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The requirements have been compiled from a variety of sources. FEMA, Homeland Security, Michigan State Police, Macomb County Emergency Management and the State Amateur Radio Public Service Corps have all put their guidance on the mandatory and suggested training that is listed below for participation in ARPSC.
There are several levels of participation.
First is Amateur Radio Emergency Services or ARES (A.R.E.S.) level.
All you need for ARES participation is a sincere desire to assist our communities with incidents and events and have an amateur radio license.
There are times… depending on the station you are asked to staff during times of communications need… that a locally generated background check will be performed. These checks are performed either by the Macomb County Sheriffs Department thru the LEIN system (Law Enforcement Information Network) or by Macomb County Emergency Management thru the ICHAT system (Internet Criminal History Access Tool) that is run by the Michigan State Police.
These background checks... and any background checks for ARPSC participation... come with either a "PASS" or "FAIL" rating. At no time are the officers of Macomb County ARPSC allowed to see the LEIN or ICHAT transcripts.
There are also no "mode-of-living" or "credit worthiness” checks run at ANY time by the officers or served agencies of Macomb County ARPSC.
The second level of participation is registration as part of the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services or RACES (or R.A.C.E.S.)
To receive a RACES Card in Macomb County, you must:
1. Pass a background check conducted by the Macomb County Sheriff's Office.
2. Complete the FEMA Independent Study Program course IS-22 – Are You Ready?
3. Complete the FEMA Independent Study Program course IS-100 – Introduction to Incident Command Systems.
4. Complete the FEMA Independent Study Program course IS-700 – Introduction to the Incident Management System.
5. Take Skywarn Training within 1 year of membership
These requirements are handed down to us from FEMA. Under very few circumstances can these requirements be waived.
You do have 6 months to take the FEMA Independent Study classes after registering with RACES.
Continued RACES participation
To insure continued RACES registration and to keep current with standardized operating practices and procedures, the following renewal requirements are in place.
A. Participation
To receive a replacement RACES card after current card expires; you must
1. Attend two meetings per year.
2. Check into 8 weekly information nets per year on an average
3. Do one of the following.
· Staff two public service events, exercises, or emergency activations per year
· Serve in a leadership role (program manager, EOC Station Manager, etc.) for a period of at least 18 months.
B. Education
Since the last renewal a member must:
1. Pass any additional background checks conducted by the Macomb County Sheriff's Office.
2. Complete 1.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) of training from the approved course list.
3. Maintain current SKYWARN training every two years.
Members who fail to qualify for renewal will become eligible for new membership after six month waiting period.
Approved Course List:
Amateur Radio Relay League
1. Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course – Level 1 (1.5 CEUs)
2. Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course – Level 2 (1.5 CEUs)
3. Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course – Level 3 (1.5 CEUs)
ARECC levels 1, 2, 3 courses are not required, but are strongly encouraged for all ARES and RACES operators.
FEMA Emergency Management Institute – Independent Study Programs
IS-5: Hazardous Materials: A Citizen's Orientation (1.0 CEU)
IS-7: Citizen's Guide to Disaster Assistance (1.0 CEU)
IS-15.A: Special Events Contingency Planning, Training for Public Safety Agencies (0.5 CEU)
IS 55: Household Hazardous Materials (0.3 CEUs)
IS-100a: Introduction to Incident Command System (0.3 CEUs / 1.0 CEUs if taken with IS-200)
IS-120 Introduction to Exercises (0.5 CEU)
IS-130 Exercise Evaluation and Improvement Planning (0.5CEU)
IS-139: Exercise Design (1.0 CEU)
IS-200a: ICS for Single Response and Initial Action Incidents (0.3 CEU)
IS-230a: Principles of Emergency Management (1.0 CEU)
IS-235: Emergency Planning (1.0 CEU)
IS-242: Effective Communication (0.8 CEU)
IS-271: Anticipating Hazardous Weather and Community Risk (1.0 CEU)
IS-288: Role of Voluntary Agencies in Emergency Management (1.0 CEU)
IS-292: Disaster Basics (1.0 CEU)
IS-394 Protecting Your Home or Small Business from Disaster (1.0 CEU)
IS-546a Continuity of Operations Awareness Course (0.3 CEU)
IS-547a Introduction to Continuity of Operations (0.3 CEU / 1.0 if taken with IS-546a)
IS-701a NIMS Multiagency Coordination System (MACS) Course (0.5 CEU)
IS-800b: National Response Framework, an Introduction (0.3 CEU)
Long term participants can substitute 0.1 CEU for each year of continuous active RACES experience up to a maximum of nine years. ("Active" means satisfying items 1, 2, and 3 for Participation.)
Participation and education waivers are available with documentable proof of participation in other areas public service events, training or meetings. Waivers are also available for people who work evenings and cannot attend meetings or nets on a case by case basis.
Training courses other than those on the approved list will be included for training credit after a review of the class, and on a case by case basis. |
