PCARES - Becoming a Member

Why Join?

Joining the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) lets you use your Amateur radio skills to provide critical backup communication when disasters knock out cell towers and regular networks

Why Join ARES?

Keep Communities Connected: You help relay vital safety information, emergency traffic, and resource requests when traditional infrastructure fails.
Train Before Crisis Strikes: You gain hands-on practice, emergency preparedness training, and structured skills so you are ready before an emergency happens.
Support Public Service Events: You assist local communities by managing radio logistics and communications for public events like parades, marathons, and bike rides.
Build Strong Networks: You work alongside local emergency management teams, public safety officials, and fellow radio operators.

As outlined on the Amateur Radio Relay League, ARRL® website, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES® leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.

Joining the Placer County Amateur Radio Emergency Service, (PCARES), located in Placer County, California, is outlined below.

Membership Requirements

Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL® or any other local or national organization, is eligible to apply for membership in ARES®. Training may be required or desired to participate fully in ARES®. Because ARES® is an Amateur Radio program, only licensed radio amateurs are eligible for membership. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable but is not a requirement for membership.
The second requirement is a desire to serve.

Joining Process

In order to become a full member of PCARES, the following steps must be completed:

Register – Complete the Online Member Registration Form.
Complete Training – All members are expected to complete the following:
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) IS-100.c, IS-200.c, IS-700.b and IS-800.c courses, which are available online for free. More detail is available here..
Upon review of the application the EC will reach out to you to sign and review and submit the following documents:
- The Expectation Agreement
- The Volunteer Agreement
- The Social Media Policy
Join groups.io (email distribution list) by emailing placercountyares+subscribe@groups.io.
Join the ARES Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/pcares
Purchase PCARES Uniform items. It can be found under the Membership section of the website.
Once a member you will be granted access to the Membership section of the website and to the PCARES google drive.
Magnetic Name Badges and ID card can be ordered from inside the membership section of the website.

ARES MANUAL (1) ARES Registration Form m (2) Taskbook

(3) Apply for Student Identification Number

Skill Levels

Level 1 - Entry level into ARES®, includes skills learned when obtaining an Amateur Radio license

ARES TRAINING LEVEL (1) These are the basics

Obtain Technician class or higher Amateur Radio License
Join an ARES group
ARES Task Book

Skill Levels

Level 1 - Entry level into ARES®, includes skills learned when obtaining an Amateur Radio license
Level 2 - Set of skills desired by ARES® obtained through coursework and training.

ARES TRAINING LEVEL (2) Required

Obtain Technician class or higher Amateur Radio License
Join an ARES group
IS-100.c Introduction to Incident Command System
IS-200.c – ICS for Single Resource
IS-700.b NIMS: An Introduction
IS-800.d – National Response Framework
ARRL EC-001 Intro to Emergency Communications.
Net Participation (Once per Quarter).
Program tone into HT.
Program frequency & offset into radio.
Write and send an ICS-213 message.
Build a simple dipole antenna** Encouraged
Build Powerpole® adapter cable** Encouraged
Solder PL259 connector to coax** Encouraged
Assemble a 24-hour Deployment Kit** Encouraged

Skill Levels

Level 1 - Entry level into ARES®, includes skills learned when obtaining an Amateur Radio license
Level 2 - Set of skills desired by ARES® obtained through coursework and training
Level 3 - Increased skill set that initiates a pathway to leadership positions and assignments

ARES TRAINING LEVEL (3) Required

Obtain Technician class or higher Amateur Radio License.
Join an ARES group.
IS-100.c Introduction to Incident Command System.
IS-200.c – ICS for Single Resource.
IS-700.b NIMS: An Introduction.
IS-800.d – National Response Framework.
ARRL EC-001 Intro to Emergency Communications.
IS-120.c - An Introduction to Exercises*
IS-230.d- Fundamentals of Emergency Management*
IS-235.c - Emergency Planning*
IS-240.b - Leadership & Influence*
IS-241.b - Decision Making & Problem Solving*
IS-242.b - Effective Communications*
IS-244.b - Developing & Managing Volunteers*
IS-288.a – Role of Voluntary organizations in Emergency Mgt*.
IS-2200 - Basic Emergency Operations Center Functions*
ARRL EC-016 Public Service & Emergency Communications Mgt*
Net Participation (Once per Quarter).
Public Service Event Participation (Annually)
Simulated Emergency Test or Exercise Participation (Bi-Annually)
Serve as Net Control
Program tone into HT.
Present a training session
Participate in PIO activities (PR-101 Qualifies)
Hold/held a leadership position in a group
Program frequency & offset into radio.
Write and send an ICS-213 message.
Proficient in using ICS forms
Operate VHF Digital messaging station in Peer-to-peer mode
Operate HF Digital Mode Messaging Station
Program Tone into HT
Program frequency & offset into radio
Build a simple dipole antenna** Encouraged
Build Powerpole® adapter cable** Encouraged
Solder PL259 connector to coax** Encouraged
Assemble a 24-hour Deployment Kit** Encouraged

Training

PCARES is dedicated to training its members the skills needed to assist in Emergency Communications during the time of disasters. To participate in PCARES activations that are several three levels of training that will determine your level of participation during any activation.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) now requires all volunteers, including amateur radio operators, to have completed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) IS-100.c, IS-200.c, IS-700.b and IS-800.c course material.
PCARES members will be expected to understand and operate under National Incident Management System (NIMS) during activation.
Without this training, you may be excluded from participating or gaining access to emergency sites during activation.

If you have any questions regarding the Task Book or need any assistance with regards to training, please don’t hesitate to contact EC, training for PCARES, at placerountyares@gmail.com.

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