There’s a busy weekend (May 8 + 9, 2021) coming up for US amateur radio operators.

In addition to the DOD crossband (see previous post) tests on both Saturday and Sunday, there will be a nationwide American Red Cross (ARC) communications exercise on Saturday afternoon.

Titled “Operation Unify”, the emcom scenario focuses on response to a series of solar anomalies that are disastrous to the North American power grid and electronic communications.

Here are the ARC stated objectives for the exercise:

• Amateur radio stations, in an imaginary disaster scenario where the conventional communications infrastructure is unavailable, will compose and send forms/email using Winlink email over radio to Red Cross divisional clearinghouses
• For achieving accuracy and timeliness, digital modes are emphasized
• Engage Red Cross partner organizations in helping to achieve successful communications for the
Red Cross mission
• Engage Red Cross officials by allowing them to see and participate in the Winlink messaging
process
• Encourage partner organizations to participate in their own operations during the exercise
• Increase Red Cross awareness of the amateur Radio capability to assist in their mission
• Prepare and train amateur radio operators to effectively use the Winlink system
• Determine weaknesses that future training can address

While a daylong exercise, the morning is devoted to ARC internal comms with the afternoon exercise including the entire amateur community.

The PDF “Operation Unify” is attached below. Please read the entire scenario before participating.