Charlie Miller AE4UX.......................

        This page is a tool for getting information and news about South Carolina State ARES to you,
        the Volunteer Communicator, about what is happening now.  Please be sure to check this site often.

        Here is a little about me for those that I've not yet met.

        Charlie Miller, AE4UX, is the South Carolina Section Emergency Coordinator and the South Carolina State RACES Officer.  Prior to that
        appointment, Charlie was the Aiken County ARES/RACES Emergency Coordinator from 1997 through 2002.  He has been actively involved
        with emergency services for the last 21 years.  In addition to his amateur radio emergency service, he was a Civil Air Patrol
        Squadron Commander, Mission Pilot, Ground Team Leader,  and Air Operations Officer.  Charlie retired in 2002 after a career in engineering
        and management at companies such as Bell Telephone Laboratories, McDonnell Douglas, DuPont, and Westinghouse.
        Charlie's education includes a Masters of Business Administration degree and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree.
        He holds an Extra Class Amateur Radio License.  Charlie lives with his wife of 42 years, Ellen, in Trenton, South Carolina.
 
 

SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY COMMUNICATOR
REGISTRATION FORM

        You will need to download each of the three pages individually if you choose the pdf files.

        The first page of the three page form contains all the information needed to register in ARES. That same information is needed
        RACES registration.  RACES requires a background check.

        The information on page two includes what is needed to perform the required background check. The Social Security Number is only used for the
        background check and is not entered into the volunteer database.  The SC Drivers license is entered into the database and will be shown on the
        RACES Identification Card so that the volunteer can use their drivers license as photo id.

        Government emergency response agencies must also ensure that their responders have been properly trained.

        The training required depends on the position the volunteer will be filling. The current minimum is FEMA courses ICS-100 and IS-700. Leadership
        positions require additional training.

        Page three is where the approving government agency signs indicating their approval. A volunteer only applying for ARES registration need only fill
        out page one. All others must complete the entire form.

        In either event, a copy of the first page is all that has to be given to the county ARES Emergency Coordinator. All three original pages are
        forwarded to the county emergency management organization for the performance of the background check and registration approval.

        The entire form may be delivered to the county emergency management organization by the volunteer or given to the
        ARES Emergency Coordinator to be brought to the county emergency manager in a group.

        The choice is up to the individual volunteer.
 
 

The ARES is part of the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio, which is  the largest amateur radio advocacy and fraternal organization in the United States. Today, the ARES provides the organization and guidance to help amateur radio operators to establish a local emergency communications group. Emergency Coordinators work with local government agencies such as police, fire, sheriff, search and rescue and offices of emergency management to determine what emergency communications needs may exist.
The South Carolina ARES is divided into 6 Emergency Management Districts. Each District will have a District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) who will work with the local County Emergency Coordinator (EC) to understand the local community's needs, and organize resources to maintain a level of emergency preparedness.
Although the primary purpose of the ARES is to provide emergency communications, ARES® members also routinely provide non-business communications support to other public events.
For more information about ARES, read some of these articles:

ARRL Background Paper: Amateur Radio Emergency Communication

ARRL Background Paper: Using Amateur Radio in an Emergency
 
 

An OES you ask? An Official Emergency Station is an amateur radio station that meets the criteria outlined by the ARRL and sets a high standard of emergency preparedness and operating. Basically, this is a person that has made a commitment to be the best he or she can be when it comes to being prepared for an emergency. An OES is appointed by the SEC or the Section Manager. For more details on the OES appointment, read the ARRL file on the subject, or contact your EC.

 
 

Perhaps you're still a little too new to amateur radio, or maybe you've only heard about amateur radio, and want to find out how you can get licensed. Unfortunately, there's too much to amateur radio for us to go too far in depth at this web site. However, there are many web sites which have some great information to help anyone, at any age, with any background, to help you learn more about this fantastic hobby. Visit some of these sites and see what you've been missing!
 
 
                                                          ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio

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Thanks to all!

'73 de Charlie AE4UX