A pack of portable radios (110), at least one of which includes a radio frequency identification (RF ID) reader; a deployable infrastructure, including deployable infrastructure elements (160, 170) are packaged into a unitary package (110) shipped and stored for on-site configuration without the use of local infrastructure and without prior knowledge of communication system operation. A plurality of RF ID tags (404) coupled to each portable radio (112) and the deployable infrastructure elements (160, 170) provide tracking information to the RF ID reader for transmitting to the deployable infrastructure elements. The tracking identification information can be used for both inventory tracking and location tracking of the portable radios and infrastructure elements deployed in the field.