There have been many articles written about training needed to belong to an ARES group. I think we need to remember the ARES manual indicates that only licensed amature radio operators are eligible to apply for membership. That is the basic qualification and you also want to provide communications in time of natural or man-made disaster to your communiy.
Certainly, when disaster strikes, there will be much activity in a very short amount of time to get up and running and establishing emergency communications to a particular group. Procedures and processes may not be important in the short term. But, as we interact with agencies that have a structure in place, they will expect and in some cases require us to have certain basic emergency communications training before we can provide them any communication services.
The Peoria County ARES groups is committed to provide training for the necessary emergency communication support that Amateur Radio Operators are known for.
ARRL
Introduction to Emergency Communication- Course #: EC-001
Public Service and Emergency Communications Management for Radio Amateurs EC-016
Here are links to FEMA courses of critical interest to ARES operators:
ICS-100.b Introduction to Incident Command System
ICS-200.b ICS for Single Incidents and Initial Action Incidents
IS-800 National Response Framework
IS-240.a Leadership & Influence
IS-241.a Decision Making & Problem Solving
IS-250 Emergency Support Function 15 (ESF-15) External Affairs
IS-1 Emergency Manager, An Orientation to the Position
IS-288 The Role of Voluntary Agencies in Emergency Management
IS-244.a Developing and Managing Volunteers
IS-120.a An Introduction to Exercises
IS-130 Exercise Evaluation and Improvement Planning
Many of these courses are requirements for ARES operators registering with local emergency management/public safety agencies and more and more ARES programs across the country. Along with the basic ARRL emcomm course, they form the foundation for an educated, certified, trained corps of ARES volunteers prepared to serve as assets and not liabilities to their communities during disaster situations.