TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY ARES MEMBERS (OFFICIAL)
ALL ARES AND NON-ARES AMATEURS ANYWHERE (INFORMATION)
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM ARRL DISTRICT 3
EMERGENCY COORDINATOR WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INC.
WOOD COUNTY ARES BULLETIN NR 19.12 DATE: March 24, 2019
SUBJECT: WHAT IS AUXCOMM
AUXCOMM stands for Auxiliary Communications. AUXCOMM is a Communications Course developed and taught by the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Emergency Communications, that focuses on radio communications. It provides Amateur Radio operators a broad knowledge of the fundamental principles of communications systems used to support public safety and emergency response professionals, and their agencies. The course aligns with both the Incident Command System (ICS) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
The course is designed to teach dedicated volunteer Amateur Radio Communicators a number of essential topics that will assist them in working with the Communications Leader (COM-L) and the Communications Technical Lead (COM-T) during a disaster. The course covers responsibilities, roles, and functions within the Communications Unit, as well as roles and functions of the auxiliary emergency communicator.
Served agencies want to know and understand the level of Communication training. Having and Amateur Radio license is not enough. Our served agencies want a minimum level of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ICS training and other courses. AUXCOMM is a path to that level of comfort that aligns with typical First Responder training.
The Department of Homeland Security will be presenting an AUXCOMM course in Parkersburg on April 13th and 14th.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV