From the Training Officer

For those of us in the amateur radio hobby who choose EmCom, it is "more than a hobby," but also a commitment to service. If you are not adequately trained, you cannot do your job competently or safely. It is therefore incumbent upon all of us to mentor, watch out for and help each other. As individuals we must learn, practice and refresh skills which may have become rusty from lack of use.

When I was new ham in 1994, I was frustrated by the lack of suitable training materials. In 1997, at the encouragement of Tony Amato, KR4UQ, Ed Forman W4IN and Steve Cuccio, NB3O, I accepted the personal mission to develop our Virginia RACES Basic Operator Course. We were helped along the way by many who are too numerous to mention. However, I would like to especially thank peer reviewers Grant Cunningham, KD7JNW, West Lin, OR; Lloyd Colston, KC5FM, Emergency Manager, Pryor, OK; and Ed Kostiuk, Terrorism Consequence Management Officer of the Oklahoma Department of Health. Thanks also go to officials in Fairfax County government who also served as peer reviewers and mentors. They are:

Gary Ball, Deputy Coordinator of Emergency Services; Roy Shrout, K4CGC, Emergency Management Specialist; James N. Stoneback, K4AXF, Radio Engineering Services Branch; Frank W. Stoda, KA4TRG, FEMA, USAR, Virginia Task Force One; Ken Jones, Deputy Chief, Fairfax County Fire & Rescue (retired); David Rohr, Deputy Chief, Fairfax County Fire & Rescue; Brian Cloyed, Department of Information Technology

Our Virginia RACES training materials are used by over 450 amateur radio and public safety organizations throughout the United States, Canada, UK and Australia. All training units and accompanying reference materials have been peer-reviewed by amateur radio leadership from Virginia and surrounding states, as well as by selected public safety professionals nationwide. The focus of Virginia RACES training is to be mission-oriented, operationally-specific and safety focused to effectively serve our clients and our members. Our goal is to provide both relevant and current course materials which meet professional public safety standards for content and presentation. Evaluations and critique are welcome to facilitate our ongoing policy of continuous improvement.