COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

Communications Specialist Awareness
This is our introductory course in Communication Specialist; Awareness is a 10-hour class that provides students with the knowledge and skills to perform effective communication, the knowledge to manage radio transmissions during various disaster events. This class, which meets or exceeds the Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) requirements set forth by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), focuses on those who are professionals and operators involved in the communications field. This is a technique and alternative methods based program.

Specific topics include:

• History of Communication
• Command and Signal
• Effective Communications
• Log Booking
• Types of signaling
• Cables and Connectors
• Phones, Radio, Cable, & Power Sources
• Antennas, Weather
• Hazards and Safety concerns

Communications Specialist Operations
Operations level is a 20-hour course designed to teach equipment setup, care, proper operations and etiquette. For those who are professionals and operators involved in the communications field already, this is a technique and alternative methods based program. This class, which meets or exceeds the Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) requirements set forth by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), focuses on technique and alternative methods.

Specific topics include detailed study of the following:

• Effective Communications
• Phone System applications & troubleshooting
• Radio equipment, system management
• Power Supply Resources, generators, solar, battery
• Antenna construction, use and application
• Hazards and Safety concerns for advanced applications

Prerequisite: RTA Communication Specialist Awareness or equivalent.