Triggering a Response
The Incident Command System is flexible enough to manage any size or type of incident or event. On a small incident, the Incident Commander (IC) will perform all command functions and coordinate the actions of all resources. The original IC will remain in command until he is relieved at the end of an operational period, or until he passes the position on to a more experienced or better qualified individual.

When an incident such as the arrest of a team member for a political crime triggers a Level One protest by a team or network, the first responder on the scene is the IC. The first thing the IC will do is size up the situation, give the incident a name to avoid confusion with any other incident or event, and establish an Incident Command Post.

After the initial size up, the IC will call for the resources needed to deal with the incident.

Sizeup

Sizeup consists of identification of the problem and making an assessment of the possible consequences. Sizeup begins when the first responder arrives on the scene, and continues throughout the incident. The sizeup is used to determine what resources will be needed to deal with the incident and to develop a plan of response.

The sizeup includes an assessment of the nature of the incident (arrest, standoff, etc.); assessment of any hazards that may be present; determination of how large an area is affected; determination about whether the area can be isolated; determination of safe entrance and exit routes; and determination of suitable sites for the Incident Command Post, staging areas, base, and camps, if needed.

Deployment

As responders begin to arrive, the IC will need to appoint supervisors for Perimeter Control, Monitors, and Central Operations Groups. The IC can also set up a Staging Area with a Manager where personnel can check in for assignments.

Protesters and demonstrators are susceptible to attack or sabotage. Overhead teams, rangers, and troopers are responsible for protecting unarmed personnel and defusing potentially explosive situations. Rangers and monitors should be deployed as soon as possible to secure the incident. and prevent hostile confrontations from escalating.

Overhead and armed personnel are also responsible for defusing potentially explosive situations, and for ensuring that saboteurs or out of control participants do not provoke an attack or initiate any use of force.

The Perimeter Control Group Supervisor will deploy two man Ranger Teams where they can control and protect points of ingress and egress.

The Monitor Group Supervisor will deploy teams of one, two, or three monitors between the perimeter and central ops to record every aspect of the standoff, and to act as lookouts and scouts. The teams can be staged at critical points or assigned to roving detail.

Personnel are less vulnerable to attack if they are not packed tightly together. The Central Operations Group Supervisor should deploy the marchers and troopers over as broad an area as possible to reduce their vulnerability. One tactic the supervisor can use is to stage the marchers along both sides of the streets, with troopers deployed strategically around, and possibly in with, the marchers.

A coordinated demonstration spread out over the maximum area the turn out permits will create the greatest visibility and impact of the protest.

When staging a protest or rally, incident personnel need to be considerate of nonparticipants, and care needs to be taken not to alienate potential supporters by inconveniencing them or interfering with their activities. Incident personnel also need to be careful not to obstruct or interfere with official activities, which could result in their arrest and unnecessary confrontations with authorities.

A standoff situation would involve a similar response, with rangers securing access points, protecting central ops, and prepared to intervene in the event of an illegal assault. The marchers would be deployed visibly, but safely with troopers providing protection to marchers, and also prepared to intervene in the event of an illegal assault.

Expansion

If the incident grows in size or complexity to the point that it cannot be managed effectively by one person, the IC will begin to activate General Staff Sections and appoint Command Staff Officers.

Operations Section

When the Operations Section is activated, the Operations Chief will assume command of the Perimeter Control, Monitor, and Central Operations Groups, the Staging Area, and all other tactical functions related to the incident. As the group supervisors reach the limits of their span of control, the Operations Chief can appoint more supervisors, or activate Branch Directors to assume control of each activity.

Planning Section

If the protest will last more than one operational period, the IC may need to activate the Planning Section to develop a written Incident Action Plan.

The Resources Unit, when activated by the Planning Chief, can arrange for personnel to work in shifts to maintain a long term response to an incident such as a standoff situation.

The Situation Unit is responsible for gathering intelligence information and preparing maps for use in developing Incident Action Plans.

The Documentation Unit is responsible for preparing and maintaining complete and accurate incident files for analytical, legal, and historical purposes.

Logistics Section

The Logistics Section, when activated, will make arrangements for food, communications, and medical services. The Logistics Section is also responsible for providing the supplies, facilities, equipment, and transportation necessary for incident operations and support.

The Supply Unit is responsible for collecting donations to pay for incident necessities such as portable latrines. The Supply Unit orders, receives, processes, and stores all incident related supplies, equipment, resources, and personnel.

The Facilities Unit is responsible for setting up and maintaining the Incident Command Post, the Incident Base, and camps for eating, sleeping, showers, and sanitation.

The Communications Unit is responsible for effective incident communications.

The Food Unit is responsible for preparing and serving meals, and maintenance of the food service areas.

The Medical Unit is responsible for providing emergency medical care and transportation for injured or ill incident personnel.

Finance/Administration Section

The Finance/Administration Section is responsible for all incident costs and financial considerations. The Finance/Administration Section will usually be activated only for extremely large incidents. In most cases incident financial matters will be handled by the Supply Unit in the Logistics Section.

Information Officer

The Information Officer will make statements, issue press releases to the media, and answer questions about the incident. The Information Officer is also the contact person for government agencies.

Liaison Officer

The Liaison Officer is the point of contact for agencies or organizations assisting with the incident.

Safety Officer

The Safety Officer is responsible for monitoring and assessing safety hazards or unsafe conditions, and for developing safety measures to ensure safety of incident personnel. The duties of a Safety Officer on incidents not subject to OSHA regulations are not clear at this time.

Expanded Operations

The Operations Chief can manage from three to seven Branches. A Branch Director can manage between three and seven Divisions or Groups. Each Division or Group Supervisor can manage three to seven Strike Teams or Task Forces. The Operations Chief and the Branch Directors can each be assisted by one or more deputies.

In a large scale protest or response to a standoff situation, a fully expanded Operations Section can have a Perimeter Control Branch with seven divisions or groups each with seven teams of two or three Rangers. The Perimeter Control Branch can manage 49 teams with a total of 98 to 147 Rangers, plus seven supervisors, a director, and one or two deputies.

A Monitor Branch can also be expanded to seven divisions or groups, each with up to seven teams of one to three monitors. A fully expanded Monitor Branch can have 49 teams with 49 to 147 monitors, plus seven supervisors, a director, and one or more deputies.

A Central Operation Branch can have seven divisions or groups of marchers or troopers, or combinations of marchers and troopers. The team leaders for marchers and troopers should be able to exceed the normal span of control range of three to seven resources. A trooper team leader should be able to manage 5 to 15 troopers, and a marcher team leader should be able to manage 15 to 50 marchers, depending on the circumstances.

One Central Operations Branch can manage seven divisions or groups with 49 teams containing 245 to 12,250 marchers and/or troopers, plus seven supervisors, a director, and one or more deputies.

The Operations Section can manage up to seven branches. By activating five Central Operations Branches, the Operations Section Chief can manage up to 35 divisions or groups with up to 234 teams containing 1,170 to 11,700 marchers and/or troopers.

Maximum Potential

If it is necessary to coordinate more personnel than this, the Operations Section Chief can increase his span of control and manage additional branches by appointing deputies to assist him.

The Incident Commander can also activate additional Operations Sections. Two to five Operations Sections can manage 24,000 to 60,000 marchers and/or troopers.

Another alternative is to divide the incident into two or more incidents, each with a separate command structure. Multiple incidents would be coordinated by the establishment of an Area Command. An Area Command would be able to coordinate 50,000-300,000 personnel for an extended period of time.

Millions of freedom lovers can coordinate their efforts in this manner to hang to their rights and reclaim their liberty.

Time May Come

The time may come when it is necessary for experienced and qualified personnel to manage and coordinate the activities of massive numbers of willing, but untrained, individuals. It is vitally important that as many people as possible be introduced to the Liberty ICS, and that freedom lovers everywhere gain as much knowledge, training, and experience in the ICS as possible.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has a free correspondence course

"The Incident Command System" by Fire Protection Publications and the "Field Operations Guide for Search and Rescue" by Robert J. Koester can be ordered from a bookstore.

Field experience using the ICS is available by joining a volunteer fire department, medical first responder organization, a search and rescue group, or other volunteer emergency response organization. Hands on experience in an overhead capacity can be gained by volunteering to serve on a city or county Incident Management Group. Volunteers can gain experience in a support capacity by joining a rehab team to provide food, water, and other necessities to emergency response personnel at incident sites.

The Liberty ICS is like our rifles. We may never need either of them, but if we ever need either one, our need will be urgent and immediate.

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