For illustration, a State, Region or Local Area ACS or RACES Officer might have these specific responsibilities:
- the supervision of all the units personnel permanently assigned to or temporarily serving at or with the State, Region or Local Area Jurisdiction - under the direction of the paid staff coordinator or supervisor for that particular State, Region or Local Area Jurisdiction;
- the recruiting and training of such unit personnel needed to meet the needs and expectations of the sponsoring (governing) State, Region or Local Area agency, department or organization;
- furthering the goals and the mission of the ACS or RACES through meetings, public appearances, conferences, written and radio communications;
- scheduling the units personnel - whether as operators or technicians for State, Region or Local Area Emergency Operations Centers or to other assigned activities (such as field or mutual aid support) or as the units administrators (such as Duty Officer or Team Leader) - to meet the units mission requirements of the State, Region or Local Area Jurisdiction. Such services typically include the provision of ACS or RACES personnel and resources to support any mutual aid requirements;
- serving as liaison to the respective State, Region or Local Area ACS or RACES programs. As typically 90% or more of unit participants are FCC Amateur Radio Licensees, serve as liaison between the State, Region or Local Area and the American Radio Relay League, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, and any other Amateur Radio organizations;
- assuring that the jurisdictional Emergency Operations Center or office ACS and/or RACES equipment is operable by meeting any weekly or periodic Net and by conducting a monthly intra-state or region-wide radio net between the State or Region facility and each of its counties or parishes; For the local Area by keeping local nets operational through delegated responsibilities.
- maintaining a current roster of all State or Region unit personnel and key unit officials for each county in the State or Region; for the Local Area Jurisdiction maintaining a roster of its own personnel, and of adjoining area (or other applicable) mutual aid resources.
- planning exercises, drills and meetings to maintain unit and personnel proficiency and interest;
- keeping the ACS or RACES Plan and attachments current; maintaining a copy of all county and city ACS or RACES plans in the State or Region. And assisting them in the preparation of these plans;
- assigning assistants to serve as an alternate in the Unit Senior Officer's absence and to provide training, operations, planning, technical services, administration and liaison.
- recommending program policy, direction and budget to the sponsoring or governing agency, unless directed not to do so by that agency.
Continues next week