Training
Training at DeKalb ARES runs on three tracks. Members learn from each other at monthly meetings — recent sessions have covered APRS, VARA FM Winlink, DigiPi, NTS traffic handling, PL-259 connector construction, twinlead J-pole antennas, and FEMA ICS forms. Field drills put those skills to work: simplex and APRS coverage exercises, tornado and Skywarn drills with NWS Peachtree City, Winter and Summer Field Day, and the annual Simulated Emergency Test. Underneath it all is the formal coursework below — an FCC amateur license and the ARRL and FEMA courses that plug every operator into the same incident-command framework used by our served agencies.
Getting your FCC Technician license
A Technician class amateur radio license is the prerequisite for participating in DeKalb ARES as a radio operator. If you're not licensed yet, DKARES maintains a dedicated page with study materials (free PDF + iOS/Android app recommendations), where to take the exam, what test day looks like, and what comes next.
→ Get your amateur radio license
Already licensed? Head to Join to register with DeKalb ARES.
Service levels
DeKalb ARES is organized around three progressive service levels. Every member starts as a Communicator; Team Leader and Site Manager are available paths for members who want more responsibility. Each level has specific training prerequisites — the standard ARRL and FEMA courses used by public safety agencies across the country.
Communicator
Entry level. Any FCC-licensed operator with an interest in supporting one of our served agencies. Duties include message passing, station operation, and interfacing with served-agency personnel. Communicators may operate from their home station as part of a local ARES net.
- ARRL EC-001 (Introduction to Emergency Communication)
- FEMA IS-100 (Introduction to the Incident Command System)
- FEMA IS-700 (National Incident Management System)
- FEMA IS-2200 (Basic Emergency Operations Center Functions)
All active members — at any level — are expected to serve as either Net Control or Alternate Net Control at least once per year.
Team Leader
A member who has demonstrated the Communicator skills and coursework and is capable of leading a group of operators at a served-agency location. Responsible for ensuring the right operator coverage is in place as needed during a deployment.
- ARRL EC-002 (Public Service Communications)
- FEMA IS-200 (ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents)
- FEMA IS-800 (National Response Framework)
- FEMA IS-802 (Emergency Support Functions)
Site Manager
A member capable of establishing an operating station at a served-agency location and managing its operation with the necessary personnel. Site-specific training may apply — a hospital-based Site Manager, for example, may need to complete the hospital's volunteer orientation to understand their emergency operational methods.
- All Team Leader courses above
- Site-specific training as required by the served agency
A complete list of recommended courses, including Georgia-specific DEMA offerings, is maintained in the DEMA ARES training course list (updated September 2024).
Recommended complementary training
Courses above are the formal requirements. The items below are strong additions — especially for members who expect to deploy to community events or served-agency sites.
How to prepare for a community event as an amateur radio operator — a short YouTube walkthrough of what supporting a road race or marathon actually looks like on the day. Useful orientation before your first public-service shift.
Members interested in field deployment are strongly encouraged to become proficient in basic first aid and CPR. The local Atlanta Red Cross offers regular classes, and registering as a Red Cross volunteer can open additional deployment pathways alongside ARES work.
DeKalb County's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, run through DEMA, trains residents in basic disaster response — light search and rescue, fire safety, medical triage, and team organization. ARES members benefit both from the skills themselves and from working alongside CERT personnel during activations.
Traffic handling
Moving formal written messages — "traffic" — is one of amateur radio's oldest emergency-communications disciplines, and one of the most useful skills a DeKalb ARES operator can develop. Two organizations run nationwide traffic networks that welcome new participants:
The ARRL's modern traffic-handling system — voice, CW, and digital nets that move radiograms across the continent. Training material, net schedules, and ways to check in.
An independent, volunteer-run traffic-handling and public-service network complementing the NTS. Daily nets, structured training, and opportunities to take on NCS and liaison roles.
Jim Penland (N4RAR) has presented on NTS at DeKalb ARES meetings — members interested in traffic handling should reach out.
Getting on the net control schedule
Serving as Net Control is the fastest way to build proficiency in net operations and the confidence you'd need in a real emergency. Our AEC for Net Operations, Tom Fuller (KE4QCM) , schedules both Net Control and Alternate Net Control operators. Email him to be added to the rotation.