Amateur Radio Communications Team

The Amateur Radio Communications Team (ARCT) is a proposed system for classifying the capabilities of teams of volunteer amateur radio operators, in preparation for or in actual service in support of public service agencies (fire, police, other essential services) and non-governmental disaster relief organizations (also known as National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) in times of disaster or other emergency.

The Incident Command System of the National Incident Management System developed in the United States is mandated by disaster operations of state or local government receiving federal funding. ICS organizes, or 'types' resources by size and/or capability. The ARCT system was created by volunteer emergency service amateur radio operators to extend classification similar to those used by ICS to the amateur radio community, and takes into account how amateur radio operators and equipment are most often used to serve in disasters.

The foundation is the ARCT Type Four unit, a federally licensed amateur radio operator with a Technician or higher class of license and a vehicle with a vehicle-mounted AKA 'mobile', or a handheld transceiver, almost always on VHF or UHF frequencies.

The next step, a Type Three unit, has two licensed operators, with one or two vehicles. High frequency, shortwave and longwave capabilities are desirable, and may be gained by selection of one or both of the operators with a license higher than Technician.

A Type Two unit is a field or base...
Read More