diff --git a/src/Service/JobOrderHandler/ResqJobOrderHandler.php b/src/Service/JobOrderHandler/ResqJobOrderHandler.php
index 5f88b057..b1343f78 100644
--- a/src/Service/JobOrderHandler/ResqJobOrderHandler.php
+++ b/src/Service/JobOrderHandler/ResqJobOrderHandler.php
@@ -450,6 +450,10 @@ class ResqJobOrderHandler implements JobOrderHandlerInterface
         $ownertype_id = $req->request->get('ownership_type', 0);
         $owner_type = $em->getRepository(OwnershipType::class)->find($ownertype_id);
 
+        // source of awareness is now required
+        if (empty($soa_type))
+            $error_array['source_of_awareness'] = 'Source of awareness is required.';
+
         // TODO: check status before saving since JO might already
         // have a status that needs to be retained
 
@@ -710,6 +714,10 @@ class ResqJobOrderHandler implements JobOrderHandlerInterface
         $ownertype_id = $req->request->get('ownership_type', 0);
         $owner_type = $em->getRepository(OwnershipType::class)->find($ownertype_id);
 
+        // source of awareness is now required
+        if (empty($soa_type))
+            $error_array['source_of_awareness'] = 'Source of awareness is required.';
+
         if (empty($error_array)) 
         {
             // get current user
@@ -916,6 +924,10 @@ class ResqJobOrderHandler implements JobOrderHandlerInterface
         $ownertype_id = $req->request->get('ownership_type', 0);
         $owner_type = $em->getRepository(OwnershipType::class)->find($ownertype_id);
 
+        // source of awareness is now required
+        if (empty($soa_type))
+            $error_array['source_of_awareness'] = 'Source of awareness is required.';
+
         if (empty($error_array))
         {
             // coordinates
@@ -1065,6 +1077,10 @@ class ResqJobOrderHandler implements JobOrderHandlerInterface
         $ownertype_id = $req->request->get('ownership_type', 0);
         $owner_type = $em->getRepository(OwnershipType::class)->find($ownertype_id);
 
+        // source of awareness is now required
+        if (empty($soa_type))
+            $error_array['source_of_awareness'] = 'Source of awareness is required.';
+
         // get current user
         $user = $this->security->getUser();
 
@@ -1205,6 +1221,10 @@ class ResqJobOrderHandler implements JobOrderHandlerInterface
         $ownertype_id = $req->request->get('ownership_type', 0);
         $owner_type = $em->getRepository(OwnershipType::class)->find($ownertype_id);
 
+        // source of awareness is now required
+        if (empty($soa_type))
+            $error_array['source_of_awareness'] = 'Source of awareness is required.';
+
         if (empty($error_array)) {
             // coordinates
             $point = new Point($req->request->get('coord_lng'), $req->request->get('coord_lat'));
@@ -1459,6 +1479,10 @@ class ResqJobOrderHandler implements JobOrderHandlerInterface
         $ownertype_id = $req->request->get('ownership_type', 0);
         $owner_type = $em->getRepository(OwnershipType::class)->find($ownertype_id);
 
+        // source of awareness is now required
+        if (empty($soa_type))
+            $error_array['source_of_awareness'] = 'Source of awareness is required.';
+
         // get previously assigned hub, if any
         $old_hub = $obj->getHub();
 
@@ -1739,6 +1763,10 @@ class ResqJobOrderHandler implements JobOrderHandlerInterface
         $ownertype_id = $req->request->get('ownership_type', 0);
         $owner_type = $em->getRepository(OwnershipType::class)->find($ownertype_id);
 
+        // source of awareness is now required
+        if (empty($soa_type))
+            $error_array['source_of_awareness'] = 'Source of awareness is required.';
+
         if (empty($error_array)) {
             // rider mqtt event
             // NOTE: need to send this before saving because rider will be cleared
diff --git a/templates/job-order/form.html.twig b/templates/job-order/form.html.twig
index e57f8114..54ee4df1 100644
--- a/templates/job-order/form.html.twig
+++ b/templates/job-order/form.html.twig
@@ -510,7 +510,6 @@
                                     <div class="col-lg-6">
                                         <label data-field="status">Source of Awareness</label>
                                             <select class="form-control m-input" id="source-of-awareness" name="source_of_awareness">
-                                                <option value=""></option>
                                                 {% for key, soa in soa_types %}
                                                     <option value="{{ key }}"{{ key == obj.getSourceOfAwareness ? ' selected' }}>{{ soa }}</option>
                                                 {% endfor %}