Latest Navigation Courses for LAFD Sworn Personnel & Volunteers

The LAFD Volunteer Mentoring Program Presents: "Introduction to Map & Compass Orienteering" and "Introduction to Global Navigation Satellite Systems & Handheld GPS Receivers"

Introduction to Map & Compass Orienteering -

This introductory map & compass course consists of classroom training, tabletop exercises, and a hands-on compass field exercise (weather permitting). This course will provide participants with an overview of map datums, projections, coordinate systems, map units, scales, direction, and accuracies using the U.S.G.S. 7.5’ Quad Map. The participants will learn the components and use of the compass, as well as a brief review of features, functions, and costs of various compasses to assist those interested in purchasing a compass.

Note: This class is a prerequisite for taking the “Introduction to Global Navigation Satellite Systems & Handheld GPS Receivers” class. Please complete this map & compass training before enrolling in the GPS class.

All of the LAFD Volunteer Mentoring Program classes are free, however, pre-enrollment for this class is required and will be capped at 20 people as classroom space and available equipment is limited.

All necessary class supplies will be provided.

Recommended material: Compass (optional), calculator (optional), magnifying glass, notepad & pencil, proper footwear and seasonal clothing for outdoor field exercise.

This introductory Map & Compass class is scheduled as follows:

Date: Saturday, November 3, 2007

Time: 8:00 am – noon

Place: Fire Station 88, 5101 Sepulveda Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA. 91403

Instructor: Ralph Ricketson, ACS/CERT member


Introduction to Global Navigation Satellite Systems & Handheld GPS Receivers -

This GPS course is an introductory version of the GPS training received by the LAFD Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) teams. The course consists of classroom training, a hands-on GPS field exercise (weather permitting), and will provide participants with an overview of global navigation satellite systems, how GPS works, how to use a handheld GPS receiver, a discussion of accuracies and errors, and a brief review of features, functions, and costs of various GPS receivers to assist those interested in purchasing a GPS receiver.

Note: You must take the prerequisite “Introduction to Map & Compass Orienteering” class before enrolling in this class. The map & compass class provides you with the mapping basics needed to properly use a GPS receiver.

All of the LAFD Volunteer Mentoring Program classes are free, however, pre-enrollment for this class is required and will be capped at 20 people as classroom space and available equipment is limited.

All necessary class supplies will be provided.

Recommended material: hand-held GPS receiver (optional), notepad & pencil, proper footwear and seasonal clothing for outdoor field exercise.

This introductory GPS class is scheduled as follows:

Date: Saturday, November 10, 2007

Time: 8:00 am - noon

Place: Fire Station 88, 5101 Sepulveda Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA. 91403

Instructor: Ralph Ricketson, ACS/CERT member


Sign-ups for this introductory GPS course has begun. Click on the following link to register: Click Here to take survey

NOTICE - GPS Course Date Change

To accommodate for ARRL Field Day and other events in June, the GPS Course slated for June 23, 2007 at FS 88 will be scheduled for a later time in July.

The course is now scheduled to take place during the weekend of July 14, or July 21, 2007.

If you would like to pre-register for the course, please send an email to CarolyneKeeler@Yahoo.com. Otherwise, online registration should be available by July 1, 2007.

Upcoming ACS Sponsored Courses

Hello Members and Friends of the LAFD ACS!

We have finally finalized the Mentoring schedule. Courses will be open to ACS, CERT and Community members, as well as sworn firefighters interested in getting their FCC Ham radio operator license. Exam Prep courses are designed with flexibility in mind, so that enrollees may do home study on weeks where they can't make it to the Station for test prep.

The Technician Class license prep course, to be held at LAFD FS 88s (located at 5101 North Sepulveda Blvd., Sherman Oaks 91403) on Saturday mornings during May & June, is great for sworn LAFD staff, improving their skill set. Firefighters on strike teams have used Ham frequencies to be able to get themselves out of a "pickle" while working brush fires.

The course will also improve the student's general radio operating skills and will focus on current technologies related to radio-- such as Voice Over Internet communications tied into radio (VOIP/Echolink), APRS (which is GPS married with radio), and the operation and set-up of tactical repeaters, and the utilization of satellite radio (a technology widely used by FEMA USAR task forces countrywide & many OES organizations around North America).

The class schedule is listed below:

May 19 - FCC Technician Class Mentoring (9-10 am)
General Class Study Hall with KF6UXT(10 am - 11:30)
Materials required: Pen and paper, plus a Laptop computer (if you have one).

May 26 - FCC Technician Class Mentoring (9-10 am)
General Class Study Hall with KF6UXT(10 am - 11:30)
Materials required: Pen and paper, plus a Laptop computer (if you have one).

June 2 - FCC Technician Class Mentoring (9-10 am)
General Class Study Hall with KF6UXT(10 am - 11:30)
Materials required: Pen and paper, plus a Laptop computer (if you have one).

June 9 - FCC Technician Class Mentoring (9-10 am)
General Class Study Hall with KF6UXT(10 am - 11:30)
Materials required: Pen and paper, plus a Laptop computer (if you have one).

June 16 - FCC Technician Class Mentoring (9-10 am)
General Class Study Hall with KF6UXT(10 am - 11:30)
Materials required: Pen and paper, plus a Laptop computer (if you have one).
[Note: Tentative date for FCC Exam.]