Overview of the SCCo ARES®/RACES

Credentialing Program https://www.scc-ares-races.org/credentials/preso/SCCo_Credentialing_Pgm_200108.pdf

Jeff

In General, Why Credentialing?• Personal challenge and self-improvement• To demonstrate skills, knowledge, and abilities• Meets standard requirements• In an emergency, need to plan and deploy resources –

credentialing typically used to indicate who/what are suitable for some activity/role

Saratoga Firmly Believes in the Santa Clara County Program

• Gold Standard• Very Professional• Well Documented• Skills development AND practice• Attainable

SCCo’s Credentialing ProgramBased on the following criteria

• Administrative• Training• Experience (exercises, events, any possibly real

incidents)• Demonstrated knowledge• Demonstrated performance

Levels Common in Emergency Management, Fire Fighting, etc

• Complies with basic National Incident Management System (NIMS) resource typing

• Type 3: Basic competencies• Type 2: Intermediate level • Type 1: Most highly experienced level

• Type V: • Licensed operator (with DSW on file)

• Type IV:• Basic Operating Capabilities

• Type III:• Can operate independently in a role• Efficient and effective without need for coaching or assistance

• Type II:• Advanced level• Larger events, larger EOCs, etc.

• Type I:• Specialist• Lead operator• Supports planning, design, deployment, and operating complex configurations

SCCo’s Credentialing Program - Typing

Roles• Field Communications• Basic field communications

• Net Control Operations• Net control operator, scribe, lead operator

• Shadow Communications• Communications shadow for an assigned principal

• Packet Operations• Setup packet station, operate Outpost and PackItForms

• HF Communications• Setup HF system including field antennas, operate and log

messages

Endorsements• MAC (Mutual Aid Coordinator)• County Fire Station Radio Operator• County EOC Radio Operator• County EOC RACES Unit Leader

Why Achieve a New Credential?

Why (continued)• Practice• By itself is insufficient• Will build confidence and many skills

By throwing enough hours of practice at something, people tend to get sort of good at it. - David Wong

• Learning• Theory and procedures• Practice• Experience at drills, and events

SCCo ARES®/RACESCredentialing Requirements https://www.scc-ares-races.org/credentials/preso/SCCo_Credentialing_Pgm_200108.pdf

Brent

Overview of Credentialing Structure

Type IV Communicator - Administrative

• Live/work in Santa Clara County• 18 years of age or older• Valid ham license (Technician or higher)• Valid CA drivers license or state ID card• Reliable transportation• Have read two SCCo ARES/RACES documents• DSW registration with primary jurisdiction (Saratoga)

Type IV Communicator – Training / Knowledge

• 2 Santa Clara County courses (Intro and Fundamentals)• 3 FEMA online courses (ICS-100, ICS-200, ICS-700)• 1 CA online course (SEMS G606)

• Demonstrate ability to program your 2m/440MHz HT

Type IV Communicator - Equipment

SC Co standard 2-hour carry kit• basic radio stuff and frequency lists

SC Co standard 12-hour go kit• extra batteries• power supplies • coax adapters and cable• forms, notepad, clipboard• flashlight/headlamp• food and water

https://www.scc-ares-races.org/gokit/SCCo_Go_Kit_rev180603.pdf

Type IV Communicator – Participation/Performance

• 8 weekly net check ins• 8 times monitoring SVECS net• 2 participation in quarterly drills• 1 participation in full-scale exercise• 1 participation in public service event

• Functioned effectively with local agency (Saratoga)• Maturity and experience• Agree to ongoing participation to maintain accreditation

Applying for Type IV status

Overall website: • https://www.scc-ares-races.org/credentials/index.html

Type IV Record form: • https://www.scc-ares-races.org/credentials/doc/SCCo_RACES_Cred_Rec_C4_v200216.pdf

Go Kit checklists: • https://www.scc-ares-races.org/gokit/SCCo_Go_Kit_rev180603.pdf

Local credential administrators:• Don Steinbach (EC), Peter Melhus (AEC), Jeff Walker (AEC), Brent Hailpern (AEC)

How SARA Can Help You on this Journey

HTTPS://SaratogaAmateurRadioAssociation.groups.io

Peter

SARA Groups.io

• Groups.io - an email groups service that allows each member to easily communicate with the entire group. It can also serve as a repository for group documents.

• SaratogaAmateurRadioAssociation – main• SaratogaAmateurRadioAssociation – EmComm Rookies• SaratogaAmateurRadioAssociation – Credentials

SARA Groups.io (Cont’d)

• To join: • Go to: HTTPS://SaratogaAmateurRadioAssociation.groups.io

• When the new page opens, follow the directions to join the group. You will need to join Groups.io if you are not already a member.

• You will need to join the “Main” SARA group first, and be approved; then join EmComm Rookies and/or Credentials.

SARA Groups.io (Cont’d)

• To use SARA’s Groups.io: • If you have a question or a comment that might be relevant to others in the

group, depending on the subject, send an email to the appropriate subgroup: • EmCommRookies@SaratogaAmateurRadioAssociation.groups.io OR• Credentials@SaratogaAmateurRadioAssociation.groups.io

• Your email is sent to the entire group (EmCommRookies or Credentials). Anyone who receives the email can reply.

• If you want to access the file(s) in either subgroup:• Go to the subgroup’s “home” page, left-hand side• Click on “Files” and click on the file you want to see

Mentors If you are affiliated with SARA, we can provide you with a mentor to guide you through the credentialing process. Among the things we can help you with are:• The overall process• Getting affiliated with SARA• Getting your Saratoga DSW Card• Programming your HT• Getting you more “air time”• Developing your message passing skills• Others???

You are not alone, we’re here to help!

Mentors (Cont’d)

If you want to be connected to a mentor on a particular topic, send an email through the SARA Groups.io

If you would like to be a mentor on a particular topic, send an email through SARA Groups.io

If you have any problem or questions, feel free to reach out to Peter (peterjmelhus@gmail.com)

Getting Started - Now

• Take the three FEMA courses online (ICS-100, ICS-200, ICS-700)• Take the California course online (SEMS G606)• Start compiling your SCCo standard 2-hour carry kit• Start compiling your SCCo standard 12-hour go kit• Join the SARA Groups.io at:

HTTPS://SaratogaAmateurRadioAssociation.groups.io

Getting Started – Now (Cont’d)

• Check in during the Sunday night net check ins (you need eight)• Better yet, once you have gained some skills and confidence, volunteer to join

the rotation for net control duties on the Sunday check ins – it is painless!

• Monitor the Tuesday night SVECS net (you need eight) • You can volunteer to check in for SARA on the SVECs net

• Participate in quarterly drills (you need two)• Our next Saratoga drill is coming up May 16th. Sign up and participate!

• Download and start completing your Type IV Record form • https://www.scc-ares-races.org/credentials/doc/SCCo_RACES_Cred_Rec_C4_v200216.pdf

Emergency Coordinator and Assistants

SARA is fortunate to have a strong group of people leading the group, led by Don Steinbach (AE6PM) - Saratoga Emergency Coordinator (EC)

• Assistant Emergency Coordinators (AEC) are: • Morris Jones (AD6ZH)

• Brent Morris (N2CJN) • Jeff Walker (N6ADE)

• Ron Jones (AJ6EG)

• Peter Melhus (AA6PM)

• We’re here to help! (But we do have lives too, so please keep that in mind!)

We want to see YOU earn your Type IV Credential by the end of this year

Questions/Comments???