Marion County ARES — 2025 Simulated Emergency Test Announcement
The ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is a nationwide exercise designed to strengthen emergency communications skills, assess station readiness, and build cooperation with served agencies. Although the national focal weekend is typically the first weekend of October, local groups may conduct their exercises anytime through the end of the calendar year.
Marion County ARES will conduct its SET on:
📅 Saturday, December 6th, 2025
📍 Emergency Operations Center (EOC) — Lawson Building, Jasper, TN
🕙 Report by 10:00 AM Central
🕥 Net officially begins at 10:30 AM
🕛 Exercise concludes by approximately 12:00 noon
🔹 Purpose of the SET
The SET is intended to:
1. Identify strengths and weaknesses in our ability to provide emergency communications utilizing go-kits/field expedient stations.
2. Demonstrate to served agencies and the public the value of Amateur Radio in times of need.
3. Exercise standard operating procedures, message handling, and tactical communications under simulated emergency conditions.
Participants will deploy to assigned locations and operate under a realistic emergency scenario. Activities will include tactical or logistical message traffic, liaison functions, and use of VHF/UHF/HF as appropriate. Test messages will be clearly identified as “TEST” traffic per ARRL guidance.
🔹 Who Can Participate
All amateur radio operators interested in emergency communication are welcome, including:
This exercise is an opportunity for both new and experienced operators to improve their readiness.
🔹 Meeting Location & Start
All operators should arrive at the EOC by 10:00 AM CST to receive assignments and deployment instructions.
The operational net begins at 10:30 AM and runs until 12:00 PM.
🔹 After-Action Review
A formal review discussion will take place during the January Marion County ARES meeting. Participants will share lessons learned, discuss equipment performance, identify shortcomings, and refine procedures based on the exercise results.
Also check out other Meetups in Jasper.
