NC SECTION ARES/RACES

POLICY REGARDING MANDATORY FEMA TRAINING

The Department of Homeland Security now requires all volunteers, including Amateur Radio Operators to be certificated in at least  IS 100, IS 200 and IS 700 course material.  For non-governmental employees and others without access to classroom instruction, these courses are available as Independent Study, on-line courses and are free of charge.  (Click here.)

UPDATE:  AS OF MAY 22, 2006, THOSE AMATEUR OPERATORS THAT MAY BE DEPLOYED TO EOC's, COMMAND POSTS, PSAP's OR OTHER POINTS WHERE INTERFACE WITH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AT ANY LEVEL IS EXPECTED, ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO COMPLETE IS 800.

Several Amateur Radio operators have voiced public complaints regarding taking this training.  This document will serve to make clear the policy of  NC Section ARES/RACES regarding this matter.

No one is compelled to take these courses.  However:

No later than October 1, 2006, any previously registered ARES/RACES volunteers that have not completed the required training, will be listed in our internal records as "non-certified" and will not be deployed to any site during any activation or drill.  Any operators that "self-deploy" and are not on the registered lists as "certified", will not participate in activities where certification is required (all activities).  ARES/RACES operators who complete the requirements at any time after October 1, 2006, will be re-listed as "certified" in our internal records.

This is not intended to be an affront to any individuals or groups.  It is, however, intended to bring our overall organization into compliance  with DHS requirements.

73,

Tom Brown  N4TAB
A-SEC Central Branch
Acting EC Wake County
April 13, 2006