The Auxiliary Communications (AUXCOMM) course has trained over 2,500 amateur radio operators around the country regarding what can be expected of them in a NIMS/ICS environment. The need for this course started in 2009, when the Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (the Authority Having Jurisdiction over Communications Unit personnel) indicated a need of additional training amateur radio operators should have to support Public Safety entities during an emergency. This course was designed and created by amateur radio operators who were selected by their respective state representatives. In addition to information on AUXCOMM, the DHS team will give an update on the new AUXCOMM Position Task Book and the new AUXC 509 which will eventually be the official Position Description of AUXCOMM personnel within the proposed Communications Branch. The briefing will include personnel who have firsthand knowledge of how AUXCOMM was used in actual disaster. Attendees will also be part of this interactive discussion as DHS looks to the future for AUXCOMM 2.0.
