Any Amateur Radio licensee may register to become an Idaho ARES member. ARRL membership is not required to become a member of ARES. There are no registration fees or dues associated with ARES membership.

Amateur Radio operators may participate in training in order to obtain qualifications beyond that of holding an Amateur Radio license. Such qualifications will enable an Amateur Radio licensee to participate in Idaho ARES at a higher level of service. All Idaho ARES Amateur Radio operators are encouraged to obtain additional training.

The primary sources for Amateur Radio operators to obtain qualified training include both the ARRL and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute. Training resources for both of these organizations can be found under the Training menu on this page.

Recommended ARRL and FEMA Training training includes:

• ARRL Training

  • EC-001: Introduction to Emergency Communications

  • EC-016: Public Service & Emergency Communications Management for Radio Amateurs

  • EC-015: ARRL Public Relations

• FEMA Training

  • ICS-100: Introduction to Incident Command System

  • ICS-700: Introduction to National Incident Management System

  • ICS-800: Introduction to National Response Framework

  • ICS-200: Incident Command System for Single Resources & Initial Action Incidents

Additional training opportunities are listed under the Activities menu on this page.

Amateur Radio’s role in Public Service Communications and Emergency Communications is declared within the purpose of Amateur Radio as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations:

From a practical, and operational perspective, Amateur Radio provides several resources and capabilities to Incident Commanders. Among these are:

• A pool of fixed, mobile and portable stations that can be utilized to augment communications systems, or to put in place a communications system where non exists, such as providing communications with emergency disaster evacuation locations.

• Communications infrastructure, with a wide range of capabilities, that can be used in place of other failed infrastructure.

Amateur Radio has the same vulnerabilities as Public Safety communications infrastructure, and implements the same standardized redundant protection features as Public Safety communications. Because of similar redundant systems, both Amateur Radio and Public Safety communications infrastructure share the same robust capabilities.

Amateur Radio is not a replacement for Public Safety or governmental agencies, but acts to serve those Public Safety and governmental agencies in a subordinate capacity. Amateur Radio enables Public Safety agencies to focus on their primary role by freeing them from tasks that do not fall within their daily mission. Amateur Radio is particularly well suited to serve the logistical communications requirements of an Incident Command, thereby keeping critical Public Safety radio services free for more critical tasks. Amateur Radio is also well suited to provide communications infrastructure, which can be used as a replacement for failed public communications infrastructure. Amateur Radio can provide communications services to non-governmental agencies, such as the Red Cross, in time of disaster. It is this mission that the Idaho Amateur Radio Emergency Service is committed to.