Auxiliary Communications Course

AUXCOMM

FEBRUARY 20th AND 21st, 2016

DENTON COUNTY EOC

This offering is sponsored by the State of Texas and authorized by the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Emergency Communications. It is designed for auxiliary emergency communicators and groups who typically volunteer to provide backup emergency radio communications support to public safety and emergency response professionals and their agencies. Typically this would include ARES and RACES, but may include other volunteer emergency communicators.

The request for, and conduct of, this offering will be under the auspices of the Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC).

Volunteer emergency communications operators/groups, using Amateur Radio, have been providing backup communications to public safety for over 100 years. They are used by event planners, public safety officials, and emergency managers at all levels of government. Often, Amateur Radio services have been used reliably when other forms of communications have failed or have been disrupted. Today nearly all states/territories have incorporated some level of participation by Amateur Radio auxiliary communication operators into their SCIPs.

The course focuses on auxiliary communications interoperability, the relationship between the COML and the volunteer, emergency operation center etiquette, on-the-air etiquette, FCC Rules and Regulations, auxiliary communications training and planning, certification and accreditation, and emergency communications deployment.

It is intended to supplement and standardize an operator’s experience and knowledge of emergency Amateur Radio communications in a public safety context.

PREREQUISITES FOR ATTENDANCE ARE:

Completion of ICS-100b, ICS200b, ICS700a and ICS800b prior to registration

Active FCC amateur radio license

Past experience in auxiliary emergency communications

A desire to work with COMLs in a NIMS/ICS environment

Copies of the ICS Certificates and FCC License must be provided to the course coordinator at the time of registration.

This is a 20 hour, two day course with facilitated lectures and student exercises.

Because the course is NIMS compliant it is not modified for local circumstances. It is limited to 30 students. The course content includes:

  1. Introductions
  2. The communications Unit and EOC
  3. Auxiliary Emergency Communicator (AEC) Roles and Responsibilities
  4. Interoperable Communications
  5. Incident Communications
  6. Incident Radio Communications Plan (ICS205)
  7. Incident Communications Center
  8. Team Management and Accountability
  9. Resources
  10. Intrastate and Interstate Radio Networks
  11. Final Exercise Exam

REGISTRATION:

or

Jerry L. Garrett

Deputy Fire Marshal

ComLAuxcomm Instructor

K5JLG

214-674-5421

Denton County Emergency Services

9060 Teasley Lane, Denton, Texas 76210