WECT would like all of our members to complete the following training courses successfully. These courses only take a few hours of your time each but will provide the basic skills, training and knowledge required for assisting during an actual incident.

Skywarn Weather Spotter Training
Cost: FREE
Course Length: 3 hours
Prerequisite: None
This course instructs on the nuances of reporting severe or significant weather phenomenon to the National Weather Service via their Skywarn program. The National Weather Service relies on its network of trained weather spotters to report severe weather. Classes are held each spring throughout the area, check the WX1BOX Taunton Skywarn website for the schedule to find a class near you. There is also an online refresher for those that have previously taken the course and want to brush up on it.

ARRL EC-001 - Introduction to Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
Cost: $50 for ARRL members, $85 for non-members
Course Length: Approximately 25 hours over 8 weeks
Prerequisite: None
This course provides basic emergency communications volunteer training specific to amateur radio operators. We highly recommend this course to all of its members.

FEMA IS-100.b: Introduction to Incident Command System
Cost: FREE
Course Length: Approximately 3 hours
Prerequisite: None
This course provides introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS), a system of incident management that is being universally adopted across the country. All RACES officers and RACES radio operators are required to take this course per the FEMA and MEMA, but we highly recommend this course for all of our members.

FEMA IS-700.a: Introduction to National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Cost: FREE
Course Length: Approximately 3 hours
Prerequisite: None
This course provides an introduction to the National Incident Management System (NIMS). NIMS provides a consistent nationwide template to enable all government, private-sector, and nongovernmental organizations to work together during domestic incidents. All RACES officers and RACES radio operators are required to take this course per the FEMA and MEMA, but we highly recommend this course for all of our members.




We recommend the following courses for our members. These courses provide additional skills that would be helpful for most of our team members to know.

FEMA IS-200.b: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
Cost: FREE
Course Length: Approximately 3 hours
Prerequisite: FEMA IS-100.a required (FEMA IS-700.a recommended)
ICS 200.a is designed to enable personnel to operate efficiently during an incident or event within the Incident Command System (ICS). ICS-200.a provides training specially for personnel who are likely to assume a supervisory position within the ICS. Please keep in mind that NCS is considered a supervisory role, thus we recommend this course for all members.

FEMA IS-800.b: Introduction to National Response Framework
Cost: FREE
Course Length: Approximately 3 hours
Prerequisite: None
This course provides basic information on the National Response Framework. While NIMS provides the template for the management of incidents regardless of size, scope or cause, the NRF provides the structure and mechanisms for national level policy of incident response.

FEMA IS-250.a: Emergency Support Function 15 (ESF15), External Affairs
Cost: FREE
Course Length: Approximately 1 hour
Prerequisite: None
The goal of this course is to provide basic training on the concept and practical application of the ESF 15 Standard Operating Procedures to all FEMA External Affairs staff, regardless of duty station, as well as to staff in all other agency divisions and federal, tribal, state, local, private sector, military and Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) partners.

FEMA IS-288: The Role of Voluntary Agencies in Emergency Management
Cost: FREE
Course Length: Approximately 1 hour
Prerequisite: None
This independent study course provides a basic understanding of the history, roles, and services of disaster relief voluntary agencies in providing disaster assistance. It is appropriate for both the general public and those involved in emergency management operations.

CERT Basics
Cost: Usually free
Course Length: Usually one weeknight a week for several weeks
Prerequisite: None
This is an introduction to FEMA's Citizen's Emergency Response Team program. It provides basic emergency response training. Although not related to amateur radio or emergency communications, this course covers some of the basic tasks and situations that any emergency response volunteer may come across. Classes are offered by various municipalities, see your most local CERT team for details.




The following list of courses are appropriate for everyone, but they are especially geared towards members that fill the listed roles.

• Affiliated RACES and ARES leadership
  
  • FEMA IS-1: Emergency Manager, An Orientation to the Position
    
  • FEMA IS-230.b: Fundamentals of Emergency Management
    
  • FEMA IS-775: EOC Management and Operations
    
  • FEMA IS-802: Emergency Support Functions - Communications
  
  
• Affiliated RACES and ARES leadership, Officers, and Board of Directors
  
  • ARRL Public Service and Emergency Communications Management for Radio Amateurs (EC-016) Course
    
  • FEMA IS-240: Leadership & Influence
    
  • FEMA IS-241: Decision Making & Problem Solving
    FEMA IS-244: Developing and Managing Volunteers
  
  
• Training Manager
  
  • FEMA IS-120.a: An Introduction to Exercises
    
  • FEMA IS-130: Exercise Evaluation and Improvement Planning
    
  • FEMA IS-139: Exercise Design