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 Previous: Ham Radio Kept Bermuda Connected When All Else Failed |  Next: ARRL Seeks Nominees for 2003 Technical Awards |
CNCS Renews Grant for Emergency Communication Courses
Hams across the US will continue to receive emergency communications training with 100% reimbursed tuition via a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), which extended its grant to ARRL for another year on September 4.
ARRL provides grant-funded tuition reimbursement for US Amateur Radio operators wishing to receive emergency communication training through ARRL's Certification and Continuing Education program. The second year of reimbursement can cover the tuition expense of almost 1700 amateurs looking to take the Level 1 ARECC course.
In 2002, ARRL proposed to CNCS that the League could greatly expand its emergency communication training program with grant funding. The training is supported by a three-year, $540,000 federal homeland security grant from CNCS. The League was among several dozen nonprofit organizations designated to receive some $10.3 million in federal money to boost homeland defense volunteer programs. Through August 2003--the end of the first year of the grant--2254 emergency communication volunteers started the Level I course through the grant-funded program, and 1699 completed the training, a 75.4% completion rate.
"A good number of people have told us that without the grant, they would not have participated in the training," said ARRL Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG. "The CNCS grant is doing exactly what it was intended to do: provide a larger group of trained emergency communications people able to support a number of official agencies in a time of need."
The Corporation for National and Community Service provides opportunities for all Americans to serve their communities and country through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. Members and volunteers serve with national and community nonprofit organizations, and local agencies to help meet community needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security and other critical areas.
"Introduction to Amateur Radio Emergency Communication" is a basic Amateur Radio Emergency Communication course (ARECC) to raise awareness and provide practical knowledge for amateur emergency communication volunteers.
The course includes basic message handling, equipment and use, the incident command structure, and operations and logistics, among other topics. This course has 20 lesson units and takes about 25 hours to complete over an 8-week period; there are also intermediate and advanced courses available for further study and training. Continuing education units are also available.
IN THE NEWS:
Amateur Radio Responds to Emergencies
Amateur Radio operators provided emergency communication on a number of fronts in the month of August. In Montana, hams backed up firefighters throughout the month as the Lincoln Complex fire and others devoured tens of thousands of acres. Amateurs were also in action during the Northeast Blackout and during serious flooding in Indiana.
American Red Cross Honors Ham Tornado Activity
The ARRL received a certificate of appreciation from the American Red Cross for the "valuable service" League members provided in support of Red Cross efforts after a devastating series of tornados struck Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee and Arkansas on May 4. The certificate specifically acknowledges Amateur Radio operation in Missouri. Amateur Radio and the American Red Cross have a long history of cooperation during disasters. The first memorandum of understanding between ARRL and the ARC dates back to 1940.
ARRL Presents August Emergency Communications Course Seminars
In August, Miller gave seminars to folks interested in grant-funded emergency communication courses at hamfests in Huntsville, Alabama and Columbia, Missouri.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
"This has been a great educational opportunity for me; I have learned enormously about aspects of emergency communications that I never knew before. Yesterday I attended a regional VOAD meeting with my SEC; last month I didn't even know VOAD existed! Last month I learned how trunked radio operates; not only that, I learned it's vulnerability to overloads in a disaster. This course has taken me WAY beyond showing up with a radio in my hand." -- Mike Jaquish, W4WJH
"Very informative especially regarding what systems have been set up over the years to facilitate EmComms. Quite an eye opener as to the versatility, creativeness and ingenuity that ham radio operators demonstrate in emergency operations. Thank you for the opportunity to continue my ham education and for the skills that I've developed as a result of this course." -- Marti Brown, KF4TRG
For more information on this exciting opportunity for
learning and service, check out the ARRL Certification and Education Web pages or send e-mail
to ARRL Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG.
Previous: Ham Radio Kept Bermuda Connected When All Else Failed Next: ARRL Seeks Nominees for 2003 Technical Awards
Page last modified: 08:32 AM, 10 Sep 2003 ET
Page author: awextra@arrl.org
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