Basic Public Safety Course

Introduction

The Basic Public Safety Cadet Course is designed to provide you with information on 3 subjects related to the Public Safety Corps as well as one subject related to the ROTTWEILER Corps to give you the information you need to be successful as a ROTTWEILER Public Safety Corps cadet. The information provided on this page will prepare you for your course test.

Each lesson below will cover one of the 4 subjects and there will be questions on the test which reflect on each lesson, so make sure to pay close attention. 

Once you are ready, click on the TAKE THE TEST link, and you will be directed to the Basic Public Safety Cadet Course Test. Once you have completed the course test you will immediately be notified by email of your results on the test and whether or not you have passed. In order to pass the test you must get a minimum of 7 out of the 10 questions correct.

In order to be promoted to Cadet(PS), you must pass this course.  

Lesson One: History of Public Safety

A Public Safety Officer (PSO) performs the full duties of both a police officer and a firefighter, which include preserving the peace; preventing and detecting crimes; protecting life and property; responding to fire, medical and other emergencies; enforcing laws and public ordinances; and, maintaining a public service approach towards the community. Officers on patrol typically wear police gear and carry their firefighting and EMT/paramedic gear in the back of the patrol vehicle trunk. If a fire or other emergency occurs, patrol PSOs retrieve their gear from the car trunk, quickly jump into firefighting gear or grab their EMT gear and attend to the emergency while other PSOs or firefighters in waiting at the fire station or public safety department arrive with the fire engine or ambulance.

PSOs are hired by and work in public safety departments, which are formed from public safety consolidation. Public safety consolidation unites police, fire, and emergency medical services into a single unit. Various types of mergers exist, some involving only two of the three organizations - police and fire.

History

Consolidated public safety services existed in ancient Rome. After a fire in the city in 6 C.E., the Roman emperor shifted firefighting responsibility from bands of slaves called familia publica to a new unit of freedmen known as vigiles or vigiles urbani—city watchmen. The army was barred from the city limits, and Rome had no police force, so the vigiles also became law enforcement officers.

By day the vigiles served as police officers, and at night, when most fires occurred, they functioned as fire-response crews. After six years of service in the vigiles urbani, a freedman was eligible to become a citizen, a highly desirable status that resulted in upward social mobility.

Public safety consolidation continued for centuries throughout Europe. Today partial consolidations exist, while fully integrated services remain scarce. In Great Britain, combined police and fire responsibilities were the norm until World War II. Nazi bombings of London forced the nationalization and separation of law enforcement from fire protection. Germany and Japan maintained united services throughout the war, after which the allies deemed it undesirable to have police officers working as firefighters and subsequently separated the two.

Consolidated services exist in North America, some dating back more than a century. In 1911 Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan, created the first department of public safety in the United States by combining police and fire departments. By including paramedic services, this became the first community to triple-train its public safety officers.

Today Michigan has more consolidated departments than any other state in the United States. It provides organizational models across the United States and to foreign countries. For example, in February 2011 an 11-member delegation from Sweden toured the state, examining these paradigms.

Lesson Two: Duties of a Public Safety Officer

Kalamazoo Public Safety Department lists the following as the duties of Public Safety Officers:

PSOs perform a wide range of duties specifically related to providing police, fire, and medical services.

Responds to calls for service that require police, fire, or medically trained professionals.

Police:  Patrols an assigned zone, responds to calls for service to include high risk situations and those involving mental health crisis, enforces traffic laws, conducts criminal investigations, and makes lawful arrests.

Fire:  Responds to working fires, investigates fire alarms and smoke, provides vehicle extrication, conducts traffic control during vehicle crash investigations, and mitigates hazardous material incidents.

Medical:  Responds to medical calls for service including heart attacks and trauma, assists advanced life support services in rendering medical care, renders CPR and other lifesaving medical interventions as needed, and monitors patient status during the course of care.  

Collaborates with the community to solve problems and build trust. 

Sunnyvale Public Safety Department has this to say about the jobs and duties of PSOs:

A Public Safety Officer in the City of Sunnyvale performs the role of police officer, firefighter and emergency medical technician (EMT), something accomplished by separate departments in most municipalities.

Since 1950, the City has successfully operated a fully-integrated Public Safety Department, where all public safety personnel are cross-trained to be able to jump from one discipline to the next when needed. This unique model of service has garnered much attention in recent years from other municipalities looking to be more efficient and cost-effective.

Public Safety Officers (PSOs) are assigned to a specific bureau (Police or Fire), but can be called upon to provide cross bureau services on a daily basis. The cross-functional service model extends into our Communications Center where dispatchers are trained in all three disciplines, allowing for a single point of contact and immediate assistance upon receipt of a 911 call. 

PSOs assigned to the Bureau of Police Field Operations are deployed to all structure fires and respond to emergency medical services calls requiring lifesaving measures. Every police patrol car a rapid response fire vehicle, patrol officers carry specialized equipment in their vehicles which allows them to provide firefighting and emergency medical services. 

Lesson Three: Basic Military Training

Unlike the Public Safety Departments in the USA, which are civilian combined police/firefighter/EMT Departments, ROTTWEILER's Public Safety Corps is a Reserve arm of the military reserves - in ROTTWEILER's case, the ROTTWEILER National Guard - which is itself a Reserve arm of the Army and Air Force.

This is much like the Military Firefighter Corps and Military Police Corps, which are both auxiliary and reserve arms of the Brazilian Army. The Brazil's Military Firefighter Corps (Corpo de Bombeiros Militar) has its roots in the early 19th century:

- 1809: The first fire brigade was created in Rio de Janeiro, then the capital of the Portuguese colony.

- 1820s: Fire brigades were established in other provinces, initially as volunteer units.

- 1840s: The fire brigades began to receive military training and discipline.

- 1850s: The first professional fire departments were established in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

- 1880s: The fire brigades became formally militarized, with the creation of the Corpo de Bombeiros Militar.

- 1900s: The Military Firefighter Corps expanded to other states and modernized its equipment and training.

- 1950s-60s: The Corps became a national force, with standardized training and operations.

- Present day: The Corpo de Bombeiros Militar is a highly respected and professional force, responding to fires, rescues, and other emergencies across Brazil.

The training of Brazil's Corpo de Bombeiros Militar/Military Firefighter Corps is rigorous and comprehensive, covering various aspects of firefighting, rescue, and emergency response. The training includes:

1. Initial Training: Recruits undergo an intensive 6-12 month course, including physical conditioning, military discipline, and basic firefighting techniques.

2. Advanced Training: Ongoing education and training include:

    - Simulation-based exercises

    - Live-fire training

    - Emergency scenario training (e.g., plane crashes, industrial accidents)

    - Leadership and command development

    - Updates on new technologies and techniques

3. Specialized Training: Firefighters can specialize in areas like:

    - Technical Rescue (e.g., high-angle, confined space)

    - HazMat Response

    - Airport Rescue Firefighting (ARFF)

    - Wildland Firefighting

    - Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

    - Diving and Underwater Operations

    - K-9 Handling (explosive detection, search and rescue)

ROTTWEILER Public Safety Officers undergo basic National Guard Army and Air Force training so that they may be ready to be deployed to support the National Guard in times of war.

ROTTWEILER National Guard

ROTTWEILER National Guard is loosely based on the US National Guard, which is made up of two components: The Army National Guard and Air National Guard. Each National Guard, whether Army or Air, is a state-based reserve militia that is under the command of the governor of each US state. In addition to being state militia forces, the National Guard is part of the reserves of the US military. The Army National Guard is also part of the reserves of the US Army, and the Air National Guard is also part of the reserves of the US Air Force. Therefore, the President of the United States of America can call out the National Guard to service in the US Army and Air Force as reserve forces to support combat missions.

When not called out to national service by the President, each National Guard, as said before, is under the command of the state governor, and is normally called out to assist during state national disasters, emergencies and riots, and stands ready to defend each state through combat. As members of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard are reserve members, they serve on a part-time basis, since they have full-time jobs.

For the purpose of the ROTTWEILER Corps, cadet members of this National Guard are trained in both Army and Air courses to support either/both the ROTTWEILER Army and ROTTWEILER Air Force as needed, and are trained as well in some emergency response courses to support first responder agencies and organizations during disasters and emergencies. ROTTWEILER civilian airman-soldiers, as a hybrid of Army National Guard reserves and Air Force National Guard reserves, aim to be the best of the best.

Basic Army Training - Harbour Drills 

A patrol harbour is a position established to provide security when a patrol halts for an extended period. Possible reasons for the establishment of the harbour are:

1. To avoid detection.

2. To lie up whilst a detailed recce of an objective is made prior to the formation of a final plan and issue of detailed orders.

3. To form a base from which operations can be mounted e.g. attack, ambush, recce, or establishing OPs.

4. To provide an RV after infiltration into an enemy area by small groups, or after withdrawing from such an area.

5. To provide security for an administrate halt after long periods of movement or close contact.

Stage 1: Selection

The selection of a harbour area can be done from a map, an air photograph, aerial recce, or on the ground. The detailed sighting must be confirmed by a recce and the area secured before occupation.

In selecting an area, the following points are used:

1. Mission. The harbour must be located so that it best enables the patrol to accomplish its task.

2. Location. Choose an area which can be easily defended, where there is dense vegetation, to provide cover from the ground and from the air, Away from human habitation and areas regularly used by civilians, with access to a source of water, with reasonable routes in and out, where communications are good.

3. Avoid. An obvious position, Ridge lines or crests which may be used as routes, Roads, tracks, etc. Wet areas, steep slopes and small valleys.

Stage 2: Occupation

This should be carried out using hand signals with a minimum of noise. Variations are many, a basic method is:

• The platoon halts short of the selected area. It should break track and lay an ambush on its previous route, to engage any enemy patrol following the platoon.

• The platoon commander and his recce party (section commanders and at least one guide) go forward to site the harbour in detail. The "platoon Sergeant" remains with the platoon.

• On arrival at the site, the following tasks are as done:

• The Platoon Commander, points out the platoon HQ position and the location of the 6 and 12o'clock positions. 

• The Platoon Commander's and Section Commander's site the section areas, particularly the LSW positions.

• The perimeter wire is laid to ensure that the sides of the triangle are straight when the platoon occupies the harbour.

• On completion of the recce, a Section Commander and at least one guide are sent back to bring in the platoon. The platoon is led into the harbour area in single file.

• Sections are met by their section commanders at the apex of the section's location and each cadet is shown their position and given their arc.

• This ensures that there is an LSW at each corner of the triangle, no noise and the track plan is identified.

• Once positioned by his Section Commander, each cadet removes their pack and adopts a fire position for their arc.

• Section Commanders should position themselves centrally so that they can see the Platoon Commander and their own 2IC.

• The Platoon Commander should check the perimeter to ensure cohesions between sections. Each Section Commander meets him at his corner LSW position; any minor adjustments to the layout of the harbour can be made at this stage.

Stage 3: Clearance Patrols

• On a signal from the platoon commander, each section sends out a clearance patrol to cover their own section's arc. The rest of the sections remain "stood to".

• The section commander or 2IC and one or two men move out through the neighbouring section's LSW position. They go out to the limit of visibility and sound, then turn and move along their own section's frontage. This drill ensures that the section arc is fully covered. The clearance patrol then returns through their own section's LSW position. In this way all tracks into the position are covered by an LSW position.

• Clearance patrols should detect and report to the platoon commander:

• Signs of recent enemy activity.

• Possible enemy approach routes.

• Unexpected obstacles (i.e. mines and ravines)

• Streams and dominating ground.

• Possible ERV (Emergency RV) locations.

• If a thorough initial reconnaissance has been conducted, it may occasionally not be necessary to send out clearance patrols immediately after the occupation, particularly at night. 

• If there is not much time between occupation and last light, platoon commanders may consider dispensing with clearance patrols. However, if the patrol is to remain in its harbour during the following day, clearance patrols must be sent out at first light. 

Stage 4: Sentries

Once clearance patrols have been completed, sentries should be posted. Points to note are:

1. Sentries should be posted beyond the limit of noise from the harbour (to avoid distraction and to alert the platoon before any enemy hear the harbour).

2. One sentry per section posted in depth will normally suffice.

3. The sentries are to act as early warning of any enemy approach.

4. They should be armed with rifles but fire only in self defence. Their withdrawal route back to the harbour should be via the LSW position and be clearly understood by all. 

5. Communication between sentries and the LSW positions must be established. This should include use of comms cord.

6. The sentries are located outside the harbour only during working routine.

7. By night, sentries will normally consist of staggered double manning of the corner LSWs. The double manning provides continuity at the sentry position allows one sentry to fetch the relief and reduces the chances of sleeping sentry. 

Stage 5: Work Routine

Once sentries are posted, work begins to strengthen the harbour. Tasks include

1. Preparation of stand-to positions and fields of fire, construction of shell scrapes and the positioning of warning devices (e.g. trip flares)

2. Preparation of a path to allow silent movement round the position.

3. Shell scrapes should be on the outside edge of the path. Soldiers should live in and fight from their shell scrapes. Wire should be laid just inside the shell scrapes to mark the path and prevent accidental movement outside the harbour at night. This is lowered during daylight hours.

4. Laying of communications cord from sentries to LSW positions and/or section commanders, and from section commanders to platoon commanders.

5. Positioning of shelters. These are erected over shell scrapes at last light and taken down before first light. They may be erected in poor weather at the platoon commander's discretion.

Confirmatory orders by the platoon commander to establish an operational and administrative routine. The points are as for routine in defence and include:

• Future operations (i.e. patrols)

• Alarm and stand to system (and its rehearsals)

• Orders for opening fire and defence of harbour.

• Location of platoon ERV.

• Sentry roster.

• Resupply

• Sleeping and Feeding

• Track discipline.

• Staggered cleaning of weapons.

• Latrines these should be within the perimeter of the harbour or outside within the sentries arcs. 

Stage 6: Security

The platoon commander must ensure;

1. Sentries are correctly posted and briefed.

2. Good communications with sentries to ensure early warning of enemy approach.

3. All round defence is maintained.

4. Good patrol discipline is maintained.

Points to include:

1. Correct Camouflage.

2. No lights, smells or unnecessary noise.

3. Webbing worn and weapons carried at all times. Kit not in use to be packed away.

4. The harbour is as compact as possible

5. Clearance patrols are sent out at first and last light.

6. All movement into the harbour is done through 6 o'clock or along the route taken during the occupation. Precautions must be taken to counter possible enemy follow up of own patrols.

Basic Air Force Training - Principles of Flight 

There are four basic forces that are acting on the aircraft during flight which are always there during all maneuvers. While there are other forces present during specific situations, for the purposes of this lesson we will be covering the basic 4 forces that are always acting upon the aircraft while it is in flight, which are:

• Lift

• Weight

• Thrust

• Drag

While in steady flight the opposing forces are in equilibrium. Lift and thrust are considered positive forces, while weight and drag are considered negative forces, and the sum of the opposing forces is zero. In other words, lift equals weight and thrust equals drag.

When pressure is applied to the controls, one or more of the basic forces changes in magnitude and becomes greater than the opposing force, causing the aircraft to accelerate or move in the direction of the applied force. For example, if power is applied (which increases thrust) and altitude is maintained then the aircraft will accelerate.

To help you understand how all this works we will define in greater detail what each of the four basic forces acting on the aircraft are, and how they work as follows:

1. Weight (Gravity)

Weight is a force that is always directed toward the center of the earth. The magnitude of the weight depends on the mass of all the airplane parts, plus the amount of fuel, plus any payload on board (people, baggage, freight, etc.). The weight is distributed throughout the airplane. But we can often think of it as collected and acting through a single point called the center of gravity. In flight, the airplane rotates about the center of gravity.

Flying encompasses two major problems; overcoming the weight of an object by some opposing force, and controlling the object in flight. Both of these problems are related to the object's weight and the location of the center of gravity. During a flight, an airplane's weight constantly changes as the aircraft consumes fuel. The distribution of the weight and the center of gravity also changes. So the pilot must constantly adjust the controls to keep the airplane balanced, or trimmed.

 2.    Lift 

To overcome the weight force, airplanes generate an opposing force called lift. Lift is generated by the motion of the airplane through the air and is an aerodynamic force. "Aero" stands for the air, and "dynamic" denotes motion. Lift is directed perpendicular to the flight direction. The magnitude of the lift depends on several factors including the shape, size, and velocity of the aircraft. As with weight, each part of the aircraft contributes to the aircraft lift force. Most of the lift is generated by the wings. Aircraft lift acts through a single point called the center of pressure. The center of pressure is defined just like the center of gravity, but using the pressure distribution around the body instead of the weight distribution.

The distribution of lift around the aircraft is important for solving the control problem. Aerodynamic surfaces are used to control the aircraft in roll, pitch, and yaw.

3.    Drag

As the airplane moves through the air, there is another aerodynamic force present. The air resists the motion of the aircraft and the resistance force is called drag. Drag is directed along and opposed to the flight direction. Like lift, there are many factors that affect the magnitude of the drag force including the shape of the aircraft, the "stickiness" of the air, and the velocity of the aircraft. Like lift, we collect all of the individual components' drags and combine them into a single aircraft drag magnitude. And like lift, drag acts through the aircraft center of pressure.

4.    Thrust

To overcome drag, airplanes use a propulsion system to generate a force called thrust. The direction of the thrust force depends on how the engines are attached to the aircraft. In the figure shown above, two turbine engines are located under the wings, parallel to the body, with thrust acting along the body centerline. On some aircraft, such as the Harrier, the thrust direction can be varied to help the airplane take off in a very short distance. The magnitude of the thrust depends on many factors associated with the propulsion system including the type of engine, the number of engines, and the throttle setting.

For jet engines, it is often confusing to remember that aircraft thrust is a reaction to the hot gas rushing out of the nozzle. The hot gas goes out the back, but the thrust pushes towards the front.

Lesson Four:  Chain of Command

ROTTWEILER - RCC ('Ranger Cadet Combined Corps') Online Training Team; Worldwide Electronic Integration and Learning Enrichment Regiment - , like any military organization, has a strict chain of command. That must be followed whenever you have an issue.

The chain is set up this way so that you have someone to speak with on every level. 

Authority is granted to persons on each level to perform certain functions and deal with problems of certain severity. 

If a problem ever arises that is beyond that persons power, they take it up to the next level on the chain of command. 

An issue will continue to be passed up the chain until it has reached a person who can deal with the situation. The last step in that chain is the Commandant, who has authority over all matters in ROTTWEILER. 

There are very few times one is allowed to bypass any part of the chain.

If your immediate superior is the problem (i.e. you have a complaint against the Section Leader, for example) you skip to the next link in your chain of command.

If the situation is of a severe nature (harassment or abuse in ANY form) you may go directly to the Divisional Officer.

These occurrences go directly to the Commandant of ROTTWEILER, who will give strong consideration to the situation and arrange for trials. 

Let's start our way at the bottom and work up!

• Cadet: The Cadets in the division are at the bottom of the chain. They are busy doing their unit-related tasks and have no major responsibilities outside of that. They are also viewed as being at the top as well, because without the cadets, we wouldn't have a Regiment!

• Section Leader: A Section Leader is the person who is directly responsible for the cadets. They will email cadets from time to time to see who is active, pass on messages and relay orders from higher up on the chain. They are the first person you speak to.

• Divisional Senior NCO: A division is made up of 2 or 3 sections. The Divisional Senior NCO is second-in-charge of a Division, and is the superior of all Section Leaders. The Divisional NCO works directly with the Divisional Officer as well as the Corps Senior NCO.

• Divisional Officer: The DivO is the officer in charge of your division. He or she ensures that all the paperwork is done including monthly reports and evaluations. They will be the one who helps mentor Senior NCOs and reports to the Executive Officer.

• Corps Senior NCO: Somewhere in the mix is the CSNCO. The CSNCO is the most senior Non Commissioned Officer in the Corps. He or she is the Commandant's representative to the NCOs, as well as the NCOs' representative to the Wardroom/Officers Mess. The CSNCO also helps to ensure that all Divisional Senior NCOs are running at maximum efficiency and assist where possible.

• Executive Officer: The XO is the second in command of the ROTTWEILER. Should the Commandant ever have to leave, the XO assumes command of the Corps until the Cmdt comes back. The XO is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Corps and reports to the Cmdt. He or she is also ultimately responsible for discipline within the Corps.

• Commandant: The Cmdt is the elected leader of ROTTWEILER. He or she holds authority over all things in the Training Team/Regiment. Lets just say, if you're ever in his office, and not getting a medal, just pack your bags right now! The Commandant provides the Corps direction, and uses his or her term to put in place a vision for ROTTWEILER that will hopefully allow it to progress and grow. The Cmdt is also responsible for the traditions of the Corps, and ensuring that our history lives on!