Vicksburg Amateur Radio Club to participate in National Field Day Emergency exercise

VICKSBURG, MISS. (VDN) — The Vicksburg Amateur Radio Club will take part in the annual Amateur Radio Field Day emergency communications exercise on Saturday and Sunday, June 28-29, 2025. The event will be held at the Vicksburg Municipal Airport.

Field Day is the largest annual on-the-air event in North America. Sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the exercise is designed to test the readiness and capabilities of amateur radio operators to establish emergency communications under field conditions.

Members of the Vicksburg Amateur Radio Club will begin setting up antennas, radios, and support systems at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. The actual operating period begins at 1 p.m. Saturday and continues for 24 hours.

The public is invited to visit the site to learn more about amateur radio and its role in emergency
response, public service, and technical education.

The Vicksburg Amateur Radio Club actively supports numerous community events throughout the year, including the Run Thru History, Over the River Run, and several other local foot races, by providing reliable radio communications for safety and coordination.

The Club is also proud to be the oldest National Weather Service-certified Skywarn storm spotter group in Mississippi, with over 48 years of continuous service. Members receive annual training from the National Weather Service and are a critical link in relaying real-time severe weather information to authorities and the public.

“Field Day gives us a chance to demonstrate that we can communicate under almost any condition-even when the power goes out or cell towers go down,” said Bill Ford, W5WAF, Club Vice President. “It’s a great opportunity to show the public how ham radio can serve our community.”

Visitors will have a chance to observe radio operations firsthand and may even make a contact themselves under the supervision of a licensed amateur radio operator.

For more information, visit the Vicksburg Amateur Radio Club on Facebook or contact Bill Ford at
(601) 415-0265.