FCC Technician Exam Question Of The Day (T2C05)

Q) What is the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service?

A) A radio service using amateur stations for emergency management or civil defense communications

NJ2X Notes:
RACES stands for "Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service," and is a protocol created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC Part 97, Section 407). 

Many government agencies across the country train their Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) volunteers using the RACES protocol.  Volunteers serve their respective jurisdictions according to guidelines and mandates established by local emergency management officials.

RACES volunteer operators are:

• Licensed Radio Amateurs
• Certified by a civil defense agency
• Able to communicate on Amateur Radio frequencies during drills, exercises and emergencies
• Activated by local, county and state jurisdictions and are the only Amateur Radio operators authorized to transmit during declared emergencies when the President of the United States specifically invokes the War Powers Act.

If you know a RACES volunteer operator, be sure to thank them for their service to our country.