Learn | Test | Grow

Education & Licensing

Practical Licensing Support & Mentoring

Volunteer instructors, curated study resources, and VE teams help Mid-South operators get on the air.

Meetings • 3rd Tuesday • 7:00 PM
Location • Fairhaven Volunteer Fire Station - Center Hill Rd.
Request a Mentor Upcoming Classes

Monthly VE testing | net-based practice | field demos before meetings

Education Ops
Monthly
VE Testing
3
FCC License Levels
100%
Volunteer Mentors
  • Mentor roster for brand-new operators
  • Study resources shared at every club meeting
  • Coordinated VE team with Laurel VEC credentials

Education Pillars

Structured Tracks for Every Goal

From first license questions to upgrade coaching, these volunteer-led pillars outline how we help members progress.

License Launchpad

New operator orientation built around meeting-night labs, repeater demos, and practical study plans.

  • Guided review of the Technician pool with print checklists
  • Thursday net practice on 146.910 / 442.800 pair
  • Paperwork help before each Laurel VE session
Training & Testing Exercises

Upgrade Studio

General and Extra upgrades rely on small breakouts, on-air exercises, and gear show-and-tell tied to current projects.

  • Hands-on filtering and NVIS demos during work days
  • Shared notes and problem sets from recent upgrades
  • Guest operators walking through HF station setups

Mentor & Youth Programs

One-on-one Elmers, classroom visits, and STEM demonstrations scheduled with partner schools and Scout units.

  • Mentor request queue reviewed at each board meeting
  • Portable displays and radios for school nights
  • Lesson outlines shared with teachers ahead of visits

How It Works

Learning Paths & Milestones

  • 01
    Orientation & Goal Setting

    We capture your target exam date, preferred study tools, and equipment questions, then share the welcome packet and mentor contact.

  • 02
    Self-Paced Study Plan

    Club-created checklists, ARRL/hamstudy links, and recordings of past meeting topics keep you moving between monthly checkpoints.

  • 03
    Hands-On Skills Labs

    Demo tables before meetings and pop-up field sessions cover coax prep, antenna basics, and real equipment handling.

  • 04
    Exam Readiness & VE Scheduling

    Mentors review practice scores, remind you to bring ID and FRN, and help submit Laurel paperwork plus the FCC CORES fee.

  • 05
    On-Air Follow Through

    New licensees get plugged into the Thursday net scripts, activities calendar, and specialty teams for their first operating goals.

What to Bring

  • Tablet or laptop for digital question pools
  • Notebook + colored pens for block diagrams
  • Copy of FCC FRN and government ID for testing
Need a scholarship? Email education@w5obm.com for book and exam-fee assistance.

Bootcamps & Workshops

Upcoming Cohorts

Technician Prep Nights

Next Session: Check Events Page

Thursdays 5:30 PM Fairhaven Fire Dept.

Mentors cover repeater etiquette, paperwork, and test-day tips before the monthly VE session held prior to the club meeting.

Browse calendar

Upgrade Clinics

Quarterly Deep Dives

Weekend work days Shack + Field Ops

General and Extra material is paired with real club projects such as Field Day filters, portable antennas, and HF station walk-throughs.

See upcoming topics

Mentor Office Hours

By Appointment

One-on-one Email to schedule

Have a question about study tools or your first station build? We will match you with a volunteer Elmer for calls, Zoom check-ins, or on-site help.

Request a mentor

Monthly VE Testing

third tuesday @ 6:00 PM · Fairhaven Fire Department (Station 5)

  • Bring a legal ID + FCC FRN
  • No exam fee (Laurel VEC)
  • Printed CSCE copy provided immediately
  • Instant upload to FCC

Address: 13701 Center Hill Rd · Olive Branch, MS 38654

Meet the VE Team Pre-register

Need Alternate Dates?

Remote & Pop-Up Exams

Our Laurel VEC team can host small-group pop-up sessions for schools, Scout troops, or families. Remote video sessions follow Laurel guidelines and require a quiet room with two devices.

Tip: Request two weeks notice so we can recruit proctors and prep paperwork.
Email education@w5obm.com

Resource Hub

Downloadables & Reference Links

Study Dashboards

Weekly assignments, printable checklists, and shared flashcard decks.

New Ham Toolkit
Operating Guides

Band plans, repeater etiquette, AUXCOMM quick reference, and Winlink templates.

Resource Library
Instructor Portal

Slide decks, attendance rosters, and lesson retrospectives for volunteer instructors.

Request Access

Ready to get on the air?

Use the form below if you need a mentor, testing reminder, or a classroom presentation.

Request a Mentor Join OBARC