LESA South Course Overview
National Cadet Special Activities (NCSA), Cadet Special Activities (CSA)
National Cadet Special Activities (NCSA) and Cadet Special Activities (CSA) are exciting training opportunities for cadets to experience unique opportunities to further their leadership skills, develop knowledge in various aviation and career-related fields, and grow personally. NCSAs and CSAs encompass a wide range of activities, each focusing on different aspects such as aerospace education, leadership development, physical fitness, and more. NCSAs typically last 7-9 days. LESA South is designed to explore civilian and military aerospace careers, provide flight training, develop leadership, and enhance emergency services skills.
The LoneStar Emergency Service Academy South (LESA South) has been an accredited NCSA and CSA since December of 2013. This accredited CSA provides LESA South graduates the approval to wear the CSA ribbon.
LESA South Training Overview
As outlined by the National Emergency Services Curriculum Project, the LoneStar Emergency Service Academy South (LESA South) follows what is known as a task-based training program. This section provides a general idea of what this program means for each student.
Lone Star Emergency Services Academy (LESA) South is designed to increase the number of qualified mission personnel available to participate in Civil Air Patrol Emergency Services Operations. LESA South training focuses on qualifying members as Ground Team Members (GTM) 3 and 2. Some with prior experience will earn advanced skills for GTM 1 and Ground Team Leaders (GTL). Training for sUAS will be conducted to complete CAPF91U and CAPF5U and to provide needed instruction to complete UASMP and UAST qualifications as Technician, Instructor, and Trainer. The communications School will focus on training members on the use of the various CAP radios and frequencies.
LESA South was created to provide the students with a realistic training environment based on real-world mission experience. Graduates walk away with a sense of accomplishment knowing that they can go back to their home units and participate in ES operations ranging from Urban Direction Finding to Disaster Relief. Many of the graduates have since returned as instructors or have instructed other ES-related courses at the unit and wing levels. Many graduates have also gone on to participate in actual ES operations and have performed superbly.
The Task Guide
LESA South uses the Ground and Urban Direction Finding Team Task Manual (“Task Guide “) as its primary tool. This is a textbook of sorts, containing nearly all of the information an individual needs to acquire to become GTM-3, -2, -1, GTL or UDF qualified. The Task Guide is divided into numbered and lettered tasks that must be passed in order to achieve the desired rating. There are three categories of tasks: Operations (marked by an O at the beginning of the task designation), Planning (marked by a P) and Logistics (marked by an L). Tasks are grouped together by relevance, not by the rating that requires them. For instance, tasks O-0001 through O-0010 all relate to individual and team equipment, but not all of these tasks must be passed to achieve the GTM-2 rating. The task guide also contains the criteria for attaining each level of Ground Team rating.
Task Format and Testing
Each task in the guide spells out three things: the objectives of that task, what the student needs to know to pass, and the task evaluation criteria (how the evaluator is to test the student). This means that participants are given a study guide with the test questions and answers already in it. For example, the objective of Task O-0002, Conduct Individual Refit, is for the student to learn, then correctly identify and explain the steps that must be taken to prepare for the next sortie or mission. The task outlines and explains these steps, then concludes with instructions to the evaluator. All tasks follow this format.
There are two types of tasks: knowledge-based tasks, which we call “K’s” and tasks that are evaluated by demonstration/performance method (“practical tasks”). Knowledge-based tasks (such as task O-0002), require that the student verbally show mastery of the information covered by the task. Practical tasks (like task O-0001), require that the student either demonstrate a skill or the practical application of the covered information. This means that any “downtime” students encounter should be devoted to studying and testing for their assigned knowledge-based tasks. Participants will be briefed as to whom they may go to for testing during the activity. It is important to note that responsibility for getting many tasks signed off is in the hands of the participant, not the staff! It is each student’s responsibility to pass the tasks.
Sortie Based Training
Training evolutions are designed around sorties to the greatest extent possible, testing and evaluating different combinations of skills simultaneously. We find this affords more realistic training and allows practical tasks to be evaluated more efficiently.
LESA South Track Breakdown
LESA South ground operations are separated into three different tracks or schools. Participants are organized into separate tracks at the beginning of the week. The track that a participant is placed in is based on their rating, experience, and age. These tracks correspond to the different levels of Ground Team members that can be achieved. Please note that all levels require that an individual complete General Emergency Services training.
Basic GSAR
The Basic course covers all tasks necessary to become GTM-3 qualified. This track is for younger participants or those who are new to ground operations. Skills taught include land navigation, electronic direction finding, basic survival and field-craft, and basic radio techniques. Basic course students are organized into teams that are led by a LESA staff member.
Advanced GSAR
The Advanced track covers all tasks required to become GTM-2, GTM-1, and UDF-qualified, and is designed for more experienced or older participants. Most Advanced students are in the progress of advancing their skills from GTM-3 to GTM-2, and on towards GTM-1, and GTL. Topics of instruction in Advanced include more complex search techniques and introductory leadership tasks with respect to ground operations. An individual must be rated at least GTM-3 to participate in the Advanced Course.
Team Leader Course
The Team Leader course prepares participants for the responsibilities of being a Ground Team Leader. Consequently, the Team Leader course has the most experienced and oldest students (Team Leaders must be at least 18 years old to begin training in this specialty per CAP regulations). Topics include leadership and administrative duties of Team Leaders, as well as more advanced search theories, techniques, and map skills. A Team Leader candidate must be a senior member or a cadet at least 18 years of age. Attendance at the Team Leader course and completion of all tasks does not always guarantee certification. At times, a student will need more experience than can be provided in a one-week intensive course. These students will be given credit for their task completion but will need to spend additional time working with qualified trainers in their state to gain more experience prior to certification.
Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Course
The LESA South sUAS program will establish, train, and maintain high competence among our sUAS Mission Pilots to be used as needed for CAP/FEMA missions.
