so i finally got activated for a real ARES callout last weekend, been a member of the local group for about 8 months but this was my first actual deployment and not just a drill. county EOC needed amateur radio support because a pretty bad storm had knocked out some of the usual comms infrastructure in the area and they wanted backup nets running.

honestly i wasnt sure what to expect going in. our training exercises always felt kind of... organized? like everyone knew where to stand and what frequency to be on. the real thing was a bit more chaotic at first, EC was juggling like three different things at once and it took maybe 20 minutes before i even had a clear assignment. i ended up doing welfare traffic relay between two shelter sites which wasnt glamorous but it needed doing.

the thing that surprised me most was how much of it was just sitting around waiting and then suddenly a burst of activity. i went through almost a full notepad writing down traffic. net control was running things pretty tightly once things settled down, but that first hour was definitely an eye opener compared to the SET exercises we do.

anyone else remember their first real activation being kind of overwhelming at first? curious if thats normal or if i just wasnt prepared enough

yeah that first one is always a bit of a shock no matter how many drills you've done. the drills are great but they cant really simulate the fact that real EOC staff are stressed and not necessarily focused on making sure you know what to do. ive been doing ARES stuff for probably 12 years now and i still see that pattern every time - first hour is always a little rough until the EC gets situated and the served agencies figure out how to use us.

the welfare traffic relay work is actually really important even if it doesnt feel exciting. thats exactly the kind of thing where amateur radio fills a gap that nothing else does as well during infrastructure outages. sounds like you handled it well honestly, filling a notepad with traffic is no small thing. did your group do an after action review? those are worth their weight in gold if your EC runs them properly

this is making me think about whether i should finally join up with my local ARES group. ive been licensed for two years and keep meaning to do it but havent got around to it. is there like a specific level of experience or equipment you need before you go to the first meeting or do they take complete beginners