The Wisconsin Communications Unit (COMU) Program was created to provide a path to recognition, certification and credentialing for Wisconsinโs COMU personnel at the state and local level.
What is the Communications Unit (COMU)?
The COMU is a section of the Incident Command System (ICS) that oversees the delivery of interoperable communications for incidents and events, including the management of radio and telephone equipment. This unit is part of the Information Communications Technology (ICT) Branch. The ICT is responsible for establishing, maintaining, and protecting the communications and IT infrastructure and capabilities used by other functions within the ICS. This organization streamlines incident communications and IT requirements within the Logistics Section. For more information about the COMU and the ICT Branch, please consult the NIMS guidance.
Communications Qualification Review Board (CQRB)
The Wisconsin Communications Unit Recognitions Program was first created in 2013 through a Technical Assistance offering from the U.S. DHS/CISA/ECD that established standard operating guidelines for recognizing individuals who have completed their All-Hazards Position Task Book.
In February 2017, the Interoperability Council (IC) updated the mission and responsibilities of its Land Mobile Radio (LMR) Subcommittee by-laws to include a recognition process for communications positions within the ICS structure. The Communications Unit Workgroup (COMU WG) was created to serve as the body of communications experts to ensure the professional credibility and maintain the highest standards for the various communications unit training and recognition processes.
In 2022, the IC voted to remove the COMU WG as a workgroup of the LMR Subcommittee under the IC; the IC approved the Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) to create a new peer review committee under the supervision of the Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC). This new group is called the Communications Qualification Review Board (CQRB).
The CQRB is composed of the following members.
- Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC) or DMA/OEC designee
- 6-8 Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who possess a high level of operational and/or training experience in the COMU field, are recognized as a COMT or COML, and are approved by the Interoperability Council
- Representative(s) from Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) with responsibilities in the areas of training and emergency communications
- Region 5 Coordinator for US DHS/CISA/ECDOEC support staff
The SWIC or DMA/OEC designee will serve as the permanent chair of the CQRB.
CQRB Recognition Process
Wisconsin follows the National All-Hazards curriculum for positions requiring task book training within the COMU.
The COMU recognition process is laid out in the WI COMU Standards Operating Guidelines linked below.
Please contact interop@widma.gov for any questions.
Forms
Position Task Books (PTBs)
- COML (PDF Download)
- COMT (PDF Download)
- INCM (PDF Download)
- INTD (PDF Download)
- AUXC (PDF Download)
- RADO (PDF Download)
Training and Exercise
Upcoming training opportunities are listed on the Wisconsin Training Portal at www.trainingwisconsin.gov
Exercises and planned events used for a PTB require prior review and approval by the Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC), or authorized designee. Please use this form to request approval:
There may be PTB sign-off opportunities at the following previously approved events and exercises:
PTB Evaluators
Effective January 1, 2021, the person signing off on the tasks performed in PTBs must be an evaluator or final evaluator as authorized by the CQRB and be present at the event to personally witness the trainee performing the tasks.
Evaluator / Final Evaluator โ An evaluator is an individual that is responsible for evaluating a Trainee completing one or more tasks within a PTB. The evaluator must be qualified, proficient, and recognized in the position they are evaluating or be recognized in a position that supervises that position in the Incident Command System. The evaluator who signed the verification statement at the front of the PTB after all tasks have been completed is known as the final evaluator.
Please click the link below for a current list of recognized COMU personnel in the state of Wisconsin.
Communications Assets and Survey Mapping (CASM)
The Communication Assets Survey and Mapping Tool (CASM), offered by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program (ICTAP), is the primary resource nationwide for the emergency communications community to inventory and share agency, asset, and Communications Unit information, for the purpose of planning public safety communications operability and interoperability.
In late 2019, the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) Office of Emergency Communications (OEC), in conjunction with the Communications Unit Workgroup (COMU WG), started to develop a CASM Account User Policy for the State of Wisconsin. The purpose of the policy is to define administration, account creation, rules for data entry, and maintenance of information related to CASM for the State of Wisconsin. In July 2020, the Wisconsin CASM Account User Policy 2020 was approved by the Interoperability Council.
Included in the policy:
- CASM access application process. You must be a registered user to access CASM.
- Guidelines for users entering asset and data information into CASM