EMCOMM is a Program under Communications and Data that is operated as a partnership between Comms and Data and Central Command to provide professional and amateur emergency communication radio services in coordination with the CERT program, RRT, and Incident Management and Operational Support (IMOS), to serve as an auxiliary to IMOS-tasked units. Additionally, to coordinate professional and amateur radio resources among non-IMOS units capable of being used in emergencies. The program is comprised of members who are specific to EMCOMM whose primary purpose is emergency communications, but also has a framework for members that are cross trained with the CERT program called EMCOMM CERT who can jointly provide emergency communications in addition to CERT response.
The Incident Command System (ICS) is part of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which is a framework developed by FEMA in order to facilitate a multi-agency response to minor and major disasters.
NIMS/ICS is required by many professional first response agencies in order to ensure an effective response and to maintain NIMS compliance. ICS courses are also required for various levels within our CERT program. Much of NIMS/ICS training can be taken online, complete with a printable certificate upon completion of the course. Students will need to register for a FEMA SID number if they don’t have one already (it’s free). Links to the courses can be found below.
Amateur radio, or ham, can be a critical component of in-the-field disaster response operations. We encourage all EMCOMM personnel to become certified for field operations. For those interested in developing their emergency response skills further, C.A.A. EMCOMM CERT is a program that combines the field operations aspect of CERT and the communications aspect of EMCOMM. All EMCOMM personnel have the ability to become cross-trained as EMCOMM CERTs if they wish to do so.
The Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) has put together several web based training classes for EMCOMM related topics. Many of which are required for C.A.A. EMCOMM leadership and instructor roles.
Because EMCOMM has diverse personnel, they wear a range of uniforms. Rated personnel assigned to EMCOMM wear the same uniforms and have the same hygiene and appearance requirements as IMOS. Non-Rated EMCOM CERT personnel wear the same uniforms and have the same hygiene and appearance requirements as the CERT program. Non-Rated EMCOMM personnel that are just part of EMCOMM primarily wear Red T-shirts with regular street clothes as their uniform; but when in full uniform they wear tops in Coyote over their Red T-shirts, Coyote pants, and Coyote boots (Variant of Color Type 2). If EMCOMM Rated / Non-Rated personnel are assigned to an Emergency Response Force unit, they wear the same Navy Blue or Coyote responder uniforms as the other ERF personnel. Uniforms commonly worn by EMCOMM include:
EMCOMM Service Uniform Class B
EMCOMM Service Uniform Class C
Administrative Uniform with Red Polo and Tan Pants Class C
EMCOMM Service Uniform Class D (Standard uniform for most EMCOMM activities)
EMCOMM units consisting of Non-Rated personnel usually require Type 0 or greater hygiene and appearance requirements. Type 4 or greater hygiene and appearance requirements is typically required for EMCOMM Rated personnel.
