Communicator Patch Program

The objective of this program is to provide ARES members an incentive to gather a kit of components together in one spot, ready to go at a moment's notice. This kit that will allow them to function effectively as a communicator in a variety of emergency response roles.

Examples of these roles are:

• Shadow (HT with rubber duckie)
• ERV communicator ( HT connected to mag mount on the ERV)
• Damage Assessment Communicator (HT connected to mag mount on the DAT vehicle)
• Command Post Communicator (placing the mag mount up high and running the extra coax into the building)

ARES members who bring a completed ready kit to a designated ARES function - (an ARES meeting, a local club meeting, hamfest, etc. ) and has the items on the list checked off by the EC or the EC's designate will be authorized to wear a patch that designates that member as an " ARES Communicator". The member pays a nominal fee ($3) for the patch.

The list used here is a bit more comprehensive than the "ready kit" listed in the ARES Field Manual, though it has many of the same items. It recognizes that 2 meter phone work is the backbone of first response emergency communications.

Most hams already have these items. It is a question of gathering them in one spot so you can "grab and go". (I have my items in a Dunlop military-grade duffel bag that cost me $19 at KMart.)

The advantage to having an ARES team certified as "Communicators" is that the EC can assign any communicator to broad array of emergency communications functions and be confident that the ARES member has the equipment to do the job.

Future Extensions:

Two extensions to this concept are HF Communicator and Digital Communicator. HF would include the Communicator items plus a portable emergency powered 20 meter HF with a portable antenna (e.g. Hamstick or similar vertical or wire dipole). This would also require a General or higher license under the current structure. Digital would include a portable packet station capable of running on emergency power.

The Communicator patch is circular. The HF & Digital patches are arcs that would go above and below the Communicator patch to encircle them if the member has qualified for all three.

I have seen patches act as excellent incentives in the past in other organizations. They are a form of peer recognition that helps the group to encourage each other to achieve certification.

ARES ECs can order patches from me. (All proceeds above the expenses for the patch will be going back into ARES functions and activities.) Price is $3.00 each postpaid.

****Note:  I have the patches already.  Steve

ARES Communicator Patch

4057 Ellison Farm Rd

Braselton, GA 30517