1: Basic Training

2: Practical Experience

3: Equipment

4: Message Handling

ARES Basic Training

Why basic training is important

Emergency communicators are part of an adaptive team that can rely on and support one another. All members must function as a cohesive unit. Individuals may possess great operating skills but will perform inadequately if they cannot work as part of a team.

OCAR has monthly face-to-face meetings at the Orange County Emergency Management Office in the County Government building in Goshen, NY. Often training sessions are held on various topics sometimes by fellow members and sometimes by guests.

We also recommend that members take the ARRL Emergency Communications Courses although this is not a pre-requisite to joining or a requirement after joining - in fact not all of our members have taken the courses.

You can also get SKYWARN spotter training from the National Weather Service..

You can also learn about the Incident Command System and other things from FEMA's Independent Study Course List.

It is highly recommended to take a first aid course. It is knowledge you can use anytime, anywhere.

Equipment

Each amateur has various levels of equipment usually based on the size of their bank account. Having a cadre of expensive gear is NOT a requirement to joining since we often share equipement when deployed. Having some basic equipment available for use is a goal each member should work towards however.

Put together a quick deployment bag with your spare radio equipment, antennas, coax, clipboard, pens, IDs, etc. Place your checklist of last minute items (fresh batteries, water, etc) into the bag as well.

Put together a 72 hour pack, useful for both field deployment and emergency evacuation.
An additional item that is helpful for those involved in SKYWARN is a NOAA Weather Radio with digital SAME alert. You should program it with the FIPS code for your area.

Learn about Emergency Communications Procedures

• Practice checking into and out of nets. Practice operating in a net. OCAR holds a weekly net.
  
• Practice becoming Net Control.
  
• Practice sending and receiving ARRL Radiogram messages in the National Traffic System.
  You can check into the local NTS net. HVN which is held every evening at 7:30 pm on either the 146.970 repeater (146.370 input with a PL of 100) or the 146.895 repeater (146.295 input with a PL of 100) based on machine reliability at the time.
  It's a friendly group and all amateurs are welcome, but you might want to listen a couple times to get familiar with the protocol of when to check in
  
• Practice participating in a tactical network, such as a parade or marathon.
  OCAR members are involved in a number of public service events thoughout the year