Foundation for Amateur International Radio Service, Ltd.

“OPERATION  X “  2010 – ANOTHER  SUCCESS*

What began as a two island exchange in 2006 between Grenada and St. Vincent , has now blossomed into a four-island field exercise for Emergency communications (Emcoms) First Responders (EFR).  ‘Operation X’  seeks to train  EFR’s from neighbouring territories with skills and experience by allowing them to set up and operate wireless radio equipment from several designated emergency shelters on a neighbouring island, while maintaining contact with Emergency Operations Centers in all participating islands.

The first exchange involved only St. Vincent and Grenada.  The following year it was expanded to include Grenada and their Grenadines and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  The third outing included St. Lucia, the fourth ‘Operation’ focused on strengthening the weakest link in the Grenadine chain by installing HF/SSB radio equipment on Petit Martinique, which previous to that time was the only Grenadine island not served with this type of emergency radio equipment.  In 2010, Dominica was included in the training, resulting in one of the most successful field exercises organized and directed by the Rainbow Radio League Inc. of St. Vincent & the Grenadines, and supported by all DM agencies and radio operators from the participating states.

This year, two radio operators from Grenada and St. Vincent who are also EFR’s received their training in Dominica, while in Grenada a Dominican and Vincentian team were taken to all the major emergency shelters, where they set up and operated wireless single side band (SSB) radio, from a vehicle and made reliable contacts with other mobile and base radios.  The RRL which recently received some VHF radios and new antennas through the kindness of CIDA, were able to test this new equipment during Operation X and EFR’s in Dominica were able to communicate via a repeater with radio operators in Fancy and Rose Hall.  In St. Vincent, the visiting EFR’s from Grenada were taken to all the major shelters and on the final day conducted a similar exercise in Bequia.

Propagation on the HF bands was good on the 40 meter band for the three days and excellent signals were heard almost all day long from all stations.  The EFR’s  trained  during “Operation X”  now have a better appreciation of the nature of the terrain of another country, and are now in a better position to respond to the communications needs of that country if the situation warrants our services.

Sincere gratitude is being expressed to LIAT which sponsored the tickets for the participants to travel to the various islands.  The Rainbow Radio League appreciates the kindness and understanding of the LIAT management team which made this exercise the success it turned out to be.  Sincere thanks to NADMA, ODM Dominica, NEMO(SVG) and NEMO (SLU) which gave valuable assistance, the ground support teams which took care of the visiting EFR’s and the ‘Op X’ EFR’s who acquitted themselves admirably during the three day training activity.  Special mention must also be made to the Minister of Finance, the Hon. Cde. Ralph, who at VERY short notice was able to give financial support to clear the various airport taxes and fuel surcharges which are still payable on all concessionary airline tickets, to allow the Vincentian contingent to receive this important training.

Last to mention but great in importance are the families and ground support crew who hosted the visiting teams , the RRL appreciates your kindness.   “Operation X” hopes to focus its attention on sister territories Tobago and Barbados for Op X 2011.  According to the Coordinator of “Operation X”, Donald De Riggs, ‘ … we now need to establish a formal MOU with all territories and need to draft a simple but effective agreement to allow for the smooth passage of EFR’s into affected territories.  “Operation X”  is based on a similar concept of the Tampere Convention.

*Sent to FAIRS by Donald De Riggs via Clement James of DARC

See picture gallery here:  http://www.fairs.org/galleries/cooperative-project-to-test-readiness-(operation-x)/