Official documents and updates from DES will be appended to this page as downloadable attachments as they are released during the implementation of the system. Please read them, and act as they direct. You must be logged in to view and download the attachments.

This information was originally published to the membership in October, 2008

Chester County Department of Emergency Services is in the process of a new credentialing initiative and will soon be issuing new photo identification cards.

Chester County is launching the project for all emergency responders as yet another step in complying with the National Incident Management Systems (NIMS). Credentialing is designed to verify the identity of those responding to emergencies and to document minimum training qualifications. It is intended to be used as a photo ID card, but has significant application in large emergencies and disasters.

The program will serve several important purposes, including:

• Providing a comprehensive database of the emergency responders in Chester County, including their training qualifications
• Improving the on-scene ability to verify identity and qualifications
• Providing J-Net access to the law enforcement community in the field (mobile)

Each CCAR member will receive an identification card with their picture and a data chip containing information about the person and their training. The data chip will allow individuals to belong to multiple agencies and only need to carry one card. For example, a person who is a CCAR responder and also a firefighter will be associated with both agencies but carry only one card.

Chester County has asked me to designate for CCAR:

• an Agency Administrator: This is the head of the agency, or a designee, who determines who shall receive a credential.
• an Identity Administrator: This person is responsible to verify the identity of the person receiving the credential. DES will serve as the Identity Administrator of all agencies, including CCAR, during the initial roll-out of the program. It may be designated differently later.
• a Training Administrator: This person is responsible for verifying the training qualifications of the person receiving a credential.

The Identity Administrator and the Training Administrator cannot be the same person. The Agency Administrator can also serve as the Identity Administrator OR the Training Administrator. For CCAR, I am going to elect that the EC fill the role of both the Agency and Training Administrators and that DES continue to serve as our Identity Administrator.

Now, what does this mean?

CCAR must now formally become a two-tiered organization comprised of two classes: credentialed "responders" and "associates" or members in training. The minimum training requirements were determined by the consensus of a CCAR committee in November 2006, as shown below. They conform to NIMS requirements. Back then we divided the field into four levels, but today "responders" will be those with the training levels of "Field Operator" and above. "Public Service Operators" will be "associates". Members-in-training will carry this designation on their card. It will be removed when minimum responder certifications have been obtained and verified.

Public Service Operator (Associate or Member-in-training)

• Not NIMS / ICS certified for incident deployment
• May participate in public service events, monitoring, training events, non-measured exercises, etc.

Field Operator (Responder)

• Deployable. Message handling (voice, digital, HSMM)
• First Aid, ARRL Level 1, IS-700, ICS-100

Lead Operator (Responder)

• Deployable. Field team leader, Net Control, Liaison Operator
• First Aid, ARRL Level 1, IS-700, ICS-100, ICS-200

Leadership Staff (Responder)

• Deployable. Resource planning, Dispatch, etc
• First Aid, ARRL Level 1, IS-700, ICS-100, ICS-200, ICS-800
• FY2007/8: ICS-300, ICS-400

NOTE: First-Aid was removed from the minimum requirements list in 2008.

Immediately, please send the information and document copies listed below to:
Lor Kutchins, W3QA
Emergency Coordinator
Chester County ARES/RACES
c/o Chester County Department of Emergency Services
601 Westtown Road, Suite 012
West Chester, PA 19380-0990

• Send your Date of Birth
• A COPY of your FCC amateur radio license
• Copies of your ARRL ARECC course certificates
• Copies of your FEMA or PEMA IS- or ICS- certificates OR order a complete transcript of courses you have passed sent from the FEMA Emergency Management Institute (training.fema.gov)
• A copy of your current First Aid certification
• Copies of any other certifications or licenses (Skywarn, MARS, CERT, etc.)

73,

Lor Kutchins, W3QA
Emergency Coordinator
Chester County ARES/RACES
Chester County Department of Emergency Services

October 2009 -- Chester County has begun to process CCAR volunteers for the new credentials. Download and follow the instructions on all of the following attached documents. You must be logged in first to view and download them.