1: Basic Training

2: Practical Experience

3: Equipment

4: Message Handling

Practical Experience

When you go out on a real emergency there are several things you need to understand. The first four listed relate to expectations and attitude while the remainder deal with specific actions that your group will need to handle.

Expect confusion. When we respond to a field assignment, our served agencies are getting their response organized and are often being pulled in a number of directions. Expect that some people won't know why you're there, what it is that you are supposed to do, and whom you're doing it for.

1. Be flexible. Because of the confusion, we must always remain flexible and convey to those we are serving that we are here to help. Our AECs attempt to have location directions and contact names for each field assignment before our ARES member goes mobile, but this isn't always possible. Sometimes our function is clearly defined and understood, other times it isn't. Remaining flexible reduces your stress level and proves to our served agencies that you are a team player.

2. Know your audience. We contrast arriving to a field assignment as either Rambo or an attorney. Neither is good, don't over dress, try to look the part that's required. Outfit yourself as is appropriate for the situation. For example, don't arrive to assist the base camp of a wildfire in short pants and a tank top, you might be asked to leave because your clothing choices could put you in danger. Stop for a moment, consider your assignment and who you will be assisting, and make appropriate clothing and appearance choices. Don't arrive like you just crawled out from beneath a rock, always look clean and well kept.

3. Be aware of your first impressions. Some of us are shy, some are outgoing. Some are demure, others are outspoken. Know how others perceive you and adjust your character as needed for the situation. If you are a shy and quite individual, know that you might have to be bold to find the official or area you have been assigned to assist. If you are typically loud and outspoken, look around you, you might need to tone it down a little. If you are assigned to a Police/Fire dispatch center, loud talking and bold action are not going to be appreciated by the dispatchers who are assisting citizens with emergency needs.

Simulations and how they help

One key to the success of emergency communications is the amount of education, training and preparedness prior to the event. By learning, practicing and evaluating prior to the emergency, the overall level of proficiency is raised. During activation and operation, the time to develop one's skills and knowledge is limited or non-existent, yet this is the time when having that knowledge and experience makes the most difference.

4. Practicing emergency communications is best approached as a team effort scheduled on evenings or weekends and not while the actual emergency is happening. There are a number of ways to develop knowledge and practice. The best way is to learn from the experiences of other emergency communicators, taking the best practices and avoiding pitfalls that can occur in any setting.
Skill is needed for handling simultaneous multiple activities that can arise during emergencies. The very nature of responding to an emergency affords very little in the way of on-the-spot education and training. Hence it is vital that the education, training and practice occur ahead of time. Coping with equipment problems, people requesting attention and a response, listening for a station with a weak and distorted signal, all the while trying to absorb the situation and direct a team effort on and off the air are real-life situations that can occur. Fortunately, there are ways to learn and practice in a broader setting that are enjoyable.
Simulations, exercises and practice netsare proven ways to bring together these elements in a non-threatening and fun environment, developing the composure and skills, provide analysis and feedback and gain new confidence to rise above any situation.
Amateur radio operators are always in search of new knowledge, equipment and operating opportunities. The learning and training sessions leading up to the simulations and exercises are excellent ways for specialists to introduce the rest of the team to new modes or techniques.
There are a number of things you can arrange to try out and practice before the exercise, then test the team's proficiency during the event. Try alternate frequency and communications modes, such as simplex (non-repeater) operations, SSB where FM modes are prevalent, Near-Vertical Incident Skywave (NVIS) for local HF coverage, satellite for reliable long-haul coverage, packet and digital modes for passing message text.
Simulations offer a safe environment for being an NCS or liaison/relay station. Other operators are trying out their skill and just as in practicing for team sports, an occasional procedural error or two offers an avenue for review, learning and improvement.
Practice removes the fear, uncertainty and anxiety of doing something you have not done before. Just that calming effect you feel afterwards with that sense of accomplishment is worth the experience. You have attempted an operating skill that few amateurs venture.

The National Traffic System is an excellent vehicle for practicing relaying large volumes of messages in a timely and coordinated fashion. NTS stations practice originating, relaying and delivering messages (collectively called traffic) quickly and efficiently.
The skills honed with NTS experience removes the hesitation and mishandling that can happen when faced with having to pass traffic.

Public Service Events

Public service events are another setting where emergency communicators can practice teamwork and refine their confidence. Many public service events involve operators supporting and coordinating outdoor events such as parades or community fun runs communicating between each other using handie talkies.
These outdoor operators are typically supported by Net Control Stations and/or relay stations using portable/mobile stations. Public service events are excellent settings for practicing and refining skills on passing informal traffic, juggling amongst multiple operating frequencies, outfitting oneself with radio and personal equipment to comfortably operate in the field for a sustained period -- all while enjoying and participating in a community event.
In summary, training activities and community service participation allow you to try new methods for all communication activities in a non threatening environment with the added advantage of having fun while you work at them.

Real Emergencies

Lessons Learned on Past Events
Debriefing sessions should be held after each operation to exchange lessons learned to be used for future operations. Since each event typically features a new set of operators, the lessons learned are frequently the same material being conveyed to a new audience. It is a wise use of time to learn from the experience of others and work towards mitigating potential gaps and obstacles rather than repeat their past mistakes.

Teamwork and Attitude

As the first segment in this course said, the attitude you bring with you will do more to determine the success of your effort than anything else. You must, therefore, bring an attitude of helpful cooperation to every event you participate in. If that is a problem for you, then I suggest you try something outside of ARES/RACES.

Move the Message Forward

The mission for emergency communicators is to use any available communication technique available to forward the message to it's final destination. Whether it's via regular telephone, fax, amateur radio, commercial and government radio, Citizens Band, Family Radio Service, bicycles; the method is immaterial. What counts is that the message got delivered in usable form to the recipient in a timely and accurate fashion that the recipient could take action.
When you are handling traffic, be sure you do not become myopic with your effort. The classic example is during a practice session in Packet, NCS should have one station pass a simulated emergency message to one of the other packet stations (something like the time on your watch at that instant). You will be amazed at how many people will spend the time to format the message in packet to send it rather than using the microphone to send a voice message that would be followed up with a packet message.

Creating an Operating Environment

You will learn to create a new environment where none previously existed -- and chances are that it won't happen seamlessly on its own. Recognize and accept this reality. Do not rely upon someone else to do your own preparation and the time prepare personally for emergency and disaster situations is now while there is time to think it through, purchase what you need with no lines at the store, and assemble things into kits and checklists. Your single most important item in the field is fresh water (not beverages such as coffee or soda that will dehydrate you). There is much written about the topic of personal emergency preparedness, so further discussion will be deferred.

Don't worry and be distracted by the condition of someone else's equipment and operational readiness. Since you're already at your site (or heading to your assignment or evacuation shelter), focus on your situation first, then deal with other situations as conditions permit. The better you prepare and the faster you arrive at your destination (without speeding), the faster you'll handle your immediate situation.
While we would like to see everything go smoothly in an emergency, Murphy tell us that nothing will. Do not wait for someone else to do your preparation. YOU make it happen. YOU provide for your education and results. YOU make it go right.
Here are a few hints to help you during an emergency:

• Remember you are emergency communicators, not emergency rescue personnel
• Keep your ARES ID on you at all times.
• Do not impede the work of professional responders such as fire fighters, police and emergency medical personnel. Stay out of the "hot zone" unless instructed. You don't want to endanger yourself and add yourself to the casualty list.
• Follow the directions of your lead operator or the chain of command. You may be required to perform duties beyond just emergency communications. Remain flexible to respond to the needs of the situation.
• Test your techniques before an exercise or an event. If you want to experiment with a new technique or method, test it before you have a major exercise or event. You don't need more frustration or embarrassment, so why compound that chance when the stakes are higher?

• Lack of space at the base camp (because it is set up at the trail head parking lot, and is short on space for heliports, parking, etc.).
• The mission might be geographically spread out over such a great distance that it makes more sense to marshal some people at a separate staging area.
• The mission might use unique transportation systems that require their own specialized staging area (marine support from a dock or harbor, air support from a landing strip, snow-mobile support from an access trail not close to the base camp, etc.).

• Staging areas are managed by the Logistics Section.
• Assets that are mobilized into the field from the Staging Area are controlled by the Operations Section.
• The staging area can be colocated with the ICS staff at Base Camp.
• If a staging area is not co-located with the ICD staff at Base Camp, a separate communication system (cell phone, runner, two-way radio) must be set up between the ICS staff and the staging area.