TEMA hosts first-in-the-nation class for Communications Unit Leader course

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency hosted the first All Hazards Type III Communications Unit Leader (COML) Train-the-Trainer Course in Nashville on Thursday. Seeking to enhance interoperability, 20 students representing seven states joined Tennessee communications unit leaders for the 8-hour course. These new trainers will take what they have learned and return to their states as the first step to ensuring that every state has trained instructors capable of teaching the COML course to other first responders.

 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) recently completed development of the COML Train-the-Trainer Course which allows for an efficient, self-sustaining, and cost effective process to train COMLs to manage and coordinate on-scene communications during multi-jurisdictional responses and planned events. This class in Nashville was a joint partnership with Homeland Security’s Office of Emergency Communications and TEMA.

 

“We are proud that DHS selected Tennessee to roll out this highly anticipated train-the-trainer program,” said TEMA Director James Bassham. “Communications unit leaders across the nation have been asking for this training and we have employed the successful and proven train-the-trainer model to ensure that they will be able to take this knowledge back and share it with other communications leaders.”

 

“COML training provides a structure and background for communications unit leaders. The training better prepares responders to assume command of communications during a critical incident or other disaster requiring communications interoperability,” said Chris Essid, OEC Director.

 

The COML Train-the-Trainer Course provides the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively teach the COML course in their State, territory, and/or jurisdiction. The Type III COML course trains emergency responders to be communications unit leaders during all-hazards emergency operations, significantly improving communications across the multiple disciplines and jurisdictions.

 

COML training has been employed in the past. Responders trained as COMLs served a vital role during the Kentucky ice storm in February, which crippled communications across that state. These responders successfully established radio communications using various communications resources, enabling multi-jurisdictional and multi-discipline first responders to coordinate the response, rescue, and recovery.

 

Information about additional classes is posted on the SAFECOM website: http://www.safecomprogram.gov/SAFECOM/currentprojects/comltraining/comltraining.htm.

 

For more information on OEC, please visit www.DHS.gov, keyword OEC.

 

For more information about the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, please visit www.tnema.org.