Upcoming Amateur Radio Emergency Service Training

Press release from Alachua County

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Alachua County Emergency Management invites the public to attend a two-day Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) training on Saturday, January 7, and Sunday, January 8, 2023. The training is from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday at the Alachua County Emergency Operations Center (1100 S.E. 27th Street, Gainesville). The training is free and open to all ages (a parent or guardian must accompany minors), but participants must register online.

The Alachua County Amateur Radio Emergency Service and the North Florida Amateur Radio Club (NFARC) will conduct this weekend-long training course. The training assists participants in qualifying for the FCC Amateur Radio General-level license.

Once obtained, the FCC Amateur Radio General-level license can be renewed every ten years for life. It is the primary vehicle by which the United States allows citizens to participate in both near and far radio communications, giving many the chance to find a new hobby or even a new vocation, and allows parents to involve their children in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities. Locally, licensed volunteers are an integral part of Alachua County’s Emergency Operations Team, submitting background checks to become badged volunteers who can serve the County at the direction of the Emergency Manager.