As outlined by the National Emergency Services Curriculum Project, the WESS follows what is known as a task based training program. This section provides a general idea of what this program means for each student.

The Task Guide
The WESS uses the Ground and Urban Direction Finding Team Task Manual as a primary document. This manual, more commonly referred to as “the Task Guide”, is a textbook of sorts, containing nearly all of the information an individual needs to acquire to become GTM-3, -2, -1, GTL  or UDF qualified. The Task Guide is divided into numbered and lettered tasks that must be passed in order to achieve a particular rating. There are three categories of tasks: Operations (marked by an O at the beginning of the task designation), Planning (marked by a P) and Logistics (marked by an L). Tasks are grouped together by relevance, not by the rating that requires them. For instance, tasks O-0001 through O-0010 relate to individual and team equipment, but not all of these tasks must be passed to achieve the GTM-2 rating. The task guide also contains the criteria for attaining each level of Ground Team rating.

Task Format and Testing
Each task in the guide spells out three things: the objectives of that task, what the student needs to know to pass, and the task evaluation criteria (how the evaluator is to test the student). This means that participants are given a study guide with the test questions and answers already in it. For example, the objective of Task O-0002, Conduct Individual Refit, is for the student to learn, then correctly identify and explain the steps that must be taken to prepare for the next sortie or mission. The task outlines and explains these steps, then concludes with instructions to the evaluator. All tasks follow this format. 

There are two types of tasks: knowledge-based tasks that we call “K’s” and tasks that are evaluated by demonstration-performance methods (“practical tasks”). Knowledge-based tasks (such as task O-0002), require that the student verbally show mastery of the information covered by the task. Practical tasks (like task O-0001), require that the student either demonstrate a skill or the practical application of the covered information. Students should devote any “down time” to studying and testing for their assigned knowledge based tasks. Participants are briefed as to whom they may go to for testing during the activity. It is important to note that responsibility for getting many tasks signed off is in the hands of the participant, not the staff! It is each student’s responsibility to pass the tasks.


Task Breakdown and Organization
There are two types of tasks: knowledge-based tasks that we call “K’s” and tasks that are evaluated by demonstration-performance methods (“practical tasks”). Knowledge-based tasks (such as task O-0002), require that the student verbally show mastery of the information covered by the task.

Practical tasks (like task O-0001), require that the student either demonstrate a skill or the practical application of the covered information.

Students should devote any “down time” to studying and testing for their assigned knowledge based tasks. Participants are briefed as to whom they may go to for testing during the activity. It is important to note that responsibility for getting many tasks signed off is in the hands of the participant, not the staff! It is each student’s responsibility to pass the tasks.

Participants are organized into separate tracks at the beginning of the cycle. The track that a participant is placed in is based upon their rating, experience and age. These tracks correspond to the levels of Ground Team member that can be achieved. All levels require individuals to complete General Emergency Services training (www.capmembers.com/ges) on their own. It is not offered at the WESS.

WESS Track Breakdown