Practice Board Qs

Question 1

SUA that we schedule and their altitudes

Answer 1

R2501: Surface to unlimited, but per agreement with the FAA, we are usually surface to FL280, releasing FL290 and above. If a unit requires more airspace, they can submit their request to Range Scheduling at least 10 days prior to TD 1

Bristol MOA/ATCAA: 5,000 to FL220

Sundance MOA: 500 to 10,000 ft MSL

CFA Controlled Firing Area in Johnson Valley: SFC to 16,000 ft MSL

Any and all use of MCAGCC SUA will be submitted to the FAA daily, with the exception of weekends so that both agencies are informed of operating altitudes.

Question 2

What is required of a non-tenant unit?

Answer 2

A FOS - feasibility of support.
this is a request submitted by non-tenant units to MTD so that we can assess and allocate support and resources for the visiting training unit. if the unit requires ranges and TAs, they will state which areas in the FOS - range scheduling will need to check the FOS tracker to ensure RCNIs are inputted.
This is especially important for foreign armed forces as they do not have access to RFMSS, they will use the FOS to state their requested ranges and TAs. range scheduling would need to create their request for them.

Question 3

What is the Range Scheduling Process? What happens at 45 days?

Answer 3

○ At 45 days out, the request with the highest priority according to the Scheduling Tier will take precedence, all others will be disapproved or require a co-use agreement, depending on the event
○ This request needs a training package that has been submitted, validated and approved. If this request is from a non-tenant unit, an approved FOS is required. With these validated items, the request will be put into an approved status.
○ The request will remain in a pending status awaiting a training package until 30 days out. At 30 days out, if the package has been submitted but is awaiting validation and approval, it will continue to remain in a pending status.
§ Once the package is validated and approved, it will be placed into a reserved status.
§ If the training package is not submitted, validated and approved, it will be placed into a disapproved status.
□ The disapproved unit cannot submit for the same event and RTAs until they complete the training package.
○ With the RTAs being in a disapproved status for this request, the RTAs remain in a first come, first serve basis until 10 days out.
§ At 10 days out, the RTAs are no longer available for live fire training
§ At 5 days out, the RTAs are no longer available for training if co-use is required.
□ Any request 5 days out needs to be submitted to Range Scheduling personally as RFMSS requests are no longer available
§ At 2 days out the RTAs are no longer available for any event
§ Any same day events require a Fire Desk Operator to submit
And of course this is our regulation, if there’s any deviation or agreements being plead that needs to be brought up to a Supervisor… or the Operations Officer to further assess that requested event

Question 4

What are the responsibilities of a Functional Administrator?

Answer 4

○ Maintains the installations’ RFMSS database, are able to approve and disapprove accounts, they keep the active accounts list current, input new weapons/DODICS, assure facilities/events/communication notes are current and keep the RFMSS library updated, they publish announcements on the RFMSS homepage, and are able to push out notifications to the active accounts in the database. RFMSS at face value is a scheduling tool but it’s also a safety tool, parameters and restrictions that are built into RFMSS correspond with the regulations set out in the CCO 3500.4 Range SOP. For example if you submit a request for TA-Acorn, the Live Fire event will not be in the event menu. You will only see non live fire events and live fire but with blanks, SESAMs, pyrotechnics basically non lethal munitions because TA- Acorn is a non live fire training area. For a restriction example, when reserving an OP site, the unit scheduler must acknowledge the limitation of ensuring all personnel and equipment must remain a minimum of 200ft away from the stationary equipment at the OPs.
So the functional administrator is responsible of building and maintaining these unique and specific parameters for the applicable range and training areas.

Question 5

What are the elements of associating DODICs within RFMSS?

Answer 5

○ That DODIC or ammo is associated with a weapon
○ The weapon is associated with the facility - range or training area
○ Then the facility needs to be associated with the DODIC as well.
So that all three elements are valid and do not contradict each other, this process ensures no unallowable DODICS are submitted for improper Ranges or Training Areas.

Question 6

What is Special Use Airspace?

Answer 6

Special Use Airspace is airspace in which aviation activities must be confined due of their hazardous nature and where limitations may be imposed on non participating aircraft for their safety. Types of SUA include restricted areas, controlled firing areas, military operation areas, and warning areas. SUAs are depicted on aeronautical charts, usually excluding CFAs because CFAs do not cause nonparticipating aircraft to alter their flight path. The CFA however is published in the NOTAMs. MCAGCC’s SUAs are the R-2501, Bristol MOA/ATCAA, Sundance MOA and Johnson Valley CFA East & West and they all facilitate different levels of military operations. Our use and altitudes are coordinated with the FAA daily so that they are kept aware of our ceilings heights.

Question 7

In JV, how do we train? What do we call that agreement with the FAA?

Answer 7

○ During live fire operations in the JV training areas, we have set up with the FAA the CFA, controlled firing area. It’s altitude is SFC to 16,000ft MSL or 13,000ft AGL. A CFA’s purpose is to contain activities that if not conducted in a controlled environment, could be hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft. Aerial Observers will be posted at 3 observations points (location dependent on CFA East or CFA West) and will have visual on the entire CFA plus a 5 nautical mile buffer. If any non supporting aircraft is spotted heading toward the CFA, training will go into an immediate cease fire status. The aerial observers will maintain visual on the aircraft until it is no longer within the boundaries of the CFA. And that is when training can be evaluated to go back into a hot, live fire status.
○ The CFA allows us to train in BM & GL with no impact to general aviation because we do not own the airspace above those TAs… that is until the Permanent Special Use Airspace is established. CFAs are not usually charted on aeronautical maps because they do not cause nonparticipating aircraft to change its flight path.
CFA east or west will need to be highlighted in yellow on the Daily Schedule under Bessemer Mine and Galway Lake, so that BEARMAT is aware the CFA is scheduled for that day,

Question 8

Max Altitude of Blanks

Answer 8

1 ft

Question 9

Max Altitude of Pyro

Answer 9

1,000ft AGL

Question 10

Max Altitude of Small Arms

Answer 10

3,000ft AGL

Question 11

Max Altitude of Demo

Answer 11

5,000ft AGL

Question 12

Max Altitude of Tow Missile

Answer 12

6,100ft AGL

Question 13

Max Altitude of 60mm

Answer 13

8,000ft AGL

Question 14

Max Altitude of 81mm

Answer 14

11,000ft AGL

Question 15

Max Altitude of 25mm

Answer 15

8,000ft AGL

Question 16

What’s a WDZ?

Answer 16

WThe ground and airspace for lateral and vertical containment of projectiles, fragments, debris, and components resulting from the firing, launching, and/or detonation of aviation-delivered ordnance.

Question 17

What’s a SDZ?

Answer 17

The ground and airspace for lateral and vertical containment of projectiles, fragments, debris, and components resulting from the firing, launching, and/or detonation of weapon systems including explosives and demolitions.

Question 18

What’s a MOA?

Answer 18

Is airspace with defined vertical and lateral limits to separate military training activities from IFR traffic. IFR is instrument flight rules, where the pilot is relying on equipment to navigate, ATC also maintains positive control of the aircraft and will follow the flight throughout its destination. When a MOA is active, nonparticipating IFR traffic may be cleared through a MOA if IFR separation can be provided by ATC, if not ATC will reroute or restrict nonparticipating IFR traffic. MOA activities include but are not limited to aerial refueling, air combat training, aerobatics and formation training.

Question 19

What’s a Restricted Area?

Answer 19

Is a designated sections of land to be avoided by unauthorized personnel and vehicles; training movement and life fire in the RAs is prohibited due to various environmental reasons such as culturally sensitive areas like petroglyphs and burial sites, as well as natural resources such as desert tortoise conservation and protecting drinking water sources

Question 20

What is a dedicated impact area?

Answer 20

○ Is an impact area that is permanently designated within and training complex and used indefinitely to contain fired or launched ammunition, explosives and the resulting projectiles, fragments, debris, and components. Dedicated impact areas are normally used for non-sensitive ammunition and explosives
Sensitive fuzed and high explosive ammunition have high hazard impact areas to contain those type of munitions. They’re located at r-104, 110, 110A, 601 and America Mine has an impact box for 25mm HEIT high explosive/incendiary tracer.

Question 21

How many days after an event do we have to input expenditures into RFMSS?

Answer 21

Expenditures must be collected immediately at the conclusion of the live fire event and entered into RMFSS by the fire desk operators. Unless the event/unit has coordinated with the Ops O to deliver expenditures due to the large amount of DODICS after the event, it should be delivered within 24 hours.

Question 22

Which tab in RFMSS is used to maintain a dialog with the customer as they seak to get their package validated approved and scheduled?

Answer 22

The communication tab located in a RCNI

Question 23

How many priority tiers are there in the scheduling process?

Answer 23

4 Tiers

Question 24

What tier does a tenant command fall under?

Answer 24

○ Tier 3
They may have Tier 2 status if their event is requested in Training Areas - Bullion, Lead Mountain and Morgans Well, as well as Ranges - 106, 106A, 107 and 108

Question 25

How many times a year can we utilize the CFA?

Answer 25

The CFA is active at all times, as long as the units’ have a properly submitted, validated and approved training package and reserved RCNI, they can utilize the CFA for their fires and effects.

Question 26

How many times can we utilize the shared use area?

Answer 26

Twice a year in 30 day increments for a total of 60 days per year in the shared use area/TA-Means Lake

Question 27

What do we do prior to receiving shared use area from BLM and right before we give it back?

Answer 27

We will inspect the land prior to taking over the shared use area and conduct another inspection prior to giving it back to BLM each iteration

Question 28

What is our responsibility when we have the Shared Use Area?

Answer 28

○ When MCAGCC owns the shared use area our responsibility is to ensure signage is posted at the southern base boundary to mitigate intruders, the public will be alerted well in advance of the planned closure. We will ensure clean up of range dunnage, trash and that no military vehicles/assests are left behind. Any berms/trenches will return back to the state it was found in.
we will return the land back to BLM as they way we received it.

Question 29

Mission of RMDD

Answer 29

Provide the Range Management services for the proper scheduling, safe validation, real-time management, training systems support and range maintenance and development efforts for unit and service level readiness training being conducted within the Range, Training Area and Airspace assigned to MAGTFTC, MCAGCC.

Question 30

What is a Co-use?

Answer 30

○ An agreement between two different units or entities to deconflict training/events at the same range or training area. The deconfliction specifications must be executed utilizing time or space. This agreement comes into play when a range or training area is already reserved, the requestor could see if its possible with the reserved unit.
○ This happens quite often with projects, say a unit is training and all of their fires and effects will remain north of the 12 northing in emerson lake, a helicopter from apple valley or cp 64 can route at least below the 14 N to get to OP creole. This would be a co-use with space.
Scheduling must verify and validate the co-uses prior to granting them. They will be located on the daily training schedule so that bearmat can facilitate the co-use real time.

Question 31

What are the contracted run ranges?

Answer 31

103, 107, 108, 109, 111, 113, 205, 210, 230, 400, 401, 410, 410A, 500, 800

Question 32

What makes you best suited for the position?

Answer 32

○ I have well rounded experience to assist units in properly scheduling their events, ensuring their time, efforts and resources results in effective and safe training. As working in Range Control, I understand the day to day operations and what it takes to facilitate the safety and adherence to the training packages and schedule. As a Scheduler, I understand units and personnel have a mission and goal to accomplish and with my help I was able to guide them on how to reserve the battalion training classrooms for their events, varying from high-level briefings to family functions.
○ As a Unit Scheduler for Range Development Projects, I have deconflicted and found timeframes for projects while minimizing impact on reserved events as much as possible. I’ve processed very complicated co-uses with live fire training and demolitions in between helicopter flight ops. I am relied on to schedule expensive construction, installations and repairs around existing events. If a unit requests training and it conflicts with a scheduled project, I do everything possible to find a middle ground.
I have a unit’s perspective and can empathize with the process. I have the desire to teach and provide resources so that they are better of next time they need to schedule MCAGCC’s RTAAS. I’ve maintained attention to detail so that issues and deficiencies are caught early on and addressed in a timely manner. I don’t remain complacent in times requiring growth and feedback. I see the bigger picture and that it constantly revolves around safety, so causality and preventable accidents are unacceptable especially if I have the opportunity to see and correct it.

Question 33

What are your best attributes?

Answer 33

My best attributes are organization, communication, research and building rapport. The influx of tasks and information are necessary parts of a job that may become overwhelming at times, I have a system to keep everything manageable. If it is a task that can be accomplished under 3 minutes then it should be addressed immediately, tasks requiring more time and effort with deadlines should be scheduled. I make sure to keep everyone on my team informed and have information constantly flowing so that we’re not in a situation where a ball could be dropped. If there is a subject I am unsure about I will research and take action to find what I need, whether resources are available online, within a database or if a SME can avail their time for me. I believe that being attentive to build rapport and positive working relationships is paramount for teamwork and collaboration. I enjoy being challenged to learn new skills to both keep me efficient in my roles and to gain perspective in other areas.

Question 34

In support of our mission “Training”….we need to provide the most realistic yet safe training environment. Range Management has an in-depth process for identifying and mitigating safety issues. Scheduling–identifies conflicts; Range Safety–reviews, approves training packages; BEARMAT–reviews all approved events prior to the real-time management of daily events. Given this explanation, would there be another attribute to consider?

Answer 34

For scheduling… not only identifying conflicts but Attention to detail is paramount in the proper scheduling mission, Scheduling needs to be able to recognize conflicting events and requests to ensure no two or more events could impede on the other’s safety. A non-participating helicopter route should not overfly life fire events, but if the two entities can agree on a co-use executed by time or space, Scheduling should verify the parameters are valid, safe and recorded. As much as we’d like to plan absolutely everything, its up to the sections of Range Management to verify and validate safety on a constant basis and to adapt to any changes quickly but always verifying safety. Scheduling will deal with the influx of requests, they need to have the ability to research and have attention to detail within the RCNIs. Precedence and timing could be the difference of 30 minutes or less. The training schedules are heavily relied on by various entities on the base, internally Range Control, Range Safety, the G-3 as a whole, contractors, units leaders, and more. It is crucial scheduling have the eyes to catch and correct issues before publishing the schedules.