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New to NH-ARES?
If you’re a new member, you’d probably like to know where to get started. This page is a good place to begin.
Some new members want to become Active Members and get really involved, others just want to be Reserve Members so they
can be of some assistance when the “big one” hits. Either way, welcome!
Reserve Members: If you plan to be a Reserve Member, we recommend at least familiarizing yourself with two key
documents and the NH-ARES website. Begin with the
Section Emergency Communications Plan. It may seem like quite a lot
to read, but you don’t have to memorize it – just learn what it contains. Print it out and keep it handy as a quick
reference. Try to replace your copy with a fresh one at least once a year, as the plan is regularly revised. The second
document, Expedient Training
for Walk-In Volunteers, is a quick, information-packed two-page read. Print this out and keep it handy as well.
Active Members: If your plan is to become an Active Member and have the required training, download and carefully read
the two documents listed above for starters. That will make you immediately more useful should your services be suddenly
required. Then spend some time reviewing the resources available on our website. Next, have a conversation with your local
ARES group’s Emergency Coordinator (EC) to match your skills and interests with the group’s needs. Chances are he or she
will have a valuable job you can take on. Then, it’s time to gain new skills or update existing ones.
Training & Preparation
ARRL Basic Emergency Communications (formerly ARECC Level 1) - The first required course is the ARRL Basic Emergency Communications Course EC001. It can be taken
on-line on your own schedule. Yes, it costs a few dollars to take, ($50 for ARRL members, $90 for non-members) but it’s well worth it because it
teaches all the basics. The material is both interesting and useful. In addition to the on-line material, you will interact
with a knowledgeable mentor via email, and their insights can be valuable. The ARRL operates this training program on a
break-even basis, so the cost is as low as is possible. To keep it in perspective, the knowledge gained could help you save
lives, possibly even those of friends and family.
ICS - The other course you need (and this one is paid for with tax dollars) is one that all police, firefighters, and
emergency management staff must also take: IS-100, Basic Incident Command System, offered online by FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute. In a post 9/11 world, FEMA requires all agencies to use the Incident Command System when dealing with a major emergency. For that reason, it is important that ARES members understand how ICS works. When we have to work alongside and interact with agencies, we’ll understand how the response is organized and be better able to move messages to and from the correct parties. In addition, some agencies are now requiring that all internal and external staff and volunteers have this training.
Optional courses are available, and you are encouraged to take as many as you can. These include the soon to be released ARRL Advanced Emcomm Management course, and many basic and advanced FEMA ICS and National Incident Command System (NIMS) courses. Some served agencies also offer
relevant training. Consider the Red Cross’s Introduction to Disasters and Basic First Aid, and National Weather Service
Skywarn Weather Spotter training, among others. Visit our training links page for a sample.
NH-ARES On-Line Training provides short downloadable PowerPoint programs on a variety of topics. Visit the Training Downloads pages for more information and to download and play back previous sessions from the archives.
Participate in Drills
NH-ARES holds periodic state-wide and local drills to test both our skills and our communication plans. Not only do they
serve an important purpose, they can be fun! In addition to actual drills, ARES members often provide in public service
communications for large and small public events. The skills and methods used for those events provide an experience very
similar to a real emergency. Some of the larger events, such as the Reach the Beach Relay Race held in September, can very
closely simulate certain conditions encountered during an emergency operation.
Build Your Go-Kit
Emergencies don’t wait for you to be ready, so it’s up to you to prepare well ahead of time. Training is a big part of
preparation, but getting your gear ready is just as important. Most of us have at least one kit that lets us operate in
the field for up to 72 hours without outside support. That means food, water, personal needs, and often shelter. Many of
us create modular kits so that we are able to take only what we’ll need. For suggestions on what to put in your go-kit,
visit KB1DIG’s Go-Kit page, and download the
Go-Kit Checklist from our Forms page. Don’t forget to
keep your kit’s contents fresh and up to date.
Unable to Respond to the Field?
Not everyone is able to handle field communications deployments. That’s not a problem because in some situations we will
need almost as many hams working from their home stations as we do in the field. They do jobs like net control, net liaison,
net manager, Winlink operations, logistics management, and more. You might even be able to help just by reporting on
conditions in your neighborhood. Talk to your EC about stay at home job opportunities. Emergency power is a big plus.
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