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What is ARES/RACES?
ARES
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization, is eligible for membership in the ARES. The only qualification, other than possession of an Amateur Radio license, is a sincere desire to serve. Because ARES is an amateur service, only amateurs are eligible for membership. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement for membership.
RACES
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service, RACES. RACES, administered by local, county and state emergency management agencies, and supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is a part of the Amateur Radio Service that provides radio communications for civil-preparedness purposes only, during periods of local, regional or national civil emergencies. As defined in the rules, RACES is a radio communication service, conducted by volunteer licensed amateurs, designed to provide emergency communications to local or state civil-preparedness agencies. It is important to note that RACES operation is authorized by emergency management officials only, and this operation is strictly limited to official civil-preparedness activity in the event of an emergency-communications situation. Amateurs operating in a local RACES organization must be officially enrolled in the local civil-preparedness agency having jurisdiction. RACES operation is conducted by amateurs using their own primary station licenses, and by existing RACES stations. While operating in a RACES capacity, RACES stations and amateurs registered in the local RACES organization may not communicate with amateurs not operating in a RACES capacity.
Your Role in ARES / RACES in Jackson County
If you wish to take part in ARES/Races or any other Emergency communication activities you must have completed IS-22, IS-100, and IS-700.
FEMA Courses are available on-line and are free of charge. You will need to register to take the classes. FEMA offer many other related courses so take advantage of the free education being offered and complete as many of the courses and you like.
So don’t wait until the last minute to complete your required training. FEMA courses IS-22, IS-100, IS-700 MUST be completed if you wish to participate in ARES/RACES activities.
FEMA courses:
IS-100, IS-700, IS-200, IS-800
IS-22 is required as of November 1st, 2004
AUXCOMM
What is Auxiliary Communications (AUXCOMM)