An OES, you ask?

An Official Emergency Station (OES) is an amateur radio station that meets the criteria outlined by the ARRL and sets a high standard of emergency preparedness and operating.

Basically, this is a person that has made a commitment to be the best he or she can be when it comes to being prepared for an emergency.

An OES is appointed by the SEC or the Section Manager. For more details on the OES appointment, read the ARRL file on the subject, or contact your EC or DEC.

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Amateur operators may be appointed as an Official Emergency Station (OES) by their Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) or Section Manager (SM) at the recommendation of the EC, or DEC (if no EC) holding jurisdiction.

The OES appointee must be an ARRL member and set high standards of emergency preparedness and operating.
- The OES appointee makes a deeper commitment to the ARES program in terms of functionality than does the rank-and-file ARES registrant.

The OES appointee is appointed to carry out specific functions and assignments designated by the appropriate EC or DEC.

The OES appointee and the presiding EC or DEC, at the time of the OES appointment, will mutually develop a detailed, operational function/assignment and commitment for the new appointee.
- Together, they will develop a responsibility plan for the individual OES appointee that makes the best use of the individual's skills and abilities.

During drills and actual emergency situations, the OES appointee will be expected to implement his/her function with professionalism and minimal supervision.

Requirements:
Full ARRL membership; Experience as an ARES registrant; Regular participation in the local ARES organization including drills and test; Participation in emergency nets and actual emergency situations; Regular reporting of activities; Encouraged to earn certification in Level 1 of the ARRL Emergency Communications Course.

More information at:
www.arrl.org/official-emergency-station