For first responders and critical infrastructure personnel, sharing information and maintaining situational awareness are crucial for operational effectiveness and safety. Originally developed for military special operators, Team Awareness Kit (TAK) has proven its worth in various public safety scenarios where real-time coordination and tracking of essential assets in the field is vital. TAK is available at no cost to first responder agencies. Traditionally, TAK relied on cellular (LTE) service, but this is no longer a requirement. Agencies can now utilize TAK even in areas without cellular coverage by pairing their smartphone or tablet with a standard land mobile radio (LMR). This expansion of TAK's functionality is particularly valuable for many operations, such as wildland firefighting and remote search and rescue efforts. The effectiveness of leveraging LMR for TAK is rooted in TAK's ability to operate efficiently over low-bandwidth connections, prioritizing critical information like personnel locations and texts. This approach is superior to using LMR solely for voice communication, especially in large-scale critical incidents. A relatively new capability is leveraging TAK on wearables like a smartwatch.

Key Takeaways: 1) Workshop participants will see a live demonstration of TAK and hear practitioner perspective on using TAK. 2) Attendees will learn how LMR can augment LTE in remote regions. 3) Information will be provided on using similar approach with satellite radio to extend TAK-informed command and control capabilities over long distances. 4) Real-life TAK use cases will be shared, providing valuable lessons and applications. 5) Info on obtaining TAK for no cost.