In the context of emergency communications using radio, training and practice are two distinct but closely related concepts. Both are crucial for ensuring effective and efficient communication during emergencies. One thing is true, without both training and practice you will probably only be in the way when things get rough in a disaster be it natural or man-made. Today let’s talk about the differences between training and practice. Many people confuse the terms and although they sound alike they are not the same.

Training and practice are like knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge tells us about a thing. Wisdom instructs us how to apply what knowledge teaches us. Training teaches a person about a subject, career, or trade. Practice puts that training to work and teaches a person the how of using their training. It is one thing to say, “I am an amateur radio operator”. It is another thing to be a trained Emcomm (emergency communications) operator ready to take on any communication task that comes your way.

Training

I just finished taking four courses to become a better radio operator. It was training that I had never taken, and I am glad now that I did. If you want to get good at what you do then you train. If you want to be better at what you do then you train. However, if you want to maintain and learn how to apply what you trained for then you practice! Some get into amateur radio for one reason. They purchase an HT and a hotspot and that is about the extent of their ham radio. Don’t take that wrong. That is the beauty of amateur radio. It can be whatever you want it to be. Besides, I have four hotspots of my own and I enjoy chatting with people all over the world using the different modes. However, what they do not think about is if and/or when it hits the fan then they might as well go to the safe room and wait it out. They will be of little to no use during a real-world event (RWE).

I have pretty much said this in my opening remarks but let me say it another way. Training refers to the process of imparting knowledge and skills to individuals or teams. In radio, it involves learning about the principles of emergency communication, understanding equipment operation, and acquiring the necessary skills to handle various communication scenarios.

The primary goal in training, as far as Emcomm (emergency communications) is to build a foundational understanding of emergency communication protocols, procedures, and the use of your radio equipment. It aims to prepare you to handle communication tasks effectively and confidently during emergencies.  A good training program will cover topics such as radio etiquette, frequency usage, emergency codes, equipment operation, communication protocols, troubleshooting techniques, and how to fix things in the field when things go wrong, and they will go wrong at some point.

Training can be delivered through classroom sessions, online courses, workshops, simulations, and practical exercises. With the world of YouTube, there is nothing you can’t learn about, especially ham radio if you will take the time to train. 

When I talk about training let me be specific about what this means. Remember that training teaches us about something. The specific training may vary based on the organization, role, and the nature of the emergencies they are likely to encounter. Here are some key components typically covered in Emcomm training:

Radio Operation and Technology

Emergency Management Principles

Disaster Preparedness and Response

Net Control Operations (A good NCS station is critical to effective comms)

Interoperability (Ability to interact with other groups during an RWE)

Incident Reporting (constructing messages, format, what to include without writing a book)

Community Engagement (Channel 3 project)

Digital Communication Technologies (Learning the use of) 

I cannot emphasize enough how important training is because without it the next part of this blog will be useless.

Practice

Let’s talk about practice for a few minutes.
Practice involves applying the knowledge and skills acquired during training in simulated or real-world scenarios. It is hands-on experience that helps individuals or teams become proficient in using radio equipment and executing communication procedures.

The primary goal of practice is to reinforce and enhance the skills learned during training. It allows individuals to gain practical experience, identify areas for improvement, and develop muscle memory for quick and effective responses during emergencies. It is said constantly that “under pressure, you don’t rise to the occasion, you fall to your level of training”. You are not likely to suddenly acquire new skills or rise above your baseline capabilities. Instead, you will revert to what you know well and have practiced. I have on a number of occasions in different emergency deployments found myself in situations where things went south and the unexpected happened. Had our group not had training and practice then things would have ended differently…and not for the better.

 

Practice is where you work out the kinks and learn the how-to and what to do under different circumstances. It teaches you to operate under stress and pressure. From experience, I could tell you that if I learned one thing it was this…a disaster situation is pure chaos. You need nerves of steel and the ability to take charge of a situation…and fast.

“Under pressure, you don’t rise to the occasion, you fall to your level of training”

So what are some practice methods?

Practice can include simulated emergency drills, tabletop exercises, field exercises, and live scenario-based training. It involves role-playing different emergencies to simulate the conditions that might be encountered in real emergencies. One group that I am a member of, AmRRON (American Redoubt Radio Operators Network) a national group, holds yearly exercises to test the limits of its abilities, and our local group SEEN (SouthEast Emergency Network) an AmRRON affiliate, participates in these exercises. Check out last year’s exercise here. This is hard-core down and dirty practice. Some go mobile into remote locations, while others stay at home and shut down all commercial power and operate off of batteries and candlelight. It is not for the faint at heart but what we learn each year is invaluable.   

These practice sessions always include feedback and evaluation. These exercises are not to cause failure or point out any participant. Rather they allow operators to learn from their experiences, correct mistakes, and refine their communication techniques.

In summary, training provides the knowledge and skills necessary for emergency communication, while practice involves applying that knowledge in realistic scenarios to reinforce learning and improve performance. Both elements are essential components of a comprehensive emergency communication preparedness program, ensuring that individuals and teams are well-equipped to respond effectively in times of crisis.

So what happens if you train but never practice?
From experience, I can tell you that the absence of regular practice can and most certainly will lead to several dangers in emergency communications using radio.

Without regular practice, you will struggle to retain the skills learned during training. The skills related to radio communication, equipment operation, and emergency procedures require reinforcement through hands-on experience to stay sharp. Again, the chaos that most likely will incur in an RWE I can’t stress to you enough. This is why it is important to also practice when you are not under pressure. If you want to do better under pressure, you need to practice when pressure is low. If you want to implement something new from your training into your practice, you need to take your time to train with something without pressure.

A bit of advice here. We need to make deliberate time and prioritize training and practice. If we don’t then we will never become a qualified Emcomm radio operator. That is a fact that we cannot get around. You will not magically become a cool under pressure, efficient, qualified, and confident radio operator if you do not prioritize your training and your practice. Confidence in using radio equipment and following established communication protocols comes from repeated realistic exercise scenarios.

Many years ago as a young Navy-Marine Corps Mars radio operator I was asked to take the position of NECOS and run the 2A2B net pronounced Two Alpha Two Bravo, on Saturday mornings. I hesitated but after thinking it over, I decided I should at least try. For me, it was something I wasn’t comfortable with but quickly learned to love it. It had great responsibility and in those days you had to be able to operate not only in voice but in a number of the new digital modes that were coming on scene. I had a lot of encouragement from a couple of old warriors. NNN0JRT and NNN0EZC (silent keys). They were awesome to the new kid on the block. These men were patient and always quick to help. They had one goal in mind and that was to help me become qualified for when it hit the fan. I reflect now on how their mentoring paid off during disasters and other scenarios in Haiti, Hawaii, Florida, and other places. Frankly, had it not been for these men I would have folded when the chaos started. The training taught me the skills I needed…practice perfected those skills to perform correctly when needed. Most have no idea of the chaos that comes with an RWE.

Finishing Up

In the realm of emergency communications, I can’t place enough significance on training and practice because individuals who want to be involved in Emcomm must be well-prepared for high-pressure situations.

It is said that training serves as the bedrock, imparting crucial knowledge and skills, while practice ensures the practical application of that training. Without ongoing practice, individuals risk forgetting their skills, losing confidence, and encountering inefficiencies during real emergencies. The dangers of not training at all or having a radio without practice become apparent when individuals are unprepared to handle dynamic and stressful situations, potentially leading to communication breakdowns and ineffective response efforts. Conversely, success in emergency operations is intricately tied to the level of preparation achieved through training, where individuals rise to the occasion by relying on their skills. I can promise you that if I am ever involved in another search and rescue mission, a disaster event, or a major grid down, I want a well-trained radio operator, one that stays calm under pressure, and effectively coordinates team efforts, to prevent a crisis from escalating during challenging conditions.

Visit these great sites for more information relating to Emcomm ops.
The SouthEast Emergency Network
The American Redoubt Radio Operators Network

73

Billy/N4WXI


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