Standards for Mutual Aid

To ensure interoperability between agencies using COTAK, the project team has developed a standard for each first responder to use in COTAK when setting their callsign, team, and user role.

• Team Color: The team color each responder selects in the TAK apps determines what color their dot appears as to other responders. To help identify the types of responders using COTAK during large public safety incidents the project team has established a standard for team colors, which is shown in the photo above.
• Callsign: TAK callsigns should be as concise as possible to avoid map clutter while conveying the most important identifying information. COTAK's callsign convention is:
  [Agency Acronym] and [Last Name] and/or [Radio Callsign], for example: DFPC Smith CH-32 or APD Adam 12
• User Role:  Roles in TAK were intended for military users, therefore not all first responder roles are adequately captured. When in doubt, users should default to using the standard Team Member role. Other user roles available in the TAK apps should be utilized as described below in COTAK:
  • Team Member – the default role for all personnel who do not better fit in one of the roles below 
  • Team Lead – first-line supervisors and above 
  • Sniper - SWAT, special response teams, and snipers 
  • Medic – personnel with EMT training and equipment or greater 
  • Forward Observer – observation post personnel, UAS remote pilots, and tactical flight officers 
  • RTO (radio telephone operator) - Communications personnel: telecommunicators, dispatch, communications unit leaders (COML), and communications unit technicians (COMT) 
  • K9 - K9 personnel 
  • HQ – headquarters, incident command post, and emergency operations center personnel