The eXportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC) program makes combat training of National Guard soldiers portable and deployable. A tracking network and trunking P25 repeater system covering up to 60km by 60km of wilderness can be deployed within 24-36 hours to facilitate the tracking and communication needs of 3,000 soldiers. This network can then be taken down in as much time and moved to another training area at a different base in another state.

This concept of a highly trained and deployable team, mobile towers and network assets can be applied to disaster preparedness at the county and state level using off-the-shelf equipment and mobile towers. If a large hurricane, earthquake or series of tornados damage existing communications infrastructure within a city or a county, then this back up network can be used to facilitate communications for recovery effort.
Summary of content:

Planning & logistics:
- At the local level, know the terrain for possible mobile tower site. Use predictive software to estimate coverage. Include azimuths to point antennas.
- Spectrum clearing with frequency manager or AHJ.
Maintenance:
- Periodic test to ensure component functionality.
Labor Considerations:
- Having trained temps to surge during a natural disaster.
Hardware:
- Voice: P25 repeaters
- Data
- Any additional tracking of assets and personnel
- Microwave links to all mobile towers
Deploy network:
- Timeline from start until network is fully operational.
- Pitfalls
Takeaways:
- Setting up a backup network when all else fails is essential for critical communication.
- Temporary labor can be trained to set up a network with little to no prior skillset.
- It is important to have a network plan prior to a natural disaster.