Confirm the exercise site and modes of communication with other sites/locations if needed. Finalization of date, time, and location of the MSEL Planning Meeting and/or Final Planning Meeting (FPM) Exercise Documentation (work products), may include evaluation criteria Final Planning Meeting (FPM) A FPM should be conducted for all exercises to ensure that all elements of the exercise are ready for implementation. Prior to the FPM, the exercise planning team receives final drafts of all exercise materials. No major changes to the exercise’s design, scope, or supporting documentation should take place at or following the FPM. The FPM ensures that all logistical requirements have been met, outstanding issues have been identified and resolved, and exercise products are ready for printing. Discussion Points The following items are addressed during the FPM: Conduct a comprehensive, final review and approve all remaining draft exercise documents (e.g., SitMan, MSEL, C/E Handbook, EEGs) and presentation materials Resolve any open exercise planning issues and identify last-minute concerns Review all exercise logistical activities (e.g., schedule, registration, attire, special Once planning members and Exercise Director have given final approval to all exercise documentation at the FPM, THERE WILL BE NO ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO ANY WORK PRODUCTS ON EXERCISE DAY Recommended Best Practices for estimating time commitment for exercise development Timeframes depend on the type of exercise being conducted (e.g. a TTX requires much less time than a full scale exercise). Documentation: Plan to spend at least 5-15 days on documentation but expect to take more time to complete. Selection (paid vs. unpaid) Unpaid-minimal time involved (just securing location reservation). Notify site location coordinator in timely fashion for unpaid so that you are able to book the site, free venues tend to get booked quickly.
and Core Capability Ratings, describing overall performance relative to the entire Core Capability. (Performance Ratings are described as without challenges; S-performed with some challenges: with major challenges; and U-unable to be performed. When briefing evaluators using EEGs, be sure to tell them not to use the EEG simply as a checklist. In other words, you do not want them to mark a check when something is completed and left blank when it is not accomplished. It is vital that evaluators take notes and describe as much as possible. Problems encountered during an exercise lead to improvements that are based on the quality of information gathered about what happened. The more quality information gathered, the better solutions will be developed. Evaluators should not only be able to describe what happened, but why it happened. As evaluators work to document information during an exercise through their notes and EEGs, there are some key factors that evaluators should be aware of describing as they observe: If and how quantitative and qualitative targets or objectives were met Actual time required for exercise participants to complete critical tasks How a target was met or not met Decisions made and information gathered to make a decision Requests made and how requests were handled Resources utilized Plans, policies, procedures or statutory authority used or implemented Any other factors that contributed to outcomes. EEGs may be included in the Facilitator Guide used for discussion-based exercises. EEGs may also be included in a stand-alone Evaluation Plan or an Evaluation Plan included in the Controller/Evaluator Handbook. In the case of the Facilitator Guide and the Evaluation Plan and the Controller/Evaluator Handbook, evaluators will need instructions about: Where they report to and to whom
Final Exercise Dates, Locations and Durations: Dates Locations Addresses Durations (Give reasonable timeframes if not established in the plan) Number of Days Established for Exercise Play: Exercise Day Schedule Registration: Safety Briefing: Start Ex: End Ex: Hotwash*: