“Further Training Required”

I used to strongly dislike putting that comment on an employee’s training documents. But sometimes it happened. Usually for something that was not an unachievable issue, but one of those critical points that just had to be met and was barely below standards.

Last weekend was not one of those times. And it started for several of us, in a manner that would not probably be placed in a training exercise. In hindsight, during my work years the same thing happened more often than not when a leadership group had been sent off to a location for a meeting of some sort a couple of counties away. But then, as now, we had a plan. Wade KF5AUD, Moe NT7C, Mark KF5UZW, and I had carpooled over to Paris for the MTC event. We had met early, enjoyed breakfast and arrived by 9, joining in the shopping fray that was a fun Ham event. Our plan was to leave about 10-ish and head back for the CERT cookout. We were enjoying some good ham camaraderie and looking forward to a good lunch. We were on schedule and on the road west when the texts started popping.

Out of radio range, there were multiple cell phones and conversations going, with plans being put in place and modified as we approached Grayson County to support CERT for a search and rescue (SAR). Once back at our original rendezvous point we had to rearrange vehicles due to a radioless vehicle in the mix and deal with gathering needed equipment.

Meanwhile you ARES folks were on the ball, gathering necessary gear and radios to deal with the SAR. We all arrived at the command post in time to meet the needs of our CERT teammates so that no team was not supported by a radio op. Moe established the NC station in the Denison FD mobile command post, making the radio and base antenna operable for our first use in quite a while. Check ins, assignments and briefings went well and communications were maintained and utilized as needed by the CERT search teams. Everyone cooperated, worked well with the assignments and came back to the CP safely.

We all even enjoyed a Tyson burger at the end of the day. What a display of cooperation between County and local agencies, various FD’s, Red Cross, and Salvation Army. Thank you all for doing your best to help out in an unfortunate situation. YOU responded and performed according to plan, then went the extra mile to make sure someone you didn’t even know had hope given to them.

I wish as much as all of you we had had the desired outcome for the day. It was not to be and as I write this we can continue to pray for the Dixon family and the focus of our attention, Enoch.

You have the respect of many and my heartfelt thanks.

73
Rick
K5ECX