The first responsibility of the team leader after having entered the deployment area is to make contact with the receiving agency TERT representative. This person should have been identified previously and will serve as the source of information for the team leader.

This discussion should include, at a minimum, the following topics:

TERT Package Information – The team leader should provide the point of contact with a personnel list and resource tracking numbers.

Establishment of Team Boundaries of Responsibilities – The boundaries of member responsibilities should be established as well as possible as soon as possible. The team should be assigned to a telecommunication support role. Other assignments, such as cleaning, filing, and other tasks, should not be the primary duty of deployed team members. Depending on the nature of the deployment, these boundaries may vary considerably.

Outline of Team Needs/Resources – The needs of the team in terms of sleeping quarters, meals, restrooms, and personal communications should be identified. Any available resources for the team should also be discussed.