virtual preparation for real world threats

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CRISIS| RESPONSE VOL 1 ISSUE 4 + 43 partners W HEN IT CAME to creating an exercise to support its Strategic Command Course, the Police National (CBRN) Centre at Winterbourne Gunner recognised that VectorCommand’s Emergency Command System TM exercise management tool can provide the perfect environment for assessing and enhancing the skills of delegates attending the course. VectorCommand’s specialist staff have the skills and expertise required to create the kinds of complex CBRN scenarios which would exercise delegates in a way that would reflect the threats likely to be encountered in the real world. The Centre is not the first to turn to VectorCommand to help raise the standard of exercising for contingency planning and emergency management. The system has already been used to deliver exercises at all levels of government in Australia and at local government level in the UK. Key objectives One of the key objectives of any national training and exercising programme is to develop the skills of strategic level Commanders and decision makers from the three emergency services, and other agencies, who may have to command such incidents. VectorCommand is always careful to ensure that it does not give the delegates capabilities beyond the current standards of technology available to them. The ethos behind this is that participants in training programmes should ‘Train as they Command and Command as they Train’. Media coverage An influencing factor in any major incident these days is media coverage and the demand for information. VectorCommand simulates these demands and ensures that realism is created in the media injects. Audio visual news clips are created to simulate TV news broadcasts, and the pressure of interview requests from the media cell is included. A major problem in current exercises is securing the subject matter experts (SMEs) required to deliver briefings to management groups. To allow for the repeated use of the exercises it produces, VectorCommand explores the option of filming the SME’s first delivery with its customers. The recorded presentation is then catalogued for insertion, as appropriate, in future exercises. This allows users to build upon the initial scenario and timeline by creating injects during the actual exercise. These injects can draw on supporting material available within a library of multi-media clips created over the life of the exercise programme. The way in which scenarios are created, populated, choreographed and built on the system allows it to evolve with use. Lessons identified from one exercise can easily be built into future exercises; which is not so easily done when you’re dealing with A4 ring binders full of reams of paper. Enhanced delivery This approach allows for a greatly enhanced delivery of injects that go far beyond the paper feeds and role plays utilised at present; additionally, it reduces the manpower requirements for exercise controls. Other benefits of this exercise management system are: It provides a high level of realism for all aspects of emergency command training, replicating the stresses of real incidents with virtual reality, simulated communications, media injects, GIS mapping and time sequencing; Command training exercises can be recorded and replayed for assessment and analysis; Emergency managers are provided with a planning, training and command environment that is both clear and consistent; The necessity for collaboration, both within and between organisations, is highlighted through the process. Strengths and weaknesses in communication, collaboration and organisational Virtual preparation for ‘real world’ threats Exercises need to be realistic, complex and technically challenging, with scenarios testing participants’ knowledge and emergency management skills. This is the only way staff can be thoroughly prepared for coping with the kinds of challenges that real incidents are likely to pose, writes Arthur Rabjohn of VectorCommand aspects are highlighted; The timeline of exercises can be controlled in order to ensure the most beneficial use of key officials’ time; Costs of training programmes can be reduced by substituting ‘live play’ exercises with simulated ones, and Exercise control personnel numbers can be reduced by automating a number of the functions that would otherwise be carried out by large numbers of exercise control staff. The objective of all this effort is that strategic and tactical level commanders enhance their understanding of how to handle major incidents, based on demanding training, with a high degree of realism. An influencing factor in any major incident these days is media coverage and the demand for information. VectorCommand simulates these demands and ensures that realism is created in the media injects Author Arthur Rabjohn is Emergency Management BDM at VectorCommand Ltd www.vectorcommand.com CRJ 043.crj4.vector_ptr.indd 43 25/8/05 9:46:15 pm

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Page 1: Virtual Preparation For Real World Threats

CRISIS | RESPONSE VOL 1 ISSUE 4+PB CRISIS | RESPONSE VOL 1 ISSUE 4+ 43

partners

WHEN IT CAME to creating an exercise to support its Strategic Command Course, the Police National (CBRN)

Centre at Winterbourne Gunner recognised that VectorCommand’s Emergency Command SystemTM exercise management tool can provide the perfect environment for assessing and enhancing the skills of delegates attending the course. VectorCommand’s specialist staff have the skills and expertise required to create the kinds of complex CBRN scenarios which would exercise delegates in a way that would reflect the threats likely to be encountered in the real world.

The Centre is not the first to turn to VectorCommand to help raise the standard of exercising for contingency planning and emergency management. The system has already been used to deliver exercises at all levels of government in Australia and at local government level in the UK.

Key objectives One of the key objectives of any national training and exercising programme is to develop the skills of strategic level Commanders and decision makers from the three emergency services, and other agencies, who may have to command such incidents. VectorCommand is always careful to ensure that it does not give the delegates capabilities beyond the current standards of technology available to them. The ethos behind this is that participants in training programmes should ‘Train as they Command and Command as they Train’.

Media coverage An influencing factor in any major incident these days is media coverage and the demand for information. VectorCommand simulates these demands and ensures that realism is created in the media injects. Audio visual news clips are created to simulate TV news broadcasts, and the pressure of interview requests from the media cell is included.

A major problem in current exercises is securing the subject matter experts (SMEs) required to deliver briefings to management groups. To allow for the repeated use of the exercises it produces, VectorCommand explores the option of filming the SME’s first delivery with its customers.

The recorded presentation is then catalogued for insertion, as appropriate, in future exercises. This allows users to build upon the initial scenario and timeline by creating injects during the actual exercise. These injects can draw on supporting material available within a library of multi-media clips created over the life of the exercise programme.

The way in which scenarios are created, populated, choreographed and built on the system allows it to evolve with use. Lessons identified from one exercise can easily be built into future exercises; which is not so easily done when you’re dealing with A4 ring binders full of reams of paper.

Enhanced delivery This approach allows for a greatly enhanced delivery of injects that go far beyond the paper feeds and role plays utilised at present; additionally, it reduces the manpower requirements for exercise controls. Other benefits of this exercise management system are:● It provides a high level of realism for all aspects of emergency command training, replicating the stresses of real incidents with virtual reality, simulated communications, media injects, GIS mapping and time sequencing;● Command training exercises can be recorded and replayed for assessment and analysis;● Emergency managers are provided with a planning, training and command environment that is both clear and consistent;● The necessity for collaboration, both within and between organisations, is highlighted through the process. Strengths and weaknesses in communication, collaboration and organisational

Virtual preparation for ‘real world’ threatsExercises need to be realistic, complex and technically challenging, with scenarios testing participants’ knowledge and emergency management skills. This is the only way staff can be thoroughly prepared for coping with the kinds of challenges that real incidents are likely to pose, writes Arthur Rabjohn of VectorCommand

aspects are highlighted;● The timeline of exercises can be controlled in order to ensure the most beneficial use of key officials’ time;● Costs of training programmes can be reduced by substituting ‘live play’ exercises with simulated ones, and● Exercise control personnel numbers can be reduced by automating a number of the functions that would otherwise be carried out by large numbers of exercise control staff.

The objective of all this effort is that strategic and tactical level commanders enhance their understanding of how to handle major incidents, based on demanding training, with a high degree of realism.

An influencing factor in any major incident these days is media coverage and the demand for information. VectorCommand simulates these demands and ensures that realism is created in the media injects

AuthorArthur Rabjohn is Emergency Management BDM at VectorCommand Ltd www.vectorcommand.com

CRJ

043.crj4.vector_ptr.indd 43 25/8/05 9:46:15 pm