diff --git a/src/Controller/TicketController.php b/src/Controller/TicketController.php
index 00dd82be..ce4f5488 100644
--- a/src/Controller/TicketController.php
+++ b/src/Controller/TicketController.php
@@ -208,6 +208,9 @@ class TicketController extends Controller
 
         $em = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager();
 
+        // initialize error list
+        $error_array = [];
+
         // get customer data
         if ($customer_id) {
             $customer = $em->getRepository(Customer::class)->find($customer_id);
@@ -254,6 +257,10 @@ class TicketController extends Controller
         // get source of awareness if any
         $soa_type = $req->request->get('source_of_awareness');
 
+        // source of awareness is now required
+        if (empty($soa_type))
+            $error_array['source_of_awareness'] = 'Source of awareness is required.';
+
         // get remarks
         $remarks = $req->request->get('remarks', '');
 
@@ -281,9 +288,6 @@ class TicketController extends Controller
             $obj->setJobOrder($job_order);
         }
 
-        // initialize error list
-        $error_array = [];
-
         // validate
         $errors = $validator->validate($obj);
 
@@ -423,6 +427,9 @@ class TicketController extends Controller
         $em = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager();
         $obj = $em->getRepository(Ticket::class)->find($id);
 
+        // initialize error list
+        $error_array = [];
+
         // make sure this row exists
         if (empty($obj))
             throw $this->createNotFoundException('The item does not exist');
@@ -461,6 +468,10 @@ class TicketController extends Controller
         // get source of awareness if any
         $soa_type = $req->request->get('source_of_awareness');
 
+        // source of awareness is now required
+        if (empty($soa_type))
+            $error_array['source_of_awareness'] = 'Source of awareness is required.';
+
         // get remarks
         $remarks = $req->request->get('remarks', '');
 
@@ -476,9 +487,6 @@ class TicketController extends Controller
             ->setSourceOfAwareness($soa_type)
             ->setRemarks($remarks);
 
-        // initialize error list
-        $error_array = [];
-
         // validate
         $errors = $validator->validate($obj);
 
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 %}
diff --git a/templates/ticket/form.html.twig b/templates/ticket/form.html.twig
index da0bca86..e4d2dd85 100644
--- a/templates/ticket/form.html.twig
+++ b/templates/ticket/form.html.twig
@@ -126,7 +126,6 @@
                                 <div class="col-lg-4">
                                     <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 %}