The membership status of "Member in Training," means that you have not completed all the basis requirements for being a "Certified Member."  This status may be held by new hams that have just entered the hobby or it can also be a status for hams with many years of experience that lack some of the requirements for an emergency  response team.  Some of the training requirements are those that are universal in groups that adhere to the Incident command system.  The ICS courses deal very little with the practical side of traffic handling.  The ICS system is used by both first responders and those that support these efforts.  It is vital to understand the system that we are working within.  The courses are not lengthy, and all four courses combined (ICS-100, 200, 700 and 800) take less time than preparing for a Technician class license.  The test at the end of  each of your ICS/NIMS courses are "open book" and basically ensure that you have covered the subject matter.  These courses and test are not difficult.  

Other requirements for certification for the RED Team deals with practical operating principals.  It ensures that you have been involved in training nets that are more than check-in, give a comment and check-out.  It shows that you have been involved in Simulated Emergency Test, that replicate an actual event.  You may substitute an actual event to fill this requirement.  The emergency communications course from various sources, insure that you have had training that covers the many facets of emergency communications.  If you have taken a MARS, SATURN, VDF or similar courses that you feel are equal to those required, let us know and we will look at these in light of the course requirements.

While being a "Member in Training" , you are eligible for call out and will be used much as full members in responding to an activation.  You would not be assigned to an EOC or other areas that have ICS/NIMS requirements.

The Virginia AUXCOMM  Association

Is an umbrella organization to provide information, resources and coordination for Amateur Radio Groups in the Commonwealth of Virginia that support emergency communications response to various agencies.

RED TEAMS

Rapid Emergency Deployment Teams