CommsFirst has adopted an Operational Readiness methodology gleaned from industry best practices and our own operational experience. Our entire operational posture is based on one of five Operating Condition Levels (OPCONs). These OPCONs carry with them specific tactics, procedures, and activities as described below.
Our OPCONs are:
OPCON-1: Operational activities in this phase are designed to ensure that we have a strong emergency response capability, effective monitoring of open source systems for warning, refinement of all CONOPS, dissemination of emergency information, logistics planning and organizing all levels of our organization to ensure full focus and utilization of all available resources.
OPCON-2: Once a possible threat to any of our CONUS operating areas is identified, CommsFirst will announce a move to OPCON-2. At this stage, all of our personnel are notified of the potential threat. Each of our departments and our partner organizations will determine personnel availability and assignments specific to identified contingencies. We will also initiate increased preparedness activities. The CommsFirst OpsCenter will be under "Partial Activation", primarily staffed by tactical and CommsFirst Academy personnel. All Readiness Check Lists are completed and deficiencies corrected.
OPCON-3: Once a threat condition appears likely to our CONUS areas of operation, CommsFirst Operations will announce a move to OPCON-3. The OpsCenter will be under a "Limited Activation", staffed by CommsFirst tactical personnel and possibly our partner organizations. The OpsCenter will be engaged in deployment discussions with our customer organizations as well as with the appropriate state and local jurisdictions. Deployment may be ordered in the next 12 hours. Other preparatory activities and pre-deployments conferences will be held.
OPCON-4: Once there are strong indications that the threat is imminent and will fall within our CONUS area of operations, OPCON-4 will be announced. The OpsCenter will be under "Full Activation". All response personnel are recalled and issued deployment orders. OpsCenter "awareness" protocols are full activated. Our logistics tail is activated and Maslow resources are pulled and stocked in all Command and Tactical vehicles. CommsFirst personnel will be prepared to respond, quickly, to last minute issues. CommsFirst tactical teams are sent into the field for pre-positioning based on pre-determined scenario plans. OpsCenter briefings will be held, as necessary.
OPCON-5: Signals full and immediate deployment. During this phase (which is part of and a continuation of the Full-Alert Phase OPCON-4) operational activities will be directed toward deployment and preparedness, protecting life and property, and ensuring the logistics tail is in motion. CommsFirst teams will deploy to safety areas near the event and await event order.