I was thinking that was the process,, but it means you need a "team" with a structured rules for times available, locations, and traffic patterns.. Something most people will not have knowledge of.
I think I would rather up the game, get the education for a Technician Class License, with privileges above 30 MHz, then use 2 meter handhelds and a base with a good tower antenna..
If you go for a General or Extra class License you get access to just about every freq you can buy gear for.
http://www.arrl.org/getting-your-technician-license
http://www.arrl.org/upgrading-to-a-general-license
http://www.arrl.org/upgrading-to-an-extra-license
When I was a kid, my dad had Extra class and would QSO QSP the world. He could Key at 30+. Learned it in the navy WWII.
I remember sometime in the early 70't when there was an earth quake in Peru, he, and friends, acted as relays for families in the US trying to contact "home".
I sat for the General test at 12, pass the technical, but could not Key worth a shit. Back then 95% of the traffic was Key driven.