OAUSA Net - February 15, 2024 - Planning & Operating Under the Acronym PACE

[lrsrngr]

What is PACE?

Planning using the acronym PACE is a method used to "plan in depth." If you've heard me say time and time again, "One is none, two is one and three or more evens the score." However, simply evening the score is not winning and winning is what we strive to do! Through proper planning, using PACE, we endeavor to capitalize on a technique that has been forged during peace time and "the fog of war," where Murphy's Law is not simply a whimsical anecdote, it is very real and a great way to counter, "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."

PACE is making definitive allowances for these four planning protocols:

• The Primary Plan

• The Alternate Plan

• Contingency Plans

• Emergency Plans

A supporting video by Mike Glover, Fieldcraft Survival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duaMIboAvNM&t=2s

Murphy's Laws of Combat

1. If the enemy is in range, so are you.
2. Incoming fire has the right of way.
3. Don't look conspicuous, it draws fire.
4. There is always a way.
5. The easy way is always mined.
6. Try to look unimportant, they may be low on ammo.
7. Professionals are predictable, it's the amateurs that are dangerous.
8. The enemy invariably attacks on two occasions:

• When you're ready for them.

• When you're not ready for them.

9. Teamwork is essential, it gives them someone else to shoot at.
10. If you can't remember, the claymore is pointed at you.
11. The enemy diversion you have been ignoring will be the main attack.
12. A "sucking chest wound" is nature's way of telling you to slow down.
13. If your attack is going well, you have walked into an ambush.
14. Never draw fire, it irritates everyone around you.
15. Anything you do can get you shot, including nothing.
16. Make it tough enough for the enemy to get in and you won't be able to get out.
17. Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than yourself.
18. If you are short of everything but the enemy, you are in a combat zone.
19. When you have secured an area, don't forget to tell the enemy.
20. Never forget that your weapon is made by the lowest bidder.
21. Friendly Fire Isn't.

[lrsrngr]

Shootin' Shack White Mountains, AZ Shadow 1024.jpg (450.77 KiB) Viewed 5282 times

What is The Gundies? https://www.thegundies.com/

The Gundies this year was emceed by Ciint Morgan from Classic Firearms on 24 January, during Shot Show, 23-26 January 2024, in Las Vegas. Both events are huge in the firearm world where all the big industry names and content providers gather to "show their wares." https://shotshow.org/

Recommendation: Watch and take notes on some of the nominees and winners who are putting out great content concerning their specific field of expertise. Create a list of YouTube content providers and subscribe to their channels to shape your information base when it comes to general information, litigation and trends within the 2A world.

FAQ:

• What are the Gundie Awards? The Gundie Awards are the firearm community’s voter choice awards. They’re your opportunity to make your voice heard, and vote for your favorite creators to be recognized. Vote in 15 categories then wait or watch the Gundies Ceremony to see the winners announced.

• Why do The Gundies exist? The Gundies were created to bring the firearms community together with a little lighthearted competition. Our goal is to showcase creators who have reached the top of their game, and spotlight up and coming talent in the community.

• How do I vote? Voting Begins December 1st, 2023; 1. Sign into Thegundies.com; 2. Pick a category & then pick your favorite content creator; 3. Click the vote button and you're done; 4. You can vote once per day in each category.

• Who decides the award winners? You do! The Gundie Awards are voter choice. At the end of voting, whichever nominee has the most votes in their category wins

• Can I nominate someone? Yes! You can nominate someone. The nomination period runs from October 1st through October 31st, 2023.
  *Disclaimer* Nominating an influencer is not a guarantee that they will be in the final voting, all contenders must meet our guidelines to be included in the voting. Only the top 20 nominees for each category will be included in the voting.

• Can I come to the awards ceremony? At this time the Gundie Awards is a Private Invite Only Event. Invitations are reserved for eligible nominees, and professionals in the firearms and outdoors industries.

The SHOT Show, which is an acronym for "Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show", is an American annual trade show for the shooting sports, hunting, outdoor recreation, and firearm manufacturing industries. The show is sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF)[2] and is the biggest event of the type in the world along with the IWA & OutdoorClassics ("IWA Nuremberg"), also held annually in Nuremberg, Germany.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SHOT_Show

The first ever SHOT Show was held in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1979. It used to rotate between Las Vegas, Nevada; Orlando, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana, and several other U.S. cities, although since 2010 it has taken place only in Las Vegas at the Sands Expo (renamed the Venetian Expo in September 2021), and is contracted to remain there through 2027. It attracted over 60,000 attendees to its 630,000 square feet (59,000 m2) of exhibition space in Las Vegas. It is among the top 25 trade shows in the US.[3]

[lrsrngr]

Product Review

Speaking of preparing and running a PACE plan for the beginner to advanced amateur radio operator who is using an HT for a lot of different purposes. Having the proper adapters and coax provides a myriad of connection potential. You can buy a ready-made kit or you can put one together yourself. I've found tailoring my kit on my own usually saves money. Here are some examples of two ready-made kits from two different vendors:

MTC Radio: $29.99 https://www.mtcradio.com/radcom-3-foot-ht-jumper-sma-male-to-uhf-female-with-9-adapters-kit/

Adapter Set MTC.jpg (237.09 KiB) Viewed 5289 times

HRO: $94.95 https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-008684

Adapter Set HRO.jpg (37.13 KiB) Viewed 5289 times

Having this flexibility has saved my communication effort more than once. From military HF operations to Red Cross "Sound the Alarm" operations, even magnet mount antennas divide up for those who transitioned from HT to mobile HT operations...it worked where without it we were struggling!

If you have Amazon Prime, you can order in multiples and save. I did this and used one or two of the multiples and put together a kit for a White Elephant gift giving event. Worked out perfect and stayed within budget!

[lrsrngr]

"One is none, two is one and three or more evens the score."

What is planning in depth?

• A single course of action or plan is often considered no plan at all. Where there is no "depth" to the plan the void is left open to chaos and getting "lucky" becomes an essential part of getting the job done. Leave nothing to chance! Let Murphy in and you will painfully realize, "If anything can go wrong, it CAN and WILL go wrong."

A plan to address many of the facets of communication had to be addressed. Commo was our life blood our safety net. It was used internally, externally and provided our way in and out of bad mojo.

LRS COMM Prep 02.jpg (583.12 KiB) Viewed 5255 times

• So, what is the "mission?" What needs to be accomplished and how many resources will be needed to provide some level of success?

• What risks are involved and without further detailed planning is it prudent to continue? This is a reality check; a decision point!

• After recognizing risks that may grind further planning to a halt, can the risk be mitigated to a tolerable level with specific control measures implemented that conserve resources up to and including "life, limb and eyesight..."

• Now, with a modest methodical amount of analysis, is the mission more feasible, realistic and initial goals attainable?

• Have initial goals changed, have more goals been added or are we back to the original "mission?"

• Necessary and Critical: The PACE Plan has to be different. For example, a route planned is not different just because you broke left around a tree rather than skirting it around to the right![/list]

[lrsrngr]

Contingency Planning: What NEEDS to happen!

Let's breakdown what is known as the Wilderness Protocol as a reference point for the ham radio world of "emergency communication."

o As early as February of 1994 in QST magazine, page 99, William Alsup, N6XMW, submitted an article, "A Wilderness VHF FM Protocol". He was an avid High Sierras hiker with 20-years' experience and used low-power HTs to communicate with repeaters known to support backcountry trips with the normal tracking and emergency support often required before other forms of communication (arguably, ham radio continues to work well for these expeditions). The W6XMW PACE plan:

• Primary: Use repeaters whenever possible. Plan for their use based on terrain analysis, LOS supported communications. Update contacts of position, progress & status of hikers

• Alternate: Rx/Tx on 146.520, the national 2m Calling Frequency, at 1000, 1300 & 1600 hours, for 5-minutes.

• Contingencies: "Hard-Time" Rx/Tx windows should be adhered to. Providing a call sign at the top of every hour, once or twice, to draw out potential contacts was encouraged during all daylight hours. Tracking of hiking parties in the wilderness via this plan was intended to provide help when and where it was needed.

• Emergencies: Most emergencies, it was concluded, "...happen while hiking, climbing or swimming. Accidents are less likely in the early morning... One PM is usually during hikers' lunch... Four PM is after most hikers have stopped for the day, yet early enough to allow for helicopter or other assistance before sunset..."

o In August of 1995, QST had a follow-up article on page 101, "Wilderness VHF Protocol Reminder", by Brain Battles, WS1O, QST Features Editor cited N6XMW's previous work. However, times were changed to every 3-hours starting at 0700 and ending at 1900 hours. Effectually 0700-0705, 1000-1005, 1300-1305, 1600-1605 and 1900-1905 became the new Rx/Tx windows and somewhere between the original article and the 1995-piece, other national calling frequencies were added to include, 52.525, 145.520, 223.500, 446.000 and 1294.500 MHz. The following caveat was also part of the article:

• "It may take a few years for the Wilderness VHF Protocol to take-off..."

• "It's reassuring to know that there's at least one agreed-upon technique...if they get into a tight spot."

• ...this protocol won't work if it's only used by hams who need to call for help-someone else has to be listening."

There are many articles and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for groups and areas that realize amateur radio is often lifesaving. It is found in the ARES Field Resource Manual in Appendix 6:

Wilderness Protocol

• http://arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Ser ... 0-2019.pdf

• The Wilderness protocol (see page 101, August 1995 QST) calls for hams in the wilderness to announce their presence on, and to monitor, the national calling frequencies for five minutes beginning at the top of the hour, every three hours from 7 AM to 7 PM while in the back country. A ham in a remote location may be able to relay emergency information through another wilderness ham who has better access to a repeater. National calling frequencies: 52.525, 146.52, 223.50, 446.00, 1294.50 MHz.

The American Redoubt Radio Operators Network or AmRRON Channel 3 Project is another up and coming attempt to establish communications during a disaster.

CH3-Project-Calling.jpg (76.36 KiB) Viewed 5146 times

Look for more information here: https://amrron.com/communications-resou ... 3-project/

[lrsrngr]

Let's talk examples of using PACE and hopefully others will share their experiences and examples as we work through the topic.

Think about what you can share with the group!

1. Family Emergency Communication Plan

• Primary: Voice over Cell/Landline

• Alternate: SMS Text/Internet Email

• Contingencies: Contact family/friend outside of state/local area; provide time & place of where you are, safe/not safe, health and time and place for next move/contact time; FRS/GMRS/amateur radio

• Emergencies: Assembly/rendezvous sites; natural/manmade disaster; deploy emergency radio protocols

2. Overlanding Plans

• Primary:

• Alternate:

• Contingencies:

• Emergencies:

3. Vehicle Roll-Over

• Primary:

• Alternate:

• Contingencies:

• Emergencies:

4. Shooting On BLM Land

• Primary:

• Alternate:

• Contingencies:

• Emergencies:

5. Get Home Plans

• Primary:

• Alternate:

• Contingencies:

• Emergencies:

6. Wildfire

• Primary:

• Alternate:

• Contingencies:

• Emergencies:

7. Campsite Security

• Primary:

• Alternate:

• Contingencies:

• Emergencies:

8. Ghost Town Exploring

• Primary:

• Alternate:

• Contingencies:

• Emergencies:

9. Camp Cooking

• Primary:

• Alternate:

• Contingencies:

• Emergencies:

10. Day v. Night Hiking/Camping

• Primary:

• Alternate:

• Contingencies:

• Emergencies:

[NotAMog]

Please check in -

John - KN6VL

Bruce - KD6GCO

[Diesel4x]

Good evening. Please check in Randy KF6KOC and Becky KF6RGR.

Sounds like a good net!

[Voodoo Blue 57]

It looks like a great net tonight!

Thanks Rick!

Early checking.

[Geoff]

Please check me in tonight.

Thinks bud!