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Author Topic: Free VA RACES Training Oct. 16, open to all  (Read 1997 times)

KE4SKY

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Free VA RACES Training Oct. 16, open to all
« on: October 06, 2004, 07:19:54 AM »

The Loudoun Amateur Radio Group conducted a joint ARES / RACES training session in September which was a big success, and the good news is that if you missed this training opportunity you have another chance in Franklin, VA on October 16.  

Tom Dawson WB3AKD, ARES EC for Loudoun County uses the VA RACES training as the benchmark for his ARES group in Northern Virginia. Dawson co-presented the all-day training session with Virginia RACES State Emergency Radio Officer Steve Cuccio.

The session included modules on ARES / RACES mission, structure and organization;  National Incident Management System, Incident Command System,  ICS message handling, Personal and Family Preparedness, and Terrorism Awareness.  Tom Dawson is one of a dozen peer reviewers recruited from outside the VA RACES organization who ensure that VA RACES training is relevant across all amateur radio organizations, meeting professional public safety standards for content and presentation.
 
While some amateurs feel there are (strong) differences when the ARES and RACES organizations are split, Dawson's group supports both organizations.  Virginia ARRL Section Manager Carl Clements, W4CAC is very supportive of these joint efforts towards bridge building.  

Despite tornadoes spawned the previous late Friday evening from Hurricane Ivan, 33 out of 40 registered, attended the training, even though some had been up all night. The majority of attendees were not VA RACES members, but staunch ARRL ARES supporters.  Luke AD4MG, the VA RACES state digital officer rode up from Richmond to observe and critique the session and was extemely pleased at the attentiveness and interaction which existed between members of the two
organizations.  Both co-instructors received a warm round of applause at the end of the session, and shook our hands to receive congratulations for forging new strong relationships between the two organizations.

The VA RACES training was developed in cooperation with emergency managers throughout Virginia to provide much-needed, detailed knowledge of the terrorism threat, health and safety considerations, the National Incident Management System and Incident Command System that the ARRL ECC course does not yet have.  

The word is spreading throughout Virginia supporting VA RACES training as a valuable FREE resource open to ALL interested amateurs. The goal is to proliferate Virginia RACES material throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond until all amateurs can benefit from mission-oriented, operationally-specific and safety-focussed EmCom training before disaster strikes. Virginia RACES seeks to attract new blood to EmCom who can take a sincere approach in furthering the amateur radio communication mission.  

The next free, open training training session will be held in Franklin, Virginia on October 16. All amateur operators interested in EMCOM are welcome to pre-register at the URL

http://www.varaces.org/SessionReg.php

 
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