GFAARC is a sponsor of Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) and Auxiliary Communications (Aux Comm) in North Central Montana. ARES and Aux Comm are, as implied by their names, designed to help provide a trained pool of communicators to governmental agencies during times of need. Around the United States ARES and Aux Comm groups provide communications during the aftermath of earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, floods, and other disasters.

ARES Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)

ARES Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is a corps of trained amateur radio operator volunteers organized to assist in public service and emergency communications. Communication failures have been a defining part of natural disasters and even some human-generated events. Amateur radio provides a means of communication “when all else fails”. ARES groups are volunteer amateur radio operators who come together for the common purpose of providing emergency and/or auxiliary communications service to public safety and public service organizations to include SKYWARN. Most individual ARES units are autonomous and operate locally. ARES groups are generally organized by city or county and are made up of volunteers from the local area. The only requirements to join ARES are a willingness to serve and a valid amateur radio license.[6]

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_Radio_Emergency_Service

Auxiliary Communications (AUXCOMM)

Auxiliary Communications (AUXCOMM) is an all-inclusive term used to describe the many organizations and personnel that provide various types of communications support to emergency management, public safety, and other government agencies. This includes, but is not limited to amateur radio, military radio, citizens band radio (CB), etc. For more information please see https://www.cisa.gov/safecom/comu-training-resources