Amateur Radio EmComm groups must be proficient in use of ICS terminology and procedures if we are to work effectively with most of our clients. Much has been written on the subject and there are some excellent ICS courses available on-line and elsewhere.

What I would like to suggest is that if ICS is good for our clients it is good for EmComm groups as well. I believe we should organize our EmComm groups internally using the ICS model. Further, as we prepare to respond to either a special event or an actual emergency it behooves us to implement ICS within our own response. The group’s leader (EC or other similar position) may serve as the EmComm Incident Coordinator (EIC).

That is NOT the IC for the actual incident but for the EmComm team only. Within the EmComm group key ICS style positions should be established to make the response more efficient. The EmComm group IC could assign one member as the "Operations Coordinator" assigned to handle all operational matters, thereby freeing the EIC for other duties. A "Logistics Coordinator" would deal with such matters as scheduling and procuring equipment and supplies. Another might be assigned to "Planning" in order to gather information about the expected duration and scope of the event.

All of these group leaders support the EIC within the EmComm group just like their counterparts support the over all IC of the incident.

There is a parallel here with what professional communications entities are doing. Many 9-1-1 Dispatch Centers, which, like amateur radio EmComm groups, provide communications services to public safety agencies during times of emergency, and they have implemented "internal ICS" as part of their protocol.

If you wish further information about this, The May 2004 issue of 9-1-1 Magazine has a detailed discussion of communication center ICs.  [Dispatch ICS by Randall Larson/Editor, 9-1-1 Magazine;
Using an Incident Command System (ICS) model to manage critical incidents from within the Communications Center]