Command & Control

Question 1

What is Command and Control

Answer 1

Command and control includes leadership, coordination, effective decision making, and behaving lawfully and ethically with a prevention and victim focus when managing a response to an incident.

Question 2

What is the responsibility of the Incident Controller?

Answer 2

An incident commander is the overall leader responsible for managing an entire incident, setting objectives, and making critical decisions. The Incident Controller retains overall incident control.

Question 3

What is the responsibility of a Forward Commander?

Answer 3

Forward Commander is the most qualified person present at the scene to command resources on the ground and take strategic charge.

Question 4

What is the recommended span of direct reports for any one Commander?

Answer 4

Two to seven

Question 5

Whose responsibility is it to manage risk when responding to an incident?

Answer 5

Incident Controller

Question 6

Should the most senior officer always assume command?

Answer 6

No, it’s on a case by case basis.
A sergeant with SAR experince is better equipped to command a missing person operation than an inspector with no SAR experience.

Question 7

Describe how Command, Control and Coordination operate.

Answer 7

Command operates vertically within an organisation.

Control is the response to an incident and allows for assignment of tasks to other agencies (horizontal).

Coordination occurs when command and control is communicated to all agencies, giving appropriate tasks that are completed in a timely and sufficient manner.

A commander cannot command staff from other agencies, rather they control the response.

Question 8

What are the three levels of command?

Answer 8

Tactical - Everyday policing
Operational - When multiple tactical activities occur or the complexity of a situation requires a higher level of command
Strategic - When the scope or consequence of an event requires an even higher level of command

TOS

Question 9

Describe Steady State Policing

Answer 9

Activities that Police respond to and manage on a daily basis.

Question 10

Describe Rising Tide Incidents

Answer 10

Incidents that develop from steady state to become a major incident over a more prolonged period of time.

Question 11

Describe Spontaneous Incidents

Answer 11

An incident that occurs with no warning. Requires an initial response with minimal time for planning.

Question 12

Describe a Pre-Planned Operation

Answer 12

When Police have the time and opportunity to develop and plan and tactics before an operation is undertaken.
May develop into a spontaneous incident.

Question 13

What is AFCO

Answer 13

An appreciation model. Stands for:
- Aim (Commander’s Intent)
- Factors (So What? Therefore…)
- Courses of Action
- Outline Plan (GSMEAC)

Question 14

What is the Commander’s Intent

Answer 14

The Aim in AFCO.
A clear concise directive that outlines the basic purpose of the operation and the Commanders desired end-state to ensure planning is focused.

Question 15

What are operational orders and how should they be given?

Answer 15

A format for a controller or commander to record a plan to convey to staff the desired outcome of an operation and how it is to be executed. Police typically use GSMEAC.
Should be recorded in writing where time allows for it.

Question 16

What is GSMEAC

Answer 16

A way of issuing Operational Orders. Stands for:
- Ground
- Situation
- Mission x2
- Execution
- Admin & Logistics
- Command & Signals

Question 17

What is CIMS

Answer 17

The Coordinated Incident Management System.
Used to coordinate the efforts of different agencies to work toward the same common goal.
Can also used to manage incidents of any scale with one agency or a multi-agency response.