There are clubs that specialize in every aspect of the amateur radio world. Some are great at contesting. Others have strong electronics/maker focus. Still others pride themselves on their EmComm capabilities. At VWS, we’re a “big tent” club. We have people who do all of these things and more, and we want to support hams who share what they know with those who want to learn and grow.
So we’re not specifically an “EmComm club.” And that’s OK! We don’t have to put on a lot of our own EmComm activities to support hams wanting to be part of EmComm. And we’re lucky to be in an area where there are many EmComm and adjacent opportunities already going on. So the best thing we can do is help connect our members to the opportunities that exist for them and that want their help.
To that end, the VWS EmComm group seeks to work with local and regional EmComm efforts, not to replace them, but to help them grow to everyone’s benefit. VWS members can find ways to help their communities in emergencies. Served agencies and Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) groups can benefit from a source of skilled and motivated operators. Everybody wins.
ARES
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) has long been one of the foundational programs of ARRL. Hams in ARES train on effective operations in emergencies, establish working relationships with local emergency management organizations, and act to keep lines of communication open when traditional methods fail.
In Fairfax County, ARES is reactivating after a period of inactivity. Working with the county Department of Emergency Management and Security (DEMS), the ARES group is currently re-establishing procedures and participating in communications exercises. If you are the type of person who likes to be in at the beginning of something, this would be a great time to join ARES. https://aresfairfax.org/
CERT
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program trains members of the community to respond to emergencies in their neighborhoods, doing the most good for the most people in times when first responders may not be immediately available. CERT members train in the fundamentals of first aid, search and rescue, emergency management, and so on.
In Fairfax County, CERT operates through the county Fire and Rescue Department (FRD). A basic training course is offered throughout the year; completing it opens the door to further opportunities. One of these is the CERT Radio Team, which operates amateur radio and GMRS in support of CERT activities. A CERT radio station is situated near Government Center, with voice and digital capabilities; the radio team also operates from CERT vehicles and issues handhelds to CERT volunteers on duty. https://fairfaxcountycert.org/
Marine Corps Marathon
The Marine Corps Marathon is one of the nation’s largest, and a signature event on the region’s athletic calendar. Each October, the MCM attracts thousands of runners and spectators to a course that begins and ends in Arlington, traversing Rock Creek Park, the Mall, and Crystal City along the way.
Pictured: NT1S operating from Mile Marker 20 in 2025.
An amateur radio operator cohort has supported the MCM each year for decades. Hams are assigned to mile markers, water and food points, and race officials to provide a crucial path for race information, medical dispatch, and other communication. The radio operation for the race follows EmComm principles, and serves as a great opportunity to practice skills that would be useful in an emergency. https://www.mcmaro.com/
National Traffic System
Hams have long had an organized system for passing messages on behalf of the public over the airwaves. It is known today as the National Traffic System (NTS). As communication practices have evolved, so has the NTS, which now aligns itself closely with the Incident Command System (ICS) standard used by emergency management. Thus, while electronic mail has taken over a lot of the message traffic that used to go via NTS, it’s still a good way to practice structured communication procedures that will be used in EmComm.
NTS is operated through radio nets in various areas at various levels, which interchange messages with each other to pass them across the miles between sender and recipient. The local traffic net for our area is the Northern Virginia Traffic Net (NVTN), which meets nightly at 7:30 PM local time on the powerful N3JLT Bluemont repeater (147.300 MHz, positive offset), covering hundreds of square miles including Fairfax County. https://nvtn.net/
SKYWARN
SKYWARN is sponsored by the National Weather Service (NWS) and consists of trained weather enthusiasts who serve as “eyes and ears” spotters for the NWS in their communities. In times of severe weather, SKYWARN spotters communicate conditions and hazards to the meteorologists, who use them to refine forecasts and issue appropriate advisories and warnings to the public.
While most SKYWARN communication now happens via internet, amateur radio is also used as a communication channel, since commercial power is often one of the first casualties of a major weather event, and that disrupts the channels usually used for reporting. During declared warning events, a SKYWARN net takes place on the N3JLT repeater (see National Traffic System above), with net control in direct contact with the NWS office at Sterling, relaying reports provided by spotters. When there is no warning, a weekly informational net is held on Tuesdays. https://www.weather.gov/lwx/skywarn , https://www.wx4lwx.org/
Get In Touch
If you need more information on any of these opportunities, have suggestions for more ways VWS members can serve and help EmComm, are a potential partner agency or program, or just want to talk about what’s happening in the EmComm world, you can reach the VWS EmComm group via email at emcomm@viennawireless.net.