Public Service

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Jamboree at the Fort Oct 2022

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Contact

Mike Corey, KI1U
Rhode Island Assistant Section Manager
[email protected]

Introduction

Amateur radio operators have a long history of using their training, skills, and equipment to provide communications during emergencies and disasters. And for many, this is what led them to getting licensed – providing communications support to their community or as a means of personal emergency communications. Getting licensed is the first step into this facet of Amateur Radio. So, where do you go next to develop the skills needed to be an effective communicator when a disaster or emergency strikes?

First, we need to look at the role Amateur Radio plays in emergency and disaster communications.

Hams serve our communities when storms or other disasters damage critical communication infrastructure, including cell towers, and wired and wireless networks. Amateur Radio can function completely independently of the internet and phone systems. An amateur radio station can be set up almost anywhere in minutes. Hams can quickly raise a wire antenna in a tree or on a mast, connect it to a radio and power source, and communicate effectively with others on radio frequency spectrum legally allocated to Amateur Radio by the FCC. In this way, hams supplement the existing communications infrastructure when it is compromised, and add capacity when it is functional. The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) is a program established by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) to coordinate and train licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment to assist with emergency communications in the event of a disaster.

Amateur Radio is a personal radio service that also provides the individual with a means of emergency communications beyond internet, cellular, and landline communications. Building a personal or family emergency plan also means ensuring redundancy in communications. Amateur Radio can provide access to severe weather nets, the ability to hear and send real time situational awareness, and request emergency assistance when needed. And for those who live in remote areas, are wilderness hikers/campers, or  boaters; Amateur Radio can be a valuable communications tool and provide an extra measure of safety and security.

Fortunately the reality is that most of the time we aren’t experiencing emergencies or disasters, so what do we do? These “blue sky” days are when we prepare by getting on the air, take advantage of training opportunities, and explore other facets of Amateur Radio. We may also learn by getting involved with a wide range of community events that request communications support. Hams often help at festivals, parades, marathons, regattas, and races. These events help us learn on  air protocols, build relationships, and promote the Amateur Radio Service.

Getting Started

The first step is getting licensed. Likely your first license is the Technician license, and this will give you access to local radio nets and hams in your area. The Amateur Radio license is the doorway into a radio service that has much to offer and will challenge you to learn, grow, and engage that are only limited by your desire and willingness. So, what next…

Learn

There is no greater learning experience in Amateur Radio than getting on the air and making radio contact with other hams. This helps build the operator skills that are important in providing communications. There are some great tutorials online covering a wide range of topics, and one of the best sources is On the Air a publication of ARRL. On the Air magazine covers a range of ham radio interests and topics, delivering introductory techniques and stories to help anyone with a beginner-to-intermediate-level of experience.

The services Amateur Radio provides to the community are often through local, state and national partners. This means that training is important so we know how to effectively engage and support them in their mission. The training Amateur Radio operators take can generally be divided into three areas – Amateur Radio specific, emergency management, and agency specific.

Amateur Radio training is provided through two ARRL courses; Introduction to Emergency Communications and Emergency Communications for Managers.  You can find more information on these courses and their availability through the ARRL’s emergency communications training page.

Emergency management training is provided through FEMA’s independent study program. These courses are provided online at no charge. IS-100, 200, 700, and 800 provide the basic knowledge of incident management and NIMS, the standard for incident response in the United States. The remaining courses are the Professional Development series and are particularly helpful if you advance beyond a basic level of involvement. All radio amateurs interested in public service should complete the ICS training. The specific course recommend are:

Incident Command System/NIMS

• IS-100.c Introduction to the Incident Command System
• IS-200.c Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response
• IS-700.b An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
• IS-800.d National Response Framework, An Introduction

FEMA Professional Development Series

• IS-120.c: An Introduction to Exercises
• IS-230.e: Fundamentals of Emergency Management
• IS-235.c: Emergency Planning
• IS-240.c: Leadership and Influence
• IS-241.c: Decision Making and Problem Solving
• IS-242.c: Effective Communication
• IS-244.b: Developing and Managing Volunteers

Finally, agency specific training depends on the agency you are support. Hams support American Red Cross, Salvation Army, National Weather Service, and many others. Each agency requires volunteers to complete specific training. They will provide you with this information when you register as a volunteer.

Grow

Engage

You’re licensed, you completed some training, explored activities…the third part to success in Amateur Radio public service communications is engaging with others – your Section and ARES leadership. They will help connect you with opportunities, build skills, and keep you up to date on what is happening in the Rhode Island section.