Learning Unit 2 - Prerequisite to Emergency Communications

You MUST fulfill the prerequisites for Hall County ARES membership (and most ARES groups) before being considered a deployable, card carrying member.  These prerequisites are:

• Successfully pass ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Program EC001 or pass an exam extracted from the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Program EC001 (this course).

• Successfully complete and pass FEMA Independent Study Program (ISP) courses IS-100a (Introduction to incident Command System) and IS-700a (National Incident Management System (NIMS).

• Attend and/or participate in Hall ARES nets/meetings/functions with minimums set by the Hall County EC.

Objectives: Following completion of this Learning Unit, you will be able to define the term "attitude." You will also learn how important your attitude is to the agency you are serving.

Information:

Obtaining an Emergency Communication (EmCom) Certification shows that an operator has shown an initiative to serve the public service community.  This class helps provide the community with trained Amateur Radio operators who will have a consistent level of expertise in Emergency Communication. It is evident that there are areas in the U.S. that have few opportunities to train operators in disaster communication, while other areas have far more than any would wish.

The certification program provides consistency in training wherever the person lives. The added benefit comes in that it will be easier to ensure the students understand the attitudes necessary to interface with the public service community in a manner which is beneficial to all. The basic training presented here is taken from the ARRL's Emergency Communications Level 1 training course and is designed to establish a minimum level to qualify for a Hall County Hall County ARES operators. This course (or the mentored ARRL EC-001 equivalent) is mandatory for all of our senior staff and team leaders.  This includes the E.C. (emergency coordinator), A.E.C.’s (assistant emergency coordinators), E.O.C. response team members and team leaders.

Members of Hall County ARES are encouraged to enroll in and complete the ARRL Emergency Communications certification courses. While this course is designed to be an equivalent class to the ARRL EC-001, it is not necessarily recognized by all other ARES groups.  Should you move or decide to join another group for other reasons, you may have to repeat the course.  The only real difference in our course and the ARRL’s course is that they charge 50.00 for the mentored class and we offer it for free.  Some other regional ARES groups recognize our course for credit so check with your E.C.

There are many personality types in Amateur Radio, some of which lack the necessary knowledge to participate in a positive manner. These people simply need guidance and assistance to understand what the position of Amateur Radio is in public service. The goal therefore is to provide consistently knowledgeable communication people who have a very positive, service oriented attitude.

Before you begin the technical material involved in earning a certification in Emergency Communication (EmCom) it is imperative that you understand your knowledge in EmCom is not actually as important as your attitude during emergencies. Yes, technical ability will enable you to do a far better job of communicating. But your attitude will determine the success of the overall Amateur Radio effort. The person who brings a "know it all" or "I'll really show you just how good I am" attitude will only hamper the relations with served agencies. The people you will be serving - remember that word - are professionals that have seen far too many people that are more interested in impressing someone that in getting the job done. You will actually impress them far more by being as quiet as you can and doing your job in the best way possible.

Results, without interference of served agency people, will cement relations with your served agency.  All it takes is one operator to act unprofessionally to reflect poorly on the entire group.  Not only do you represent our group, but the entire amateur radio emergency communications community.  The local EMA director that you disappoint my just be the next director of FEMA.  That street cop you show attitude may just be the next police chief.  Remember, these folks are usually making a career out of what they are doing and will impose their impression of you on all amateur radio operators for many years into the future.  Even if they are in the wrong or being rude, be professional in your response at all times.  Sometimes these guys have been working for days on end during a disaster, are stressed, hungry and maybe even scared.  You may be into an 18 hour shift and bouncing off each other just makes the situation worse.

Important Definitions:

Attitude: n. manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc. with regard to a person or thing;  tendency or orientation, especially of the mind.

Service: n. an act of helpful activity; help; aid.

Positive: adj. explicitly stated, stipulated, or expressed. Or more simply, an explicit mental commitment to help others.

Are you really ready to commit yourself to this effort? It will take time. A lot of time, if you are

to be successful. If you are willing then ... WELCOME!

Remember the following:

Experience is the worst teacher when it gives the test before presenting the lesson. Hams are patriotic, independent people and they are volunteers. The attitude among a few hams is that "Volunteers don't have to take orders." That's absolutely correct. We don't have to take orders. But if you are not ready to follow instructions, you may want to do something outside the scope of ARES.  We will usually be working with served agencies that have highly structured chains of command.  Most EMA directors, Fire Chiefs, Police Chiefs, Sheriffs, etc; are used to giving orders to subordinates as a matter of course.  Understand this and try to check your ego at the door.  A willingness to take one for the team (or community) can keep a stressful situation from escalating.