The ARRL's Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is in
the process of a major revamping to more closely align its structure, training
and operation to be more compatible with the Incident Command System (ICS) and
National Incident Management System (NIMS). Virtually all public safety
agencies in the U.S.
use ICS and NIMS in their operations.
Among the changes being implemented, according to the ARRL Letter, will be additional
mandatory training, both from the ARRL and the Federal Emergency Management
Agency; as well as a new online volunteer management, communication and
reporting system that is currently being tested in ARRL sections with large
ARES organizations.
