What is MARS?
The
Military Affiliate Radio System is a Department of Defense sponsored program,
established as separate managed and operated programs by the Army, Navy, and Air
Force. The program consists of
licensed amateur radio operators who are interested in military communications.
They contribute to the MARS mission providing auxiliary or emergency
communications on a local, national, and international basis as an adjunct to
normal communications.
History
In
November 1925, the Army Amateur Radio System (AARS) was formed by a few
dedicated pioneers in the United States Army Signal Corps. This organization
continued until the start of World War II when operations were suspended. Army
amateur radio was authorized to resume operations in 1946 and the Army Amateur
Radio System was reactivated and functioned as such until 1948 when the Army and
Air Force established the Military Amateur Radio System, later renamed the
Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS). In 1962, the NavyMarine Corps MARS program was launched
making MARS a joint service program.
Mission
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Provide
Department of Defense sponsored emergency communications on a local,
national, and international basis as an adjunct to normal communications.
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Provide
auxiliary communications for military, civil, and/or disaster officials
during periods of emergency.
-
Assist
in effecting normal communications under emergency conditions.
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Create
interest, and furnish a means of training members in military communications
procedures.
-
Provide
a potential reserve of trained radio communications personnel.
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Handle
moral and quasi official record and voice communications traffic for
Armed Forces and authorized U.S. Government civilian personnel stationed
throughout the world.
-
Conduct
an appropriate Amateur Radio program as a part of the annual celebration of
Armed Forces Day.
Benefits of Membership
-
Participate
in the MARS Excess/Surplus Equipment Program after 6 months active member
ship. Issue of 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 of
entitlement of the recipient to receive or demand MARS property.
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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, Philippines, Hawaii, Panama, 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.
-
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 military mission and contributing to the
welfare and preparedness of the nation.
-
Participate
in regulated, disciplined radio net: with structured lines of organization
and very specific operating rules.
On-the-Air
Activity
MARS
members stations meet periodically in scheduled networks on military frequencies
outside of the amateur bands. There are various types of networks and each
accomplishes a specific goal. For example, administrative networks to take care
of much of the day-to-day management of the program; traffic networks which
exist solely to pass third party traffic; and of course, emergency networks
which are established to provide for communication needs during periods of
emergency. There are also technical nets and training nets. MARS nets operate in
different modes. Although high frequency (HF) single sideband (SSB) voice is
predominant, there are RTTY, VHF, PACKET, and even slow scan TV nets.