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Emergency Communication Training Information

Training Topics

Training Manuals

Official training and recommendations

At this point in time, the officers of ARES District 24 recommend the following training to be taken by each ARES District 24 member.

  • ICS-100 - Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS).
  • ICS-200 - Incident Command System for people likely to assume a supervisory position during an emergency or event.
  • NIMS-700 - Introduction to the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
  • NIMS-800 - Introduction to the National Response Plan (NRP), an introduction.

    FEMA has put together training through the Emergency Management Institute that anyone can enroll in and complete from the comfort of their home. All that is required is a computer with a Web Browser and an Internet connection. Participation is free. Please use the following links to enroll into these courses. When you have completed one or more course, please send a message to our training officer, Mark Kelley (WØBG) at , so that he may keep track of who has completed which training elements.

    To enroll, please use the following links:

  • ICS-100 http://www.training.fema.gov/emiweb/IS/is100.asp
  • ICS-200 http://www.training.fema.gov/emiweb/IS/is200.asp
  • NIMS-700 http://www.training.fema.gov/emiweb/IS/is700.asp
  • NIMS-800 http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is800a.asp

    We further recommend completing at least level 1 of the ARRL ECC courses (see links below), or the courses that can be found on the Colorado ARES website below.

  • ARRL Emergency Communications Level 1 http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html#ec001
  • ARRL Emergency Communications Level 2 http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html#ec002
  • ARRL Emergency Communications Level 3 http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html#ec003
  • Colorado ARES training site http://www.coloradoares.org/training.htm

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    Your Go Kit

    Photo by W6AUN A "Go Kit" is a container of some kind that you can easily take with you at a moment's notice. It contains all of the supplies that you will need in order to be an effective emergency communicator when you are called out for an activation. This list contains suggestions for items that you might want to include in your "Go Kit."

    Radio Gear – Need to Have

  • Driver's License and copy of Amateur Radio license
  • ARES/RACES ID badge
  • Handheld radio with extra batteries (2m & 70cm)
  • Earphone or headset
  • Spare power cables and fuses for all radios
  • Portable gain antenna (2m & 70cm)
  • 25 and 50 foot sections of coax cable with PL-259 connectors
  • Repeater Directory and ARES D24 Frequency List
  • Notebook for logging, paper, pens, pencils, erasers
  • Copies of ARES/ICS standard forms

    Radio Gear – Good to Have

  • RF amplifier for hand-held radio
  • Battery charger and spare battery packs for handheld radios
  • Speaker/microphone for hand-held radio
  • Mobile radio(s) with power cables/batteries (HF, 2m, 440...)
  • Watt’s Up, Doc Wattson or Power Analyzer meter
  • 12 volt power supply for mobile radios
  • HF antenna tuner and SWR bridge
  • Scanner with Public Service bands
  • Packet radio equipment (TNC, terminal, printer, computer)
  • Antenna equipment for all radios
  • Nylon parachute cord for guys, flagging tape and stakes
  • Egg or dog bone insulators
  • 50 feet of nylon cord, fishing line, weights
  • Nylon cable/zip ties of various lengths
  • SMA to BNC and SMA to PL-259 adapters
  • BNC-to-PL-259 adapters
  • Double-male PL-259 adapters, double-female SO-239 adapters
  • DC to AC inverter (need only a 65 watt unit to run a laptop computer)
  • AC generator with fuel
  • Extension cords, power strips, AC plug adapters
  • Cigarette lighter plug adapters and alligator clips
  • GPS receiver
  • Volt-Ohm-Amp Meter
  • Spare Anderson Powerpole connectors, pins and crimper
  • Portable soldering iron and solder
  • Tool kit

    Personal Gear – Need to Have

  • Clothing appropriate for the weather and conditions
  • Orange or yellow safety vest
  • Flashlight
  • Maps and compass, pocket knife, whistle
  • First aid kit, insect repellent, sun screen
  • Sturdy boots, gloves, sunglasses, hat
  • Drinking water (1 gal.) and food (one meal, two snacks)
  • Personal medications for at least 24 hours
  • Reliable transportation with a full tank of gas

    Personal Gear – Good to Have

  • Electrical & duct tape
  • Money and change for pay phone
  • Cardboard for signs, markers
  • Lantern or portable area lighting with spare bulbs
  • Transistor radio with spare batteries
  • Automobile jumper cables and spare fuses
  • Automobile jack, tire chains, flares, gas can, siphon pump
  • Thermos, cup, bowl, utensils, matches, stove
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, razor, towel
  • Toilet paper, small shovel, garbage bags
  • Tent, sleeping bag, backpack, rain gear, tarp, space blanket
  • Portable table and chair
  • Watch or clock, binoculars
  • Other personal comfort items

    Make a list of the items that you want included in your "Go Kit" showing each item and its location. This will help you to quickly collect all of the important items that are not normally stored in the "Go Kit" container. Make a list of the items that you want included in your "Go Kit" showing each item and its location. This will help you to quickly collect all of the important items that are not normally stored in the "Go Kit" container.

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    Basic Emergency Communication Practices

    Photo by W6AUN

    • Listen before transmitting.
    • Use standard ITU phonetics.
    • Use 24-hour time format.
    • Accuracy is the first priority, rather than speed.
    • Be clear and concise by not using unnecessary words.
    • Talk across the FACE of the microphone.
    • Transmit messages exactly.
    • Always transmit FACTS rather than hearsay.
    • Stay alert -- take breaks when needed.
    • Always know your location.
    • Avoid using Q-signals or 10-codes in voice transmissions.
    • Speak slowly and clearly, with little emotion in your voice.
    • Use tactical call signs whenever possible.
    • No wisecracks or jokes on an emergency net.
    • Never transmit the names of deceased individuals over a voice channel.
    • Read every message before transmitting it. If you have questions about what is being communicated, get clarificaton from the originating party. A good message will never require the recipient to ask for additional information.

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    Controlled Net Participation Guidelines

    • LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN. Remain silent unless you are called on or have information for the net.
    • Check in using your call sign. Use your call suffix or your assigned tactical call to get the attention of Net Control.
    • The Net Control station is "in charge" of all transmissions. Permission of the Net Control station is required to make any contact. Ask Net Control before contacting any station directly.
    • Use the term "BREAK" to interrupt an existing conversation only if you have emergency traffic that must be passed immediately. Otherwise, just say your call sign and the net control station will recognize you as soon as possible.
    • Plan your message and keep it brief. Organize your thoughts or write down your message before transmitting. Give only the FACTS; do not "editorialize."
    • Always acknowledge calls or instructions.
    • Use clear vocabulary and standard ITU phonetics. Do not use Q-signals.
    • Receive permission before leaving the net. Make sure you check out with Net Control.

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    Proword Dictionary for Emergency Communication

    • AFFIRMATIVE means "Yes" or "I agree" or "Permission granted."
    • BREAK means you have emergency traffic that must be passed immediately.
    • CHECK BREAK means you are pausing to verify that the receiving station has copied your message. An appropriate response from the receiving station would be "COPY."
    • CLEAR or OUT means your transmission is completed and no answer is required or expected.
    • CLOSE means you are shutting down your station and can no longer be contacted.
    • COPY THAT or ROGER means you have received the transmission satisfactorily.
    • CORRECT means you acknowledge what was transmitted as correct.
    • CORRECTION means an error has been made and the transmission will continue with the last word correctly transmitted.
    • DECIMAL indicates a decimal point.
    • DISREGARD means an error has been made in the transmission that is in progress and you are to completely ignore this transmission.
    • FIGURES means that the following words are to be copied as numbers.
    • I SPELL means you will spell the following word(s) phonetically.
    • NEGATIVE means "No" or "I disagree" or "Permission denied."
    • OUT or CLEAR means your transmission is completed and no answer is required or expected.
    • OVER means you are finished with your transmission and the other station is expected to reply.
    • ROGER or COPY THAT means you have received the transmission satisfactorily.
    • SAY AGAIN means you want the last message to be repeated. You may include a modifier to have part of a message repeated, as in the following examples:
      • "Say again ALL AFTER __________"
      • "Say again ALL BEFORE _________"
      • "Say again WORD AFTER _________"
      • "Say again WORD BEFORE ________"
    • STANDBY or WAIT means you are not yet ready to copy. You may include a time modifier, such as "Standby one."
    • THIS IS means the transmission is from the station whose call sign follows.
    • WAIT or STANDBY means you are not yet ready to copy. You may include a time modifier, such as "Standby one."

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