Exercises

The SHARES HF Interoperability Working Group is tasked to conduct periodic national exercises to maintain and assess SHARES capability. The focus of the exercises is to provide training on SHARES radio operating and message formatting procedures, to expand awareness of SHARES throughout the Federal emergency planning and response community, and to assess SHARES capability to support specific emergency situations based upon existing vulnerabilities and threats to national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP).

Three exercises are conducted annually. The exercises dates usually fall in April, August, and December. A SHARES Exercise Notice is sent electronically to SHARES stations at least two weeks in advance of each exercise giving the time, date, and specifics on the exercise. The Notice is also listed on the SHARES homepage and posted on the SHARES BBS. The exercises are conducted over a extended period of time to provide all stations an opportunity to participate, and are open to all SHARES stations. Minimum requirements for participants include providing and transmitting a Station Availability Report to one of the SHARES Coordination Stations, and composing and transmitting at least one SHARES message. While these are the minimum requirements, participating stations are encouraged to originate and transmit additional SHARES exercise messages to other SHARES stations listed in the SHARES Directory during the exercise period. Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) operations and message transmission by digital mode is also encouraged between stations during exercises, as is the use of emergency power while operating. Following each exercise, confirmation of participation is sent to participating stations.

In addition to the regularly scheduled exercises and agency support exercises, stations have the opportunity to test their equipment and check connectivity with other stations during The Weekly SHARES Net ,

SHARES 2004 Exercises are planned for April, August and December and a SHARES Exercise Notice will be distributed, 2 weeks prior to the exercise, electronically to all SHARES participants having a valid email address in the SHARES Data Base, posted on this web site and on the SHARES BBS.

Reviewed March 10, 2007

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