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Effective emergency communication requires more than knowing how to operate a radio. Trained operators understand how emergency management works, how to handle formal message traffic accurately, how to integrate into incident command structures, and how to maintain discipline under pressure. This page covers the major training programmes and resources available to amateur radio emergency communicators.
In an emergency, untrained volunteers — no matter how well-intentioned — can create more problems than they solve. Common issues include transmitting on the wrong frequency, failing to follow net discipline, passing inaccurate information, freelancing outside the direction of served agencies, or simply not knowing how emergency management organizations expect communications to flow.
Training addresses these problems. An operator who has completed the core emergency communication courses understands the Incident Command System, knows how to draft and relay a formal message, can integrate into an emergency operations centre, and recognizes the boundaries of the amateur radio operator's role in a response.
The ARRL offers a series of online courses specifically designed for amateur radio emergency communicators. These courses are part of the ARES training framework.
This is the foundational course for any amateur radio operator interested in emergency communication. It covers:
EC-001 is self-paced and available online through the ARRL website. It typically takes 20–30 hours to complete and includes quizzes and a final assessment. Completing EC-001 satisfies one of the ARES Level 1 training requirements.
This is the intermediate-level course focused on managing emergency communication operations. Topics include:
EC-016 is a prerequisite for ARES Level 2 qualification and is recommended for anyone interested in taking on leadership roles within their local emergency communication group.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers free online courses through the Emergency Management Institute (EMI). Several of these are required or strongly recommended for amateur radio emergency communicators in the United States. All are available at the FEMA EMI website.
The most important FEMA course for any emergency volunteer. ICS is the standardized management framework used by all emergency responders in the United States — fire departments, police, EMS, emergency management, and all supporting volunteers including amateur radio operators.
IS-100 covers:
Understanding ICS is essential because during an emergency activation, amateur radio operators work within this system. An operator who doesn't understand ICS cannot function effectively in an Emergency Operations Centre or coordinate with professional responders.
Builds on IS-100 with more detail about incident management, resource ordering, and the Incident Action Plan (IAP). Required for ARES Level 2 and recommended for anyone who may serve in a leadership or coordination role.
NIMS provides the overarching framework within which ICS operates. IS-700 covers how federal, state, local, and tribal agencies coordinate during incidents. Understanding NIMS helps operators see how their contribution fits into the larger response.
Covers how the United States organizes a national response to major disasters and emergencies. Particularly relevant for operators who may support state or federal emergency operations.
These classroom-based courses (sometimes offered online) are required for ARES Level 3 and for operators who will serve in significant leadership positions. They cover multi-agency coordination, area command, and complex incident management.
Even if you only complete IS-100, understanding a few key ICS concepts will make you far more effective during deployments:
Chain of command. You report to one person and take direction from that person. You do not freelance or take independent action.
Unity of command. Every individual has one, and only one, designated supervisor. This prevents conflicting instructions.
Span of control. One supervisor manages between three and seven subordinates (ideally five). This keeps communications manageable.
ICS-213 General Message Form. The standard form used for written messages in an ICS environment. Learning to fill out and relay an ICS-213 accurately is one of the most practical skills an emergency communicator can develop. The form includes fields for sender, addressee, subject, date/time, and message body, and ensures that formal communications are documented properly.
Check in and check out. When you arrive at an emergency scene or EOC, you check in through the established process. When you leave, you check out. This ensures accountability — incident managers must know who is on-scene at all times.
Accurate message handling is a core emergency communication skill. Training covers:
The Radiogram format. Used in the National Traffic System (NTS) and for formal message handling on amateur radio. A radiogram has a structured format — preamble, address, text, and signature — designed to ensure messages are transmitted accurately and completely. Learning to send and receive radiograms is excellent preparation for emergency message handling.
ICS-213 messages. The standard incident management message form. Practice filling out, transmitting, and receiving ICS-213 messages by voice and digital modes.
Prowords and procedures. Standard phrases and procedures that make radio communication clear and unambiguous. Training covers correct use of prowords like "copy," "roger," "say again," "break," and "nothing follows."
Winlink training. Digital message handling over radio is increasingly important in emergency communications. Learning to use Winlink for sending and receiving email over radio, including form-based messages like ICS-213, is a valuable skill.
SKYWARN training, provided free by local NWS Weather Forecast Offices, is relevant to emergency communicators even if severe weather is not the primary focus of your group. The training teaches:
SKYWARN training is typically required or strongly encouraged for ARES/RACES members in areas prone to severe weather.
Classroom and online courses build knowledge, but practical skills require hands-on practice:
The ARRL coordinates a national Simulated Emergency Test annually, usually in October. Local ARES groups also conduct SETs throughout the year. These exercises simulate emergency scenarios and test communication plans, operator skills, and coordination with served agencies.
Field Day is the ARRL's annual emergency preparedness exercise held on the fourth full weekend in June. While it has a contesting element, Field Day's core purpose is practicing field deployment — setting up stations under non-ideal conditions, operating on emergency power, and working outside the comfort of a home station.
These discussion-based exercises walk through emergency scenarios without actually deploying equipment. They are excellent for testing plans, identifying gaps, and training new operators in emergency procedures.
Checking into weekly emergency nets builds the operating discipline and procedural skills that are essential during real activations. Many ARES groups run a weekly or monthly training net specifically for this purpose.
Providing communication support for marathons, parades, bike rides, and community festivals gives operators real-world experience with deployment logistics, net operations, and coordination with non-ham organizations — all in a lower-stress environment than an actual disaster.
Emergency communication training is not limited to the United States:
A practical progression for a new emergency communicator: