Amateur operators may be appointed as an Official Emergency Station (OES) by the Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) or Section Manager (SM) at the recommendation of an EC, or DEC (if no EC) holding jurisdiction. The OES appointee must be an ARRL ARES^® member, set and maintain high standards of emergency preparedness and operating. The ARRL ARES OES appointee makes a deeper commitment to the ARES® program in terms of functionality than does the rank-and-file ARES registrant.

The requirements and qualifications for the position include the following:

• Full ARRL membership
• experience as an active ARES® registrant
• Regular participation in the local ARES® organization (including, but not limited to drills, tests, participation in emergency nets and actual emergency situations
• Regular reporting of activities to their designated EC or DEC

The ARRL ARES OES appointee is appointed to carry out specific functions and assignments designated by the appropriate EC or DEC. The OES appointee and the presiding EC or DEC, at the time of the OES appointment, will mutually develop a detailed, operational function/assignment and commitment for the new appointee. Together, they will develop a responsibility plan for the individual ARRL ARES OES appointee that utilizes the best use of the individual's skills and abilities. During drills and actual emergency situations, the ARRL ARES OES appointee will be expected to implement his / her function with professionalism and minimal supervision.

Virginia ARRL ARES OES functional assignment may include, but are not limited to, the following areas of responsibility:

OPERATIONS – Responsible for specific, pre-determined operational assignments during drills or actual emergency situations. Examples include:

• Net Control Station or Net Liaison for a specific ARES® net
• Manage operation of a specified ARES® VHF or HF digital BBS, WinLink 2000 or point-to-point link
• Operate station at a specified emergency management office, shelter or other served agency operations point

ADMINISTRATION – Responsible for specific, pre-determined administrative tasks as assigned in the initial appointment commitment by the presiding ARES® official. Examples include:

• Recruitment of ARES members
• Liaison with Public Information Officer to coordinate public information for the media
• Victim / refugee data base management
• Equipment inventory; training; reporting; and post-event analysis

LIAISON – Responsible for specific, pre-determined liaison responsibilities as assigned by the presiding EC or DEC. Examples include

• Maintaining contact with assigned served agencies
• Maintaining liaison with ARES® officials in adjacent jurisdictions
• Liaison with mutual assistance or "jump" teams

LOGISTICS --Responsible for specific, pre-determined logistical functions as assigned. Examples include

• Transportation
• Supplies management and procurement (food, fuel, water, etc.)
• Equipment maintenance and procurement--radios, computers, generators, batteries, antennas

MEDICAL EXAMINER – Responsible for meeting and complying with all requirements set forth by the Office of the Chief Medial Examiner, Virginia Department of Health with regard to confidentiality; Providing all OES responsibilities for the operation of specified ARES VHF / UHF or HF Digital Net message traffic, or point-to-point message traffic within specific Offices of the Chief Medical Examiner.

OES appointees may be assigned to pre-disaster, post-disaster, and recovery functions. These functions must be specified in the OES's appointment commitment plan.

The OES appointee is expected to participate in planning meetings, and post-event evaluations. Following each drill or actual event, the EC/DEC and the OES appointee should review and update the OES assignment as required. The OES appointee must keep a detailed log of events during drills and actual events in his/her sphere of responsibility to facilitate this review.

Continuation of the appointment is at the discretion of the appointing official, based upon the OES appointee's fulfillment of the tasks he/she has agreed to perform.

Official Emergency Stations are encouraged at a minimum to earn certification in Level 1 of the ARRL Emergency Communications Course.

Recruitment of new hams and League members is an integral part of the job of every League appointee. Appointees should take advantage of every opportunity to recruit a new ham or member to foster growth of Field Organization programs, and our abilities to serve the public.