Fort Ward Amateur Radio Club, Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES) is a special part of the amateur operation sponsored by the "Federal Emergency Management Agency" (FEMA). RACES was primarily created to provide emergency communications for civil defense preparedness agencies and is governed in FCC Rules and Regulations, Part 97, Subpart E, Section 97.407.

Fort Ward Amateur Radio Club, is utilized during a variety of emergency/disaster situations where normal governmental communications systems have sustained damage or when additional communications are required. Situations that Fort Ward Amateur Radio Club can be used include: natural disasters, technological disasters, terrorist incidents, civil disorder, and nuclear/chemical incidents or attack.

Fort Ward Amateur Radio Club, Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES) is an organization of dedicated licensed amateur radio volunteers who provide radio communications in support of state and local government agencies during times of an emergency/disaster. Fort Ward Amateur Radio Club provides essential communications and warning links to supplement state and local government assets during these emergencies/disasters. Fort Ward Amateur Radio Club Officers, and Emergency Operational Center Station Manager and other volunteers work within the EMD Telecommunications Section during exercises and emergencies.

Fort Ward Amateur Radio Club operate the amateur band radio systems in the station, but assist with other radios systems within the Emergency Operational Center and at mobile locations as needed.