Successful TEWT at Diamond Creek
Diamond Creek’s Brigade Management Team (BMT) recently conducted a desktop Tactical Exercise Without Troops (TEWT).
The exercise was inspired by a recent local fire, with BMT members analysing the situation, including escalation possibilities, to determine its approach to the firefight. Escalation of the exercise included considering how to manage the fire in the event of it spreading towards the township of Diamond Creek.
TEWT considerations
A range of considerations were provided to the BMT at the start of the TEWT. These included:
- commencing with small, manageable incidents
- ensuring the TEWT is viewed as a safe space for discussion and questions
- coming together as a team and working collaboratively to determine approaches to challenges
- considering relevant SOP doctrine, including primarily SOP 9.28 Strategy & Tactics;
- Establish control
- Size up
- RECEO
- Risk assessments
- Pre-plans
- Strategy – defensive or offensive
- SMEACS
- Community messaging
- State priorities.
Resources
Resources were sourced to facilitate the TEWT. These included a range of repurposed toys (emergency services vehicles, aircraft, earthmoving equipment, houses and livestock), as well as large, professionally-printed and laminated maps. Maps comprised four enlarged A0 Vicmap pages, which when combined measured 2.4 metres by 1.7 metres. TEWT maps depicted the north-west aspect of Diamond Creek, an area considered high bushfire risk. PDF vector maps ensured sharp map lines.
The result
The exercise, which took several hours, was very successful. Participants gained confidence in their ability to command and control a situation, while also increasing their understanding of what is required of the Officer in Charge (OIC). The oversize maps and 3D props used allowed the BMT to easily comprehend and assess the situation, while additional resources (such as supplementary maps) were also highly valuable.
After running the TEWT, the group identified the need for additional TEWT prop resources, including:
- rehab units
- gas company
- electricity company
- BA support
- FOV or MCV
- staging area management
- water points (hydrants and static water points)
- low or isolated structures (eg sheds).
The BMT is eager to undertake more TEWTS, while also using them as a way to mentor and upskill upcoming brigade leaders.
Please contact me if you would like to learn more about how to run your own TEWT.
| Submitted by |
Diamond Creek Fire Brigade Captain Noel Farmer |