Missouri Section ARES Amateur Radio Emergency Service

Over nearly thirty years of involvement in emergency communications in amateur radio, the military and public safety; I have been asked many times for my input in matters pertaining to the emergency communications capabilities of the Amateur Radio Service. Having served on both sides of the fence, I suppose one does sometimes have the advantage of being able to see the forest, in spite of all those trees.

The truth is, those not directly involved in Amateur Radio, and in some cases, those that are; do not fully understand how truly unique Amateur Radio is. From the standpoint of it’s potential as an emergency communications asset, unlike the communications systems normally deployed by public safety agencies; Amateur Radio has the ability to adapt and expand to meet the rapidly changing requirements of any communications emergency. This is not the case with any other public safety radio system, no matter how large, well designed or financed it might be. This aspect of the Amateur Radio Service alone is in no small way responsible for our very existence, and one of the reasons why nearly every nation on the planet has set aside very valuable radio spectrum to it.

Our many available modes and bands allow us flexibility unmatched by any other single communications service. In an emergency, we can simply select additional channels to handle the increased traffic load. Our spectrum space is nearly limitless, whereas even the largest public safety agency system has a finite number of channels available. Our high frequency capabilities using NVIS and other techniques, allows communications in any terrain, without the support of fragile infrastructure, such as repeaters. Even with all our capabilities, there are some very real, and not so real shortcomings of our service in the minds of some public officials.

Although there are many Emergency Managers, public safety agency chiefs and elected public officials with Amateur Radio Licenses; even these professionals are often of the opinion that our service is more a liability than an asset, when it comes to it’s use in an actual emergency. Unfortunately for all concerned, this opinion is often not without foundation. Although from a technical point of view, there is little doubt our service has potential as an asset to public safety in an emergency, the volunteer nature of our service, if not it’s very name; is often the greatest obstacle to its’ greater acceptance and utilization by those

To many, the very word amateur is associated with being less than professional, or something less than expert. When one is used to dealing with human lives and property, you can see where a term like "amateur paramedic", or "amateur police officer" might give one pause, where the term "professional paramedic" or "police professional" might invoke completely different feelings. Amateur, as in ‘Amateur Radio’ of course, reflects the unpaid, volunteer nature of the service, i.e., ‘amateur athlete’. But this is an example of why we are sometimes met with some reservation on the part of those charged with the

public safety, when it comes to being utilized in their emergency operations plans. This however, is only one example, and one more easily dealt with. There are, unfortunately, other examples that are more difficult to overcome.

There are ‘volunteer paramedics’ and "volunteer fire fighters" and we know that this reflects only the fact they are unpaid for their services to the public. This does not mean they are less trained than their paid counterparts, or that they are exempt from meeting certain standards of education and conduct. Perhaps we should move to have the term Amateur Radio Operator changed to Volunteer Radio Operator? I would probably not support that idea, but I certainly do support becoming more like our volunteer cousins, the fire fighters and paramedics. These folks train and work very hard, and subject themselves to

Certainly a person having just completed basic training as a fire fighter, is not going to be expected by the public, his peers, or his superiors to be as well suited to all aspects of the job, as one who has undergone additional training above the basic level, or one with more experience in the field. Why is it then that many of the Amateur Radio fraternity feel that having an operator’s license makes them an automatic asset to public safety communications? Unfortunately, this attitude is held by many amateurs, and is an example of something in need of change. A driving license gives one the right to drive upon the public streets and highways, but does not entitle the driver to drive a heavy truck for hire. It is the minimal requirement for additional training and experience.

A Technician or even an Extra Class Amateur License does not make anyone an emergency communications expert, or even an asset to the public safety. Unless one is willing to undergo additional training and experience, and to subject one’s self to accepted standards of conduct and discipline, these serve only as minimal requirements. An Emergency Manager or Fire Chief is not going to place anyone at risk; including his other personnel, and certainly not the public; without making very sure you know what you are doing. In matters pertaining to emergency communications, this means you are expected to know

You must also know something of how to conduct yourself concerning sensitive communications, dealing with the press, your limitations as well as your assets. If you expect to be dumped into the middle of a forest fire to provide emergency communications to professional and volunteer fire crews, then you had best also know the basics of fire fighting, and how it related to your own safety, that of the public at large, and the other members of ‘the team’. In short, you might be the best communicator in the world, but if you expect to be placed in the thick of it, you might want to know which way the wind is blowing!

Until a Fire Chief or Emergency Manager is relatively confident you will be more of an asset than a liability, he or she is not going to utilize you in any meaningful way. At best he risks a lawsuit, at worst he might be responsible for having cost someone’s life. Unless you become part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Be willing to view the issue from his or her perspective, and you will soon realize there is more to it than just showing up with a car full of radios, and an orange vest. If you are willing to show up for offered training, and not just when there is a real emergency. If you are willing to listen as well as talk. The Fire Chief or Emergency Manager might just move you and your ARES group into his asset column, and out of the one headed ‘liabilities’.