Tab P Training Education Outreach.pdf

45 SW INRMP

Tab P, Training, Education and Outreach

This tab outlines training requirements for natural resources staff and also describes training, education and outreach activities which the 45 SW provides for Wing staff and the local community

Training for Professional Natural Resource Managers

Natural resource managers at 45 SW installations are required to take the course, DoD natural Resources Compliance , developed by the DoD Interservice Environmental education Review board (ISEERB) and offered for al DoD Components by the Naval School, Civil Engineer Corps Officers School (CECOS). The CECOS website https://www.cecos.navy.mil provides schedules and registration information. Other DoD environmental management courses can be found at the Army Logistics management College (http://www.almc.srmy.mil/catalog/coursedescriptions.html) and Air Force Institute of Technology (http://cess.afit.af.mil).

45 SW natural resource managers are encouraged to attend and participate in appropriate national, regional and state conferences and training courses. The National Conservation Training Center managed by the USFWS (http://www.nctc.fws.gov/) and the Bureau of Land Management Training Center (http://www.ntc.blm.gov/) offer a wide range of appropriate natural resource professional courses suitable for AF natural resource managers. Natural resource management personnel are also encouraged to attain professional registration, certification and licensing for their related fields.

All individuals enforcing fish, wildlife and natural resource laws on 45 SW lands must receive specialized, professional training on the enforcement of fish, wildlife and natural resources in compliance with the Sikes Act. This training may be obtained by acquiring certification as a state fish and wildlife conservation law officer or successfully completing the Natural Resources Police Training program course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) (http://www.fletc.gov/). Correspondence sources and standard Security Forces training do not meet the requirement of the Sikes Act. In 2004, the 45 SW has acquired a full time Conservation Law Enforcement Officer, trained and certified at FLETC.

Natural resource managers at 45 SW installation receive appropriate training in the capture and handling of wildlife, including sick, injured, dead and nuisance wildlife. Personnel are provided written policies and procedures and are expected to adhere to applicable state and/or federal guidelines and permits. In addition, as applicable, extensive on the job training is provided in the field to inexperienced and/or new personnel by qualified individuals of the natural resource management staff. Under certain circumstances, individuals must show competency before they are allowed to conduct certain activities on their own.

https://www.cecos.navy.mil/ http://www.almc.srmy.mil/catalog/coursedescriptions.html http://cess.afit.af.mil/ http://www.nctc.fws.gov/ http://www.ntc.blm.gov/ http://www.fletc.gov/

Natural resources personnel supporting the 45 SW BASH program should receive flight line drivers training, training in identification of bird species occurring on airfields, and specialized training in the use of firearms and pyrotechnics as appropriate for their expected level of involvement. Educational resources are available to personnel including website information, memberships and subscriptions to wildlife and conservation organization periodicals and wildlife identification books, placards and keys. An extensive collection of photographs of wildlife species known and/or expected to occur on 45 SW installations is maintained and available to 45 SW natural resource personnel.

Natural resource personnel are encouraged to photograph the 45 SW natural resources, including wildlife and habitats, as they can be beneficial to the education of all base personnel and the public at large.

The DoD supported publication Conserving Biodiversity on Military Lands – A Handbook for Natural Resource Managers (Leslie et. al. 1996) provides information regarding the management of natural resources programs. This publication is available to 45 SW natural resource management personnel. In March 2008 this handbook was revised and added to a CD produced by the DoD Legacy Resource Management Program called Sustaining the Mission, Securing the Legacy. This CD is available to anyone in the 45 SW.

Natural resource managers at 45 SW installations that participate in prescribed fire activities shall possess and maintain a current certification of training for Basic Wildland Fire Behavior S-190, Basic Wildland Firefighter with Standards S- 130 and Incident Command I-200 Modules 2-6.

Natural resource managers at 45 SW installations that operate all terrain vehicles while conducting natural resource activities shall possess and maintain a current certificate of training from the ATV Safety Institute’s ATV Rider Course.

Natural resource managers at 45 SW installations shall periodically attend the annual Air Force Environmental Symposium. The symposium offers multi media environmental courses that provide natural resource managers with a comprehensive overview of the environmental aspects, laws and regulations that they may need to address while conducting natural resource management functions.

Natural resource managers that are listed on the FWCC Marine Turtle Permit are required to attend annual permit holder workshops and training provided by the FWCC. This training addresses sea turtle monitoring guidelines and data collection methodologies to ensure quality sea turtle nesting surveys are conducted by permit holders. Sea turtle nesting data collected by 45 SW natural resource managers is provided to FWCC on a monthly basis and a comprehensive database is provided FWCC at the end of the nesting season. In addition to the training provided by the FWCC, experienced 45 SW natural resource managers provide extensive on the job training to individuals conducting the nesting surveys and competency is required prior to them working on their own.

Natural resource managers at 45 SW installations are encouraged to attend applicable training in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Environmental Impact Analysis Process (EIAP). Initial and refresher NEPA/EIAP training can increase staff knowledge, improve effective document writing skills and facilitate the decision making process.

Natural Resources Awareness Training

The 45 CES/CEVP encourages individuals living or working at 45 SW installations to demonstrate good environmental stewardship. Environmental and natural resource awareness training is incorporated into basewide newcomer’s orientation briefings and information forums at all levels, including the quarterly Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health (ESOH) Council meetings.

Natural resource managers periodically conduct awareness training for base personnel who are involved in operations or recreational activities that may have the potential to impact wildlife or natural resources on 45 SW installations.

Electronic publications are periodically sent to all base personnel; “Cape Critters” is an environmentally educational publication produced by natural resource personnel to educate and inform base personnel about the surrounding environment and the unique animals that call CCAFS their home. The publication is made available via E-mail and features a different species in each issue. In addition, articles and publications featuring natural resource topics are provided periodically in base newspapers.

Additional training will be provided to base personnel, including military, civilians, contractors and other tenants, who work at the 45 SW installations on an as needed basis.

Commander Awareness

The DoD Commander’s Guide to Biodiversity provides basic natural resources management guidance for installation and wing commanders. This publication is available to 45 SW personnel (now integrated into the DoD Legacy CD mentioned earlier). In addition, the Executive Summary of the INRMP is designed to make the installation and wing commanders, installation civil engineers, and other senior officers aware of 45 SW installation natural resources and inform them of how the natural resources management program supports mission objectives.

Public Outreach

Natural resource managers interact with the public to inform them of the natural resources at 45 SW installations and highlight the efforts that the Air Force and the 45 SW have made to manage, conserve and protect the resources. Various public avenues are available in the local area to represent the 45 SW and natural resource managers participate in as many of these public outreach activities as possible.

Natural resource managers participate in activities that involve educating and reading to base pre-school and local school children and the Boy Scouts.

Public sea turtle presentations and turtle walks are provided each year to a limited number of base personnel during sea turtle nesting season. These activities are permitted by FWCC and involve an educational slide show on the biology, nesting behavior and conservation of sea turtles. In addition, a guided nighttime turtle walk is conducted where participants can observe a sea turtle nesting on the beach.

Annual participation in the local Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival has been another effort of natural resource managers to inform the public of the natural resources at 45 SW installations and to inform them of the Air Force’s efforts in managing, conserving and protecting the resources as well.