPR 35-6 covers the requirements for award of Ground Team Badges.
5. Requirements for Award of the Ground Team Badges: a. Basic Ground Team Badge: Be qualified as a CAP ground team member IAW CAPR 60-3. b. Senior Ground Team Badge:
(1) Be qualified as a CAP ground team leader IAW CAPR 60-3 or (2) Be qualified as a CAP ground team member – level one
c. Master Ground Team Badge. Be qualified as a CAP ground branch director IAW CAPR 60-3.
What are the CAP policies on knives both at CAP meetings and during CAP emergency services missions?
Sheath knives may be worn during your participation on emergency services missions, but there are some limits and some knife types are prohibited. Swiss Army knives, Leatherman or Gerber multipurpose type tools are recommended. Always check to make sure you are compliant with local laws.
The following guidance comes from GROUND & URBAN DIRECTION FINDING TEAM TASKS
e. Restrictions on Knives: You may only wear a sheath knife if authorized by your team leader. Sheath knives cannot have a blade longer than 6” or a total length of greater than 11”. The sheath must adequately secure the knife and protect the wearer from the blade. If authorized, sheath knives will be worn only on the pistol belt or carried inside the pack. The following knife types are not authorized: boot knives, butterfly knives, switch blades, double edged knives, “Rambo” style survival knives, or knives with retracting sheaths. Machetes or hatchets can only be carried by senior members when needed for that specific sortie. No knives may be visible when the member is performing crash sight surveillance duty. Knives may also be used for some aerospace education constructions. The regulation that governs cadet participation at CAP meetings, CAPR 52_16, is silent on the subject, but there is typically no on-going need for cadets to bring knives to regular CAP meetings.
Also see guidance below Paragraph 2 of CAPR 900-3. 2. Other Dangerous Weapons. Other than as provided for in paragraph 1 above, members engaged in CAP activities are prohibited from possessing or using weapons as defined by local state statutes as ""dangerous.""
Where can I find information on the water survival emergency services specialty qualification listed in CAPR 60-3?
Water Survival emergency services specialty qualification training listed in CAPR 60-3 is available on AXIS.
Please login to eServices and go to the upper left hand corner and select menu, in the dropdown, please go to Online Learning then select Learning Management System. The next screen, in the upper middle section, you should see Go To AXIS. Please select that option.
What operations and emergency services examinations are available online?
OPS and ES quizzes and exams are stored in the Learning Management System (LMS) in eSevices.
How do you get certificates from FEMA and IS courses to prove course completion for a civilian job?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has a online course to help first responders understand the federal government's National Incident Management System (NIMS). NIMS establishes standard incident management processes, protocols and procedures so that all responders — including those at the federal, state, tribal and local level — can coordinate their responses, share a common focus and place full emphasis on resolving the event.
You can request certificates from FEMA at: https://training.fema.gov/is/crslist.aspx
What are the specific requirements to be a qualified Mission Observer?
For the latest SQTRs see My Operations Qualifications in eServices.
Where can I find information on the National Incident Management System?
For more information on NIMS, please click on the following link: NIMS https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims
If a member's ES ground team qualifications expire are they still authorized to wear the ES patch and Ground team badge?
Just like the Air Force, once the Emergency Services (ES) or ground team badges are earned, they can be worn forever.
Does the CAPT 116 test have to be taken online or can it be administered at cadet meetings?
The CAPT 116 does not have to be taken online - it can be administered in a paper form at local units. The preferred method of completion is online but if that is not possible, contact the CAP/DO at do@capnhq.gov to request a hard copy of the test.
When the test is taken online the results are automatically stored in the testing system, and completion is automatically forwarded into the national database requiring less administrative support than taking it at a unit meeting using the paper form.
If the test is administered via hard copy, once the test is passed, the Emergency Services Officer or testing officer can enter the completion as a task into Ops Quals under the GES Achievement.
Can cadets who are qualified ground team leaders, but under 18, train others as ground team leaders?
Cadets cannot become qualified ground team leaders if they are under 18. They can qualify through ground team member level one which has overlapping tasks with the ground team leader specialty, and could train personnel on those tasks, but could not supervise a ground team leader on a mission.
I would like to have a list of field gear items for a SAR-EX/SAR. What should be in the 24/72 hour pack?
Contents may vary from region to region based on weather and other conditions. Check with your wing for specific requirements. A sample list at Attachment B of the NESA policies and procedures at the following link: Packing lists.[dead link]
Do cadets participate in operational missions? If so, what type of missions? Under what circumstances would a cadet be sent on a mission?
Cadets often participate in missions. See guidance below from Section B, Paragraphs 1-10e of CAPR 60-3.
e. Use of qualified CAP cadets is encouraged as much as possible on appropriate missions. Cadets should be trained in the various functions of mission operations and support as permitted. Cadets qualify no differently than adult members in emergency services qualifications, and can be properly utilized in age-appropriate scenarios. Additional guidance for employing cadets on missions can be found on the CAP/DOS website at Cadets in Emergency Services.
The above reference to the CAP/DOS website is outdated and will be updated with the next version of CAPR 60-3. Please visit the following website to review cadet participate: https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/programs/emergency-services/operations-support/cadets-in-emergency-services
Could you clarify the eligibility of Mission Base staff to earn the "Find" ribbon in support of the Ground Team?
Credit towards FIND ribbons is normally given to the aircrew and/or ground team that located the objective; however, a search force including incident staff and other aircrews and teams involved may be credited with a FIND.
See criteria from CAPR 60-3, para 1-27 and 1-28
Point of Distribution Course (PODC)
The requirement for Point of Distribution course (PODC) credit has been changed to allow credit for the online FEMA ""IS-26: Guide to Points of Distribution Course"". This removes the requirement for both the in-residence course and the online course. The FEMA course can be accessed at: https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=is-26 . Until we have a place holder in the Emergency Services upload documents in Ops Quals, members should load the certificate as “Other” and identify the certificate as there IS-26 PODC completion they should then enter their completion date on the PODC SQTR for approval.
For those members that previously completed the course in residence training the unit can enter their training completion date and approve the completion. We highly encourage these members to complete the IS-26 course.