Activation of the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation 1989

United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation
Royal Observer Corps
Durham Group 23
Chop Gate Post 57 (M2)

Standard Procedures

Effective September 1st 1989

Copy too:

Commandant ROC
Group Headquarters
Operation Room
Post
NRC Supervisory Staff
Post Observers

UKWMO
HQ UKWMO

Sector Controllers
Assistant Sector Controllers
Group Controllers
Chief Warning Officers
Carrier Control Points
ROYAL OBSERVER CORPS – POSTS

OFFICERS AND SUPERVISORY STAFF INSTRUCTIONS

TRANSITION TO WAR PROCEDURES
(FROM ACTIVATION TO OPERATIONAL READYNESS REPORTS)

SECTION 1

INTRODUCTION

1. During operations which, for this purpose, commence when the Monitoring Post is reported ready for operations, Monitoring Posts are manned by Nos 1, 2 and 3 Observers. No 1 Observer is in charge of the Post. The rotation of Post manning may be effected by a shift exchange between the members in the Monitoring Post and those at their homes or in refuge. Similarly, the duties carried out within the Post may be rotated between those on duty in order to provide rest and relaxation.

2. From the commencement of operations the Group Officer, Chief and Leading Observers do not have precise duties under these appointments. In practice any of the duties of Nos 1, 2 and 3 Observer may be carried out by the chief or Leading Observer or even the Group Officer when making up the operation strength of the Post.

3. However, during the period between Activation of the UKWMO and the reporting of ready for Operations, which is known as Transition to War, the Group Officer, Chief and Leading Observers have specific duties which are detailed below.

TRANSITION TO WAR

4. The tasks necessary to prepare for Transition to War are laid down in the ROC PREPARATION FOR TRANSITION TO WAR INSTRUCTIONS.

5. Activation of the UKWMO will occur in one of two ways:

a. Public announcement through radio/television broadcasts. Every UK digital channel will receive message through the BBC. This is the most likely method.

b. Instructions issued through the Chain of Control.

6. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT. Activation of the UKWMO will be effected by the following public announcement being made over the radio and television:

ACTIVATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM WARNING AND MONITORING ORGANISTION.

The Government announces that all members of the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation, including Warning Officers, Royal Observer Corps personnel and Warning Point Operators are to report immediately to their duty stations”.

7. THROUGH THE CHAIN OF CONTROL. As an essential back-up to the public announcement of the Activation of the UKWMO there is a system for activating the Organisation through messages originated at the Transition to War Procedures to individual members. The Public Announcement and the messages procedure may occur at the same time or separately.

8. If this system is used, personnel will receive the message “Man up the Post(s)” by telephone or word of mouth to someone known to them personally. It could be, depending on circumstances, the Group Commandant, DGC, or officer of the Group HQ or Control, the Chief or Leading Observer of the Post or another Observer with accordance to pre established plans.

9. The actions required by individuals which are broadly the same regardless of the method used, are detailed in the following Sections.

*END OF GENERIC INSTRUCTIONS*