Crew Leader Progressive Exercise

Exercise Archer

This is a progressive Crew Leader exercise. The scenario unfolds one decision at a time. Each stage adds new pressure, new hazards or a new decision. You are the Crew Leader.

How the exercise works

You will work through the incident in sequence. You will not see later developments until you commit to the current decision.

  • Read the information available at that point in time.
  • Select the action you would take as Crew Leader.
  • Record any reasoning, assumptions or information you would seek.
  • Move forward. You can review your full decision trail at the end.
Exercise Archer

At each decision point

Decide what action you would take as Crew Leader, then record your decision.

We will discuss:

  • What your mission is now
  • What the key hazards are
  • What is in scope and out of scope
  • What you need to communicate
  • What you want your crew to do next
  • What you need to record

There are no perfect answers. You need to make a safe, clear and defensible decision with the information available at that time.

As the incident grows, your decisions may need to change. That is part of the exercise.

The aim is to test how you think, lead, prioritise, communicate and manage risk as a Crew Leader under pressure.

Initial Firecall

Exercise Archer

FIRECALL: ALPHA=, VEGETATION FIRE, UKN EXPOSURES, YEPPOON ROAD, ROCKHAMPTON, 1102-INC, 2202-TAC QF5N-26-098879

1815 hrs 29°C RH 42% NE 15 km/h Gusts 22 km/h

Known conditions

FuelCured grass and scrub
LightFading
VisibilitySmoke affecting approach
WeatherStorms and lightning passed through
ResourcesQFR heavily committed elsewhere
Decision Gate 1 of 13 8%
Situation Report 1

Decision Gate 1

    Record what you would communicate, what you are assuming, or what you would want to confirm.

    MissionWhat is your mission now?
    HazardsWhat could hurt your crew or the public?
    ScopeWhat is in and out of your task?
    CommunicationWho needs to know what?
    CrewWhat do you want your crew to do next?
    RecordWhat needs to go in your log?
    Select A, B, C or D before continuing.

    Exercise Archer — Decision Record

    Exercise Complete

    Your Exercise Archer Decision Record

    Review the choices you made as the scenario changed. The purpose is not to produce a perfect score. Use the decision trail to discuss safety, mission, task scope, leadership, communication and risk.

    Debrief questions

    • Which decision was hardest?
    • Where did the task scope change?
    • Where was the crew most at risk?
    • What would you record in your log?
    • What feedback would you give your crew?
    Facilitator discussion prompts
    • Use RECEO to list fireground objectives in priority.
    • Discuss what Rescue and Exposures may mean in a wildfire context.
    • Discuss what a windscreen assessment is and what factors may affect an effective assessment.
    • Discuss PACT and how it can support priority setting and tactic selection.
    • Review where LACES, SMEACS, situational awareness, accountability, SITREP, crew welfare and record keeping should have appeared.

    1