[TNham] EMCOMM requirement

[bfarnham]

Jimmy -

First of all, thanks for taking the time to work at clarifying the issue(s).

I have a question, a point of information, and 2 suggestions.

Question: What about IS200? The FEMA's website FAQ on who needs what ICS 
courses says that for "first line, single resource" responders, what is needed 
to be NIMS compliant for FEDERAL FY 2006 (ends Oct 1) is IS100, IS200, and 
IS700. "First line, single resource" is what describes most ARES organizations 
or members. See following URL: 
http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nims/5_common_faqs.pdf

Point of information: As an EC, my OEM & HS Director has provided me (and 
other department heads) training in use of the NIMCAST system to evaluate NIMS 
compliance for our organization and each ESF. As communicators, we're in ESF2. 
The NIMCAST online system not only allows for excellent evaluation, it 
provides wording resources for SOPs and or/Annexes that can assure each 
organization meets NIMS standards so the individiual EMA (or OEM & HS) can 
report accurately on NIMS compliance for all the reasons that is necessary. 
The goal that has been passed from FEMA/TEMA through my own local agency is 
that honest evaluations should be done by Sep 2006 (end of FY 2006), and 
demonstrated deficiencies should be remediated by Sep 2007 (end of FY 2007). I 
urge ECs and similar folks to get the training from their EMA Director about 
how to access the NIMCAST system and to use it to improve your organization.

Suggestion #1: As to making it more painless to take EmComm ARECC from ARRL... 
Anything that is going to be required of a volunteer organization should keep 
in mind the delicate balance needed in the care and feeding of volunteers, 
remembering that volunteers don't get paid to do their stuff. What is required 
of volunteers should either be free or real cheap and involve more time than 
money. Therefore I suggest: Do not force people who are required to take the 
ARECC courses to pay for the courses. I know there are costs involved if: 1) 
you take the course through the website sponsored by ARRL. Paying that website 
to host the services of teaching and testing and mentoring costs money, so it 
is reasonable to ask users  to pay for it; and 2) if you get the printed 
materials for the course from ARRL. It obviously costs to print and bind the 
course materials, and paying for that is reasonable.

BUT - if the course is required, and a PDF of course materials and questions 
is made available online for download and learning, that costs next to 
nothing. Finally have the TN ARRL website updated (!), and make PDFs of the 
required course material and questions availale for free download just like 
FEMA does for its IS courses. If that were done, the only cost to the ham 
getting certified in ARECC would be the fee to the VE to take the test. That 
would mean TN ARRL/ARES would not have to pay the bills that FEMA does to have 
the tests submitted electronically and graded. Seems like a good compromise to 
me.

I also think it's fair: If TN ARRL/ARES is going to require more than national 
ARRL/ARES of its hams by requiring ARECC, then it's only fair to provide more 
in the way of assistance in helping them meet the requirements. Having the 
materials available free of charge as PDFs on the TN ARRL/ARES website is a 
simple, very cheap, and cost-effective way to do that. It may not eliminate 
all resistance, but I bet it will help, and will be seen as a compromise 
effort.

Suggestion #2: Consider, before trying to enforce any requirements, getting 
the ARRL to make any and all ARECC levels NIMS compliant. Urging us all to be 
NIMS compliant, then asking us to complete a course that teaches us things 
contrary to NIMS is both confusing and sends a mixed message. I know ARRL just 
sent out a letter saying they had made Level 3 NIMS compliant. Yippie. What 
about Level 1 - the most basic?! Doesn't it still teach use of NTS type 
messages, which are NOT NIMS compliant? NIMS requires the use of message form 
ICS213, and requires the use of plain language, free of codes and special 
jargon. NTS messages are not NIMS compliant. I suggest that before 
requirements are set in place or enforced, the requirements be NIMS compliant 
and consistent. In this kind of environment, mixed messages and confusion in 
what is taught is not good.

Thanks again, Jimmy, and good luck!

73,
Bill Farnham (KI4FZT)
EC - Roane County

>===== Original Message From Jimmy Floyd <nq4u at bellsouth.net> =====
>Greetings from the ARRL Tn. SEC
>
>There has been much discussion recently concerning the training requirements
>and Tn. ARES.
>
>I would like to reassure everyone that there are no plans to exclude anyone
>from being an active member and vital part of amateur radio or ARES in the
>Tn. Section of the ARRL.
>Many sections have already set specific training requirements in place for
>there ARES members ---- STX, Ky., SD, NJ and WV to name a few. The training
>requirements in those areas vary some but the basic core is the same as what
>we have set in place here in Tn. As you can see from the short list above,
>Tn. is already behind many areas.
>
>As Amateur Radio is being utilized more and more by various agencies, from
>the Federal level on down, it has become necessary for us to undertake
>further training so that we can better assist those agencies. The NIMS
>courses present a working knowledge or introduction to the ICS system and
>the EMCOMM courses present some material that many of us might have
>forgotten at one time or another.
>The NIMS courses do not cost to take and can be downloaded from the FEMA
>website. The ARRL EMCOMM courses do cost and can either be taken online or
>in a classroom type setting.
>
>The Federal Government has placed the NIMS requirements on the States and
>the States have placed the requirements on their individual counties and
>cities  ---- hence the primary reason for us AMATEURS to step up and take
>some of the same training as we are considered as FIRST RESPONDERS.
>Therefore we will be in a much better position to serve one of our largest
>served agencies--(Tennessee Emergency Management Agency) which in turn
>serves your local county or city EMA. Other agencies serving in Disaster
>response roles are also undertaking some of the training as well. Local EMA
>officials need and want to be kept informed of the progress that local
>Amateur Radio groups are making.
>
>All of the counties and municipalities in Tn. Have FYE (Fiscal Year End)
>dates and this is usually what most consider annual training drop dates. In
>other words, training must/should be completed by this date. Now where does
>that leave us as ARES?
>We set a deadline of Aug. 1, 2006 for ASEC, DEC's and EC's to have their
>training (IS-100, IS-700, IS-800 and ECOMM 1,2 and 3)
>
>and a date of DEC. 1, 2006 for ARES members (EMCOMM 1 and IS-100)
>
>Your local EMA may have other dates sooner in mind ---- this is at their
>discretion.
>We need to understand that at some point a disaster may occur in an area and
>the local EMA may have no choice, under the new guidelines set down from the
>State, but to use only folks that have had the NIMS training ( including
>ARES)
>Now, some have asked what do EMA's know about the EMCOMM training and how
>did they find out about it. Across this great state are many ARES groups
>working very closely with their local EMA officials and building strong
>relationships for the future ------ they see the average Amateur radio
>operator taking additional training----. Some of these folks may even be
>HAMS themselves. Others may have heard from co-workers or have even seen the
>Amateurs in action passing traffic during severe weather events or during
>other disasters.
>
>The ARRL DOES NOT have a stake in this as it is NOT an ARRL requirement.
>This is the reason that there has not been a big news story on the ARRL
>website. This is the AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS of the Tennessee Section of the
>ARRL moving forward by taking on additional training so that we can better
>serve our communities.
>
>I understand the cost of the EMCOMM courses can present a financial setback
>to many folks that have an interest in or are a vital part of their local
>ARES system. This is where it is going to take ALL of us to pull together
>and find a solution to this problem.
>The wrong answer would be for us to pull back and not pursue the training as
>this would only limit the service that we can provide to our communities.
>There are many hams across the state that have already completed the NIMS
>requirements and the EMCOMM as well. Others are working to complete the
>courses.
>
>I hope this helps to answer some of the questions and if not please let me
>know.
>
>
>Thank you,
>
>Jimmy Floyd
>NQ4U
>ARRL Tn. SEC
>tnsec at myway.com
>
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