What kind of training could or should be given RACES operators by disaster response (OES, CD, etc.) organizations? The following are some worthwhile meeting and training topics submitted by volunteers and paid staff in California, Nevada, Colorado and Utah. Every effort to provide handouts should be made. A three-ring binder format is successful.
These are not shown in any particular order of priority nor does it reflect ALL the topics that could be covered. These are simply the most common topics that should be covered for all Amateur Radio operators assigned to a local government's RACES unit.
- Write or update the RACES Plan.
- Agency policies, procedures, practices and philosophies.
- Message form and message center (handling) procedures. Keep it simple!
- Names and titles of key local government leaders, department heads, and division chiefs.
- Incident Command System (ICS) and ICS communications.
- Mission of the organization.
- Inter-agency relationships.
- Inter-government relationships.
- Briefings by other departments; i.e., fire, law enforcement, public works, etc.
- Briefings on past emergencies common to the area.
- Plan participation in future emergencies.
- Participate in the budget preparation process for Amateur Radio.
- Installation work parties.
- Plan future exercises.
- Develop alert lists, important telephone numbers.
- Briefings on disaster plans.
- Perform radio propagation studies to support Amateur or public safety radio system plans.
- How Amateur Radio can support the Emergency Broadcast System.
- Training operators in message net operations.
- Researching improved communications techniques and equipment.
- Radio studies benefiting Federal, State or local communications.
- Communications supporting civic events sponsored by non-commercial civic organizations that benefit the local government. (i.e., parades, public display activities, etc.)
- Non-commercial events supporting governmental approved charitable organizations that qualify within the guideline of the government department responsible for such activities.
- General public service communications:
- Information and assistance communications during local unusual environmental conditions when RACES communications is not required.
- Radio relay communications in support of distant disasters.
- Mutual aid communications; i.e., how and when personnel and equipment may be used to support another government's incident.
- Mobilization and authority to be on duty. Personnel are not self dispached. Record keeping requirements, showing name, ID number or callsign, date/time on duty, date/time off duty, etc.
- Organizational assignments, Delegate responsibilities, Staff in depth. Assign work, create work, and see that the work accomplished. Make expectations known. The RACES unit should be an on-going activity and not just another "dire emergency resource".
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