Deployable Response Group

So let’s take a minute to talk about the organization of the Deployable Response Group. Obviously, this is all theoretical at this point, but we can’t make it real if we don’t have the discussion. The Organization manual is posted below, but it’s important to discuss where the DRG fits in an overall preparedness construct. The DRG is not intended to be a stand-alone organization. It is designed to be an enabling organization. It is designed so that it can conduct disaster response operations on its own, but it will always be far more effective conducting those operations in conjunction with local, community, state, and other nonprofit organizations.

Preparedness and disaster response always starts with the individual. It requires that an individual be both physically prepared (e.g., be fit, have supplies to live, have equipment to respond) and mentally prepared (e.g., be trained, have the correct mindset for dealing with disasters). An extension of that is the individual’s family. The family should be prepared for two eventualities: 1) for any disasters that may occur to them, and 2) for the individual to leave them to assist others in a disaster situation. So for an individual to be of use to the DRG, they must prepare themselves and their family for disaster.

Once the individual and their family are prepared, we move into the neighborhood, community, state, and beyond. This is where the DRG comes into play.

The lowest level of operational unit in the DRG, the unit designed to be most in tune with the local community, is the Troop. A Troop normally consists of 8-12 members. Ideally, these members would be located geographically close. We’d rather see a Troop composed of members from a single neighborhood or a group of closely located neighborhoods than spread out across a city. The reasoning for this is that when a disaster strikes, a Troop’s membership needs to be close enough in proximity that they can muster and put their skills to use as a cohesive force that has trained together. Having a Troop’s members located near one another also makes gathering for training much simpler. Obviously, local geography will play a role. A small rural town may only be able to muster a single Troop due to the population. A larger, more suburban town may have multiple Troops spread across the city. This is why, at this time, there are no hard rules on geographical separation of Troops – just guidelines that members should plan by.

The Troop should endeavor to have a wide variety of specialties. All Operational Troop members should be qualified in Basic Emergency Services. BES is the building block for all other specialties and serves as the common training to ensure that all members meet a minimum level of capability. If possible, Troops should aim to have two of each specialty to enable the Troop to split into functional teams as needed. Members are highly encouraged to have more than one specialty for maximum versatility.

Operational versus Support. Troops (and other levels of organization) can be designated as either Operational or Support. This designation speaks to their primary mission. Operational units are the “hands-on” units that will be in the field working the problem. Support units provide the critical skills that keep the Operational units functioning. This is not about importance or hierarchy – it is about function. For example, someone who is certified in radio repair or networking will likely be far better utilized in a Support Troop, keeping the operations center running, than in an Operational Troop clearing trees. It isn’t that they aren’t capable, it’s just that clearing trees may not be the best use of their unique skills. However, Support Troop members can always work in the field if their skills are necessary for the mission, provided they meet the training requirements, and are encouraged to complete BES and any other qualifications that interest them.

As you can see from the attached document, we’ve also developed a theoretical framework for units above the Troop level. While the Troop is the heart of the DRG, there may be times when disasters require a larger presence and coordination of that presence. This is where the Detachment, Squadron, and Group come into play. During pre- and post-deployment, the higher levels also play a role in ensuring that Troops are properly trained and equipped to respond within their communities or deploy to other communities.