Training in TCARES

Training is a critical part of ensuring Thurston County ARES members are prepared to provide reliable communications support during emergencies. Whether you’re new to amateur radio or an experienced operator, TCARES offers structured and progressive training to help you build the skills, confidence, and readiness needed for activation.

All training for TCARES is tracked in your TCARES Task Book 

📅 Monthly Training Schedule

We hold monthly training meetings that include:

• Practical exercises (e.g., message handling, net operations)

• Technical demonstrations

• Incident Command System (ICS) familiarization

• Preparedness planning

• Guest speakers from local emergency services and partner agencies

📍 Location: Thurston County Emergency Management, 9521 Tilley Rd SW, Olympia, WA 98512 

🕒 Time: Second Thursday of each month, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

🧭 Core Training Objectives

Our training focuses on:

• Emergency Communications Protocols - Learn how to operate within served agency guidelines and ARES activation protocols.

• Message Traffic Handling - Practice using ICS Forms (e.g., ICS-213, ICS-309) and standard radiogram formats.

• Net Control Operations - Develop the skills to lead and log local, tactical, and regional nets.

• Portable Station Setup- Hands-on experience with go-kits, antennas, and power sources.

• Digital Communications- Familiarization with Winlink, FLDigi, APRS, and other data modes.

• Situational Awareness and Reporting- Understand how to observe and report effectively during field operations.

📚 Recommended Training Courses

All TC ARES members are encouraged to complete the following online FEMA courses:

• ICS-100: Introduction to Incident Command System

• ICS-200: Basic ICS for Initial Response

• IS-700: National Incident Management System (NIMS)

• IS-800: National Response Framework (NRF)

👉 These courses are free and available at https://training.fema.gov/nims/

🎯 Skill Levels and Roles

We support training at multiple levels, with activation responsibilities aligned with level of proficiency:

• Basic (Level 1): Essential training that allows a member to operate on their own in the field in support of ARES operations.

• Intermediate (Level 2): Additional technical training that increases a member’s communications capabilities. 

• Advanced (Level 3): Training to assume ARES leadership roles.