Bid: $RACESBUL.321

RB321 Who Makes the Decision

TO:    ALL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES VIA AMATEUR RADIO
INFO:  ALL COMMUNICATIONS VOLUNTEERS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE
INFO:  ALL AMATEURS U.S  (@USA: INFORMATION), CAP, MARS FROM:    CA GOVERNORS OF
       (W6SIG@WA6NWE.CA)            Ph: 916-262-1600        2800 Meadowview Rd.,
       Landline BBS  Open to All: 916-262-1657
RACESBUL.321            RELEASE DATE: April 11, 1994

OPS - Training - who makes the decision

      The following was from a concerned FCC Amateur licensee:
"Who makes the decision to mobilize? Does RACES wait for a
request from the emergency management agency, or do you or
another RACES officer decide? The reason I ask is that hams tend
(in my opinion) to be arguable and over-react in an
emergency-type situation. Please don't take this personally. You
may be perfectly calm and level-headed, but I have seen all too
many minor incidents escalated to "emergencies" by over-eager
hams on the repeaters. I would insist upon interposing my own
judgment as to the need for my services."

     Comments. That observation is accurate as to over-eager
response. It is a fact of life, just as to those who
complain of the "ponderous movement" of government, although that
has its purpose. Non-RACES units have been known to
"self-activate" sometimes with beneficial results, and at other
times with devastating consequences.

     As to interposing one's own judgment; that is valid and is
understood by most people. Still, since it is a personal decision
and mind-set, there are those who are prepared to respond when
officially called without regard to personal sacrifice; examples
being Search and Rescue or Drowning Accident Recovery Teams. As
dedicated unpaid professionals they serve when and where needed.
Even so, they do NOT self activate or respond to an "over the
air" request unless assigned and trained as  a strike team which
is purposely structured to respond in that manner.

Any government communications reserve, such as an Auxiliary
Communications Service, RACES, or other designation, is activated
by official authority, which can be accomplished in ways so as
not to lose valuable response time. Ideally, it is at least
partially activated whenever the agency prepares for a potential
emergency or responds to an ensuing emergency. Whatever that
procedure, it must be followed, just as with any other public
safety response. In California and other states where a specified
government response program exists, self activation can lead to
serious consequences, ranging from interference and delay to loss
of confidence in the very people that self-responded. Even so,
there are those who argue for "self activation"; but in my
experience it is usually from their own ego-need basis, not that
of the local situation.

s/s Cary Mangum, LLB., J.D., W6WWW, State Chief Radio Officer.
EOM