Always consult with your local Emergency Coordinator (EC) about the local ARES training program and local needs to include in your ARES training goals to provide ARES EmComm support to our various local served agencies. It is your EC who has the responsibility to determine what these ARRL served agencies and any local government will have in support. This support is provided by ARES teams in each local jurisdiction, and your EC is your ARES training information source.

ARECC - As Section EC, I and our Section Manager do agree with the ARRL Volunteer Resources Committee Recommendations for the Amateur Radio Emergency Service® and strongly encourage increasing the EmComm knowledge in the Illinois Section. We need a minimum level of knowledge training consistency to the Illinois Section's ARES organization to provide assurance that quality emergency communications coverage is maintained statewide, and locally. These ARRL recommendations are strongly encouraged so we will have a common knowledge base in our Emergency Communications via amateur radio. Obtain at least a minimum ARRL EmComm certification in the Amateur Radio Emergency Communication Courses (ARECC) available from the ARRL, and encourage these below goals to be met and even to be exceeded:

• All ARES members should earn at least Level l certification in order to prepare them for possible future disasters and in order to prepare them to become future leadership officials.
• It is further recommended that Emergency Coordinators and Official Emergency Stations earn at least Level 1 EmComm certification as soon as possible.
• It is recommended that District ECs earn at least Level 1 and 2 EmComm certification as soon as possible;
• I will personally endeavor as Section EC to earn Level 1, 2, and 3 EmComm certification as soon as possible.

NTS - In ARES, regular training is needed to send, deliver or relay NTS "Radiogram" messages, as more formal record traffic that may be required for our served agencies or as a public service. All EC, OES and our ARES members are especially encouraged to acquaint and train in our National Traffic System (NTS) using Radiogram formal messages, in addition to our ARES tactical traffic.
Our ARES Nets need NTS trained liaison operators who have these special and needed skills to attend each local net. Attending traffic nets to meet and work with our NTS operators will acquaint all with the routine precedence type of Radiograms. Our future ARES need for higher precedence Radiograms, with Emergency, Priority, Health & Welfare will be essential skills to develop in ARES training in NTS practice. We in ARES must learn how these NTS practices might be modified to benefit ARES. I urge you to attend any Ninth Region and the Illinois Section and local traffic nets to practice your skills with routine Radiogram traffic.
NTS qualified ARES operators may earn an ARRL Official Relay Station (ORS) appointment and increase their Public Service Honor Roll participation. Our OES are especially encouraged to become trained and qualified in our Section traffic nets procedures.

ARESCOM - A new digital service coming in ARES®, and more training and implementation information may be found here in these web pages to help you learn new digital techniques fast becoming adopted throughout the nation.
See ARESCOM and ARESCOMstep

• All ARES members should take advantage of other related continuing education opportunities that may not be available through the ARRL. Some of these other training sources are listed below in the following subject text.

ARC : The ARES recommended minimum training courses are below, and are available only from your local American Red Cross Chapter:

• Introduction to the Red Cross (prerequisite for SDA below)
• Survey Damage Assessment

DHS/FEMA - Review with your EC your ARES training goals before taking any Department of Homeland Security (DHS) training through their Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute (EMI )offerings in the Independent Study
Program (ISP list ).

• Our future amateur radio support is solicited in the local Community Emergency Response Team program: See the CERT Brochure and this next link for more onCERT
• Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams *IS 317 (* more local training is required to be a CERT member)

ESDA/EMA - Consult with your Emergency Coordinator (EC) about your ARES training goals and our ARES EmComm support for the local Emergency Service and Disaster Agency or local Emergency Management Agency (EMA), before taking part in any ESDA/EMA training program.

IEMA - Review with your EC your ARES training goals and our ARES EmComm support before taking any Illinois state courses available through the Illinois Emergency Management Agency: IEMA

NWS - Spotter: Ask your local Emergency Coordinator about the local training available from your local ESDA/EMA as arranged with the servicing National Weather Service's area Weather Forecasting Office. Check the web pages below for the NWS spotter training schedule for your county in the respective ARES District.

• ARES Central District - NWS Lincoln, IL Web Page: ILX
• ARES North East District - NWS Chicago, IL Web Page:LOT
• ARES North West District - NWS Quad Cities, IA Web Page:DVN
• ARES South West District - NWS St. Louis, MO Web Page:LSX
• ARES Southern District - NWS Paducah, KY Web Page:PAH
  

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