Saw in your Western Branch news letter that the info on how to
obtain manifold ICS-213 message forms was relayed to you by KC4TVO. Here is some
follow-up info on best way to use them:
Suggested usage of the manifold ICS-213 forms:
Manifold forms means the three-page carbonless sets of ICS-213's that
you can purchase from the fire service.
If you are running the ARES/RACES radio desk for an agency during a
drill or actual emergency, here is a workable way to efficiently use those
manifold ICS-213 message forms.
The message originator fills out the ICS-213 manifold form (using a ball
point pen) and hands it to the radio operator. The radio operator checks the
message, tweaks the addressing if necessary, and then transmits the message,
maybe by voice or maybe via Winlink digital. The operator immediately annotates
the manifold forms (in a margin) with his name/callsign, the method of
transmission, and the date-time-group (DTG) of transmission. THEN, he pulls off
the top (original) copy and hands it back to the originator.....as proof the
message was sent. The radio operator keeps the two
carbon copies.... for the
time being. If a reply to the outgoing message comes in, the operator records
that reply on the bottom half of those two copies (along with the DTG of
receipt), tears off the top copy of those two copies, and hands that to the
originator....as the reply to his original message. For a new in-coming
message, the operator records the message on a manifold set, hands the two top
copies to the recipient, and keeps the last copy. The radio operator permanently
keeps the last (and least legible) copy of any transactions.
If the agency or radio desk is assigning a sequential numbering to their
in-coming and out-going traffic, the operator can mark that on the copies, as
well. A good way to keep control of the messages is to simply top-punch them
with a two-hole punch (hopefully in your "go kit") and stack them up
sequentially in a two-prong binder or folder (also in your go kit). That way, if
you need to glance through the day's traffic, you leaf through that binder. You
retire a day's worth of messages at the end of the day's shifts to another
archive folder and start the process all over.
This is the way we routinely handled paper-copy message flow in the
military and the system works well if everyone follows the procedures. If you
are also handling messages electronically, maybe using PacLink or else messages
passed to you (radio operator) on a computer flash drive, then you will have to
integrate that flow with the paper copies. Not impossible, but takes some extra
steps.
We have rehearsed this in our local drills and the system works. But you
do need to practice a bit ahead of time so everyone feels comfortable.
Steve, KI4ZUI, AEC
Mitchell County
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2/10/2011 |