Interested in Emergency Communications?

Welcome to Gwinnett County ARES

Joining the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is completely free—there are no dues or membership fees. All that is required is a valid amateur radio license, an interest in public service, and a willingness to train and participate in emergency communications support.

While anyone can join as a general member, individuals must achieve Deployable Status to receive an official Gwinnett ARES Photo ID card. This credential is fully recognized by Gwinnett County Emergency Management and allows operators to be assigned to active field communications and tactical support positions during real-world events, severe weather activations, and emergencies.

Steps to Achieve Deployable Status

To transition from a general member to a fully credentialed, deployable field asset, you must complete the following training benchmarks:

1. Educational Requirements

  • FEMA Independent Study: Complete the four core online courses required for disaster volunteers under the National Incident Management System (NIMS):

    • IS-100: Introduction to the Incident Command System

    • IS-200: Basic ICS for Initial Response

    • IS-700: Introduction to NIMS

    • IS-800: National Response Framework

  • Emergency Communications Training: Successfully pass either the local Gwinnett ARES Basic Skills Course or the national ARRL Introduction to Emergency Communication (EC-001) course.

2. Active Participation

  • Initial Qualification: Regularly attend local ARES activities. To remain active, you must participate in at least one official activity every 90 days (such as monthly meetings, training nets, or public service events).

  • Maintaining Status: Once your deployable credentials are issued, you must participate in at least two field events per calendar year to maintain an active deployment status.

How to Get Started

  1. Submit an Application: Complete and submit the Online Application Form to register your information in the database. Alternatively, you can download, print, and mail a physical membership form or hand it to a leadership member at a monthly meeting.

  2. Take the Skills Test: After submitting your initial application, you can head directly to the training portal to complete the online Gwinnett ARES Basic Skills Online Test.

Regular Meetings & On-Air Nets

Staying involved is the best way to keep your skills sharp. All area amateurs are welcome and encouraged to join us:

  • Weekly Training Nets: Every Monday night at 8:15 p.m. local time on the Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society (GARS) 2-meter repeater: 147.075 MHz (+), PL tone 82.5. (The main voice net is immediately followed by a digital training session at 8:45 p.m.).

  • Monthly Meetings: Held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. local time at the Gwinnett Emergency Operations Center (EOC), located at 800 Hi Hope Road in Lawrenceville. Talk-in is available on the same GARS 147.075 MHz repeater for anyone needing directions or assistance.