Alachua County Emergency Management invites the public to attend an Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) training on Saturday, August 27, and Sunday, August 28, 2022. The training assists participants in qualifying for the FCC Amateur Radio Technician-level license. The Alachua County Amateur Radio Emergency Service and the North Florida Amateur Radio Club (NFARC) will conduct this weekend-long training course at the Alachua County Emergency Operations Center (1100 S.E. 27th St., Gainesville). The training will be held over two days on Saturday, August 27, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and then on Sunday, August 28, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The course is open to all ages (a parent or guardian must accompany minors to the training).
Once obtained, the license can be renewed every ten years for life. It is the primary vehicle by which the United States allows citizens to participate in both near and far radio communications, giving many the chance to find a new hobby or even a new vocation, and allows parents to involve their children in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities. Locally, licensed volunteers are an integral part of Alachua County’s Emergency Operations Team, submitting to background checks to become badged volunteers who can serve the county at the direction of the Emergency Manager.
For more information, contact the Amateur Radio Emergency Service volunteers at 352-565-6498 or
ARES@alachuacounty.us.