KL7AIR Military Club Station - Supporting the MARS Program as ALM7CAA!
Click here for the MarsGram form in PDF.
Alaska is the Great Land!
Alaska Army Mars Member of the Month!
Alaska Navy/Marine MARS
What is MARS?
The Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) is a Department of Defense sponsored program, established as separately managed and operated programs by the Army, Navy-Marine Corps and Air Force. MARS members are volunteer licensed amateur radio operators who are interested in providing auxiliary or emergency communications to local, national and international emergency and safety organizations, as an adjunct to normal communications.
The primary concept of MARS is to meet the requirements of training for any communications emergency. To this end, organization, methods and facilities must be adequate to meet any emergency requirements and must be flexible in order to provide for rapid expansion. Normal methods must be such that only minor changes will be required when shifting to an emergency status.
Mission
* To provide Department of Defense sponsored emergency communications on a local, national, and international basis as an adjunct to normal communications.
* To provide auxiliary communications for military, civil, and/or disaster officials during periods of emergency.
* To assist in effecting normal communications under emergency conditions.
Morse Code Returning to MARS Toolbox:
After more than a dozen years, Morse code will soon be returning to Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) nets. In the mid-1990s, the Department of Defense (DoD) did away with CW operation across the board --including MARS nets – as automatic systems such as the Internet, SATCOM, cell phones and e-mail became available and the payroll cost of manual operators escalated.
Army MARS launched a limited test of CW nets in four Midwestern states in late 2007. During a DoD interoperability test this past March, a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) station used it to communicate with Fort Huachuca. In announcing the return of CW to MARS nets, Navy-Marine Corps MARS Chief Bo Lindfors cited an emergency where CW was sorely missed: "I remember the [1998] Northeast Ice Storm shortly after I became [Navy-Marine Corps MARS] Chief and the unnecessarily lengthy effort by all of southern New England to receive one voice EEI [Essential Elements of Information Report] from a northern New England member whose antenna was covered in ice and lying on the ground. It took more than an hour when CW could have handled it in a few minutes. As more and more of our members enter MARS with no Morse code experience, I am afraid that we will soon lose that skill set if we don't do something.” Army MARS Chief Carter said the imminent return of CW will not replace modes such as WinLink, Pactor 3 and MT63. "Our CW nets will focus on maintenance of skills and will necessarily be limited by the shortage of available frequencies and trained members," he said. "But if members want to add CW to their skills, the nets will be available for training."
The Benefits of ARMY MARS Membership
Add to the enjoyment of your amateur radio hobby through the expanded horizon of MARS.
Become part of the Army, Navy-Marine Corps, or Air Force MARS worldwide communications system. There are MARS stations in Japan, Korea, the Trust Territories, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Central America, Alaska, Germany, Africa, and the continental United States.
Increase your communications skills and capabilities. Selected correspondence courses in communications - electronics subjects are available free to MARS members from their respective affiliated service after completion of six months active membership. Qualified Army MARS members may apply for such courses at the Army Correspondence Course Program website.
Operate on specially assigned military radio frequencies in voice, teletype, and packet modes of communications.
Join a group of dedicated fellow radio amateurs participating in meaningful public service.
Affiliate with the service branch of your choice and become part of the professional military communications family.
Gain a feeling of being associated with a military mission and contributing to the welfare and preparedness of the nation.
Participate in regulated, disciplined radio nets with structured lines of organization and very specific operating rules.
Participate in the MARS Excess/Surplus Property Program after 6 months active membership. Issue of Government excess/surplus equipment is based on availability, of equipment, and possible assigned mission of individual activity. The granting of MARS membership to an individual or activity does not in itself convey an automatic right or entitlement of the recipient to receive or demand MARS property.
History of Army MARS Program
In November, 1925, the Army Amateur Radio System (AARS) was initiated by a few dedicated pioneers in the United States Army Signal Corps led by Capt. Thomas C. Rives. His original intention was to enlist the talents of volunteer Amateur Radio operators as a source to train soldiers in the then new technology of radio as well as pursuing radio research and development to improve radio equipment within the Army. His efforts were very successful.
This organization continued until the United States entry into World War II, at which time radio Amateurs were denied the use of the air. Therefore, the activities of AARS, as it was known, were suspended until 1946 when, once again, AARS was allowed to go back on the air. During the years 1925 through 1942, the AARS functioned more or less as an extra curricular activity of the U. S. Army Signal Corps, its scope being necessarily limited by the meager budget of the pre-World War II depression years. The best available figures indicate that as of the 7th of December, 1941, there were approximately 60,000 FCC licensed Amateurs within the United States and its possessions. Some 5600 of those Amateurs were members of the AARS. About 20% of the pre-World War II AARS members eventually entered the service of their country either in the Army or in a civilian capacity. The U. S. Army recognized the great importance of reactivating the AARS to train vitally needed communications personnel at a relatively inexpensive direct cost to the U.S. government. Therefore, in 1946, the AARS was reactivated and functioned as such until the creation of the Military Amateur Radio System in 1948, later renamed the Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) with Army MARS and the newly formed Air Force MARS reflecting the creation of the Air Force as a separate service. In early 1963, the Navy-Marine Corps MARS was established.
MARS has grown in all of the services throughout the world. It relies on civilian and military MARS members to be available in case of emergency or disaster to provide communications support. At such times, MARS needs all of the support it can provide. Amateur Radio, collectively with MARS, has made its mark in American history. Each year provides new evidence of the important role it plays in the service of the nation.
Official Sponsorship
The Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) is an official Department of Defense and Department of the Army sponsored communications system. Therefore, it has official status, is assigned missions and functions, and authorized the use of assigned military radio frequencies.
Army MARS is directed and managed by the Department of the Army through the United States Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th Army Signal Command and is a world-wide organization. It is comprised of both military and civilian personnel. In fact, the majority are civilian volunteers. Each volunteer Army MARS member is required to hold a valid Amateur Radio license from the Federal Communications Commission. These volunteers are under no service obligation, but must meet a 12-hour per calendar quarter minimum participation requirement. A volunteer may resign from Army MARS at any time without difficulty or prejudice by simply submitting a written resignation.
How to Join Army MARS
Eligibility
The applicant must -
* Be 17 years of age or older. (Signature of parent or legal guardian is required when an applicant is under 18 years of age.)
* Be a United States Citizen or resident alien. (Possess a valid amateur radio license issued by the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) or other competent U.S. Authority.)
* Possess a station capable of operating on MARS VHF and/or HF frequencies.
* Agree to operate a minimum of 12 hours per calendar quarter with 6 hours being on VHF and or HF networks.
* Submit Monthly Participation Reports using the approved format.
* Submit as required Essential Elements of Information (EEI) Reports. (currently requires some alignment)
Text Version of the format.
* Complete the Basic Training within 6 months of joining the program.
Types of Membership
There are four types of membership -
* Individual Membership: A privately owned VHF and/or HF radio station, licensed by the FCC and/or host authority, operated by an individual who is a member of and licensed by Army MARS.
* Club Membership: A radio station licensed in MARS that is established, operated, and maintained by volunteers under the auspices of a properly constituted military and/or civilian amateur radio club.
* Auxiliary Membership: Auxiliary membership is designated for non-operators who perform a support function.
* Military Unit Membership: Military unit MARS stations are operated and maintained under the auspices of a military command, and are authorized on the table of distribution and allowances/table of organization and equipment (TDA/TOE). Military station categories include active Army, Reserves, National Guard, and Corps of Engineers.
Alaska MARS Scheduled Nets-
VHF Nets - Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 1830 hrs local (Alaska Time).
HF Nets- Monday, Tuesday and Thursday begin at 1900 hrs local (Alaska Time).
Interested in joining us?
Contact one of the following for information:
[Ron Keech, State Director ALM7AK]
[Glenn Hansen, Deputy Director ALM7DAK]
[ vacant , Administrative Officer ALM7AAK]
[ Don Bush, Emergency Operations Coordinator ALM7EAK]
[Larry Yerks, Training Officer ALM7TAK]
Or any ARMY MARS Member!
[David Stevens, ALM7BD]
[Rod Mitchell, ALM7AQ]
[Mary Mitchell, ALM7BI]
[Brian Corty, ALM7BL]
[John Ramsey, ALM7BM/T]
[Jason Profitt, ALM7BN]
[Heather Hasper, ALM7BO]
[Mike O'Keefe, ALM7BP]
[Kathy O'Keefe, ALM7BQ]
[Charles Haller, ALM7BR]
[Paul Williams, ALM7BS/T]
[Other Sites of Interest]
A little bit more about MARS...
MARS has a long and proud history of providing world-wide auxiliary emergency communications during times of need. In order to maintain operator proficiency and ensure network and system integrity and effectiveness during emergencies, the MARS program provides morale messaging services for members of the Armed Forces stationed around the world. This is done free of charge.
Most morale messages are simple text messages called MARSgrams. These messages are relayed around the world from members of the Armed Forces and eligible federal government employees to their friends and families. The radio operators of MARS relay these MARSgrams over military and civilian radio networks to and from overseas locations. Once the messages have been relayed to the geographical regions of the addressees, volunteer and military radio operators deliver the messages by telephone or mail at DoD expense. The average delivery time for typical MARSgram messages is 12/48 hours depending on location.
Depending upon location and availability of equipment, MARS also offers service members the opportunity to place free phone calls home from overseas, from military aircraft, and from ships. This is accomplished by connecting phone lines to radio equipment with the radio link acting as the long-distance carrier. This process is called, "phone-patching."
The morale messaging services of MARS play an integral role in maintaining the effectiveness and integrity of the MARS program, ensuring that the MARS program is ready in times of crisis. Alaska Army MARS stands Proud, Professional, and Ready.
| Alaskan Wildfires | Alaskan Weather | Alaskan Earthquakes |
| 
| 
|
You are visitor number
Website Hit Counters
[Disclaimer] [Privacy Notice]
View my guestbook
Site created and maintained by
Ron Keech, ALM7BC
Last Updated Aug 20 2008
