The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization, is eligible for membership in the ARES. The only qualification, other than possession of an Amateur Radio license, is a sincere desire to serve. Because ARES is an amateur service, only amateurs are eligible for membership. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement for membership.
Regardless of how many years you may have been licensed or what your level of experience may be, there is a need for people from all backgrounds and experiences in Amateur Radio Emergency Services.
You, too, can experience the pride that comes with fulfilling one of the basic missions of Amateur Radio, to provide a resource of trained radio operators to meet the needs of the United States of America and its citizens in times of emergency.
In a era of satellites, cellular phones, trunked radio systems, and other radio systems, it may seem to many that Amateur Radio is a dinosaur with little to offer to the world of public safety communications. Nothing could be further from the truth. The value of Amateur Radio to public safety is two-fold. One is survivability and the other is expandability. Only Amateur Radio can meet these needs in this world of uncertainty.
Amateur Radio's finest day is yet to come.
Join us...won't you?
If you want to find a county program near you, check out the DECs/ECs page to find your applicable district DEC or local EC.