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ARESCO After-Action Report: Colorado Springs Balloon Classic Amateur Radio Support

by Ginger Hipszky, NØUOD, Mission Coordinator, District 14, El Paso & Teller Counties, 03-Sep-2001
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  1. Date of activity
    • September 1-3, 2001

  2. Description of activity
    • Colorado Springs Balloon Classic

  3. Duration of Activity
    • 18.5 hours

  4. Serving amateur radio groups participating
    • Pikes Peak Amateur Radio Emergency Service

  5. Served agencies participating
    • El Paso County Search and Rescue

  6. Describe served agency participation
    • El Paso County Search and Rescue (SAR) provides their Comm 1 vehicle for communications purposes. They provide medical support for the event.

  7. Number of amateurs participating
    • 38

  8. List of amateurs participating

  9. Person-hours of amateur service
    • 304.5

  10. Describe the goals of the activity
    • To be observers on the launch field, to report medical incidents, observe crowd locations, and generally report any problems on the field. Also, to help balloon crews keep crowds away from balloons, if asked.

  11. Did the event fulfill the goals?
    • Yes

  12. Event Analysis
    • The event went very well. All operators who worked the event worked well as a team on the balloon launch field. Operators helped where they were needed. Amateur positions on the field were adjusted as the crowd size varied. The one medical that we had was called in correctly from the operator on the field, and medical was there in a matter of minutes.

  13. What went well?
    • Operators followed the mission plan very well. Most everyone followed the directed net procedure properly. Operators elmered two young hams at the event. The two boys learned about how directed nets operate and how to operate in a large crowd.

  14. Areas needing improvement
    • Contacting all operators who have signed up, prior to the event, to make sure they can still participate. Better instructions on how a directed net operates. Put a better description of proper clothing to wear at a public service event, so we look more professional.

  15. Lessons learned
    • Having the person who hands out parking passes come into the communications vehicle to sit in as NCS was very helpful. Having two people on the ovservation tower to survey the event and crowd was very beneficial. Having field assignments made prior to the event mde the event run smoother.

  16. Additional training needed
    • Have training staff member do a talk on the Tuesday night PPARES net on how to operate in a dircted net and a large crowd would help. Learning how to improve mission plan would be helpful. Call operators ahead of time to remind them of the vent, so you aren't caught short.

  17. General comments
    • This years event ran well because we all worked as a team. If additional operators were needed to fill in for no-shows others that were at one event volunteered for ones they hadn't signed up for. If additional operators were needed to help with a certain balloon or with keeping the crowd back, no one hesitated to offer to help.

  18. Ideas for future exercises
    • PPARES should continue to support thish event. It is a good learning experience for new hams, and I think they should be encouraged to participate as much as possible. For following years participating in this event, the mission coordinator should work more closely with the balloon committee on the events that are happening. Also, the dog and smoking issue should be dealt with more clearly, so that all operators on the field know exactly what is expected from them and what isn't.

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