Welcome
to the
Military Affiliate Radio System
WEB Site
NNE MARS March 2005 Newsletter
NNE MARS Picnic Group Photo Summer 2004
MARS Spring 2003 Exercise Article PDF format
The Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) is an organization of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensed Amateur Radio Operators who provide supplemental communications to the military and local and federal agencies. The three MARS organizations are sponsored by commands in the three services -- Army, Air Force, and Navy. MARS provides a potential reserve of trained radio communications personnel to provide auxiliary communications for military, civil, and/or disaster officials during periods of emergency and provides Department of Defense sponsored emergency communications on a local, national, and international basis as an adjunct to normal communications.
MARS provides a volunteer manned communications system for
handling MARS administrative traffic, morale and quasi-official
record and voice communications traffic for U. S. Armed Forces
and authorized U. S. government civilian personnel stationed
throughout the world. Finally, it offers training designed to
stimulate interest in military communications and electronics
career fields.
Army MARS is sponsored by the United States Army Signal
Command (USASC) and is considered to be an integral part of that
command structure. Army MARS is dedicated to the mission of
emergency support and the mission of health and welfare
communications support for military personnel and their loved
ones.
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 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.
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.
Amateur Radio collectively with MARS has made its mark in
American history. Each year provides new evidence of the
important role Amateur Radio with MARS plays in the service of
the nation.
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.
Create interest, and furnish a means of training members in
military communications procedures.
Provide a potential reserve of trained radio communications
personnel.
Handle morale 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.
MARS participation is limited to individuals who meet all of
the following criteria:
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 aliens who have been lawfully
admitted to the United States for permanent residence under the
provisions of the U.S. Code, Chapter 12, Title 3.
Willingness to comply with the regulations prescribed for
participation in the Army MARS program.
Access to a radio station capable of operating on HF or VHF
MARS frequencies.
Possess a valid Federal Communications Commission and/or host
country amateur radio operator license.
You may join Army MARS by contacting any MARS member who can
then guide you to acquisition of the proper applications or you
may obtain information at the Official Army MARS Web Site at:
You are issued a MARS station license and Army MARS call sign.
The station license expires on the same date as your FCC Amateur
Radio Station license or when revoked for any reason. Upon
acceptance, you are provided documents that contain policy and
operational information.
You will be required to complete a basic training course to
retain your MARS membership.
Membership Responsibilities and
Requirements
You will be required to complete a Basic Training Course
within 6 months of receiving the temporary callsign.
Individual and club station members must meet a minimum of 12
participation hours in MARS activities every 90 days to retain
licensed membership (6 of those must be on-the-air
participation).
Submit to the State Director a monthly Participation Report
documenting time spent in support of MARS.
Comply with MARS rules, regulations, and procedures as
specified in DA PAM 25-XX.
Conduct only official business on all MARS frequencies and
nets.
What are MARS
frequencies?
Frequencies are military frequencies assigned for MARS use
throughout the High Frequency (HF) spectrum and selected
frequencies in the VHF band. Because Amateur Radio equipment is
limited to operation in the Amateur bands, minor modifications
are needed to work the MARS frequencies. Many MARS frequencies
lie close to the Amateur bands but never inside the Amateur
frequencies.
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For any comments or questions contact, Ann M. Santos, AAR1GY
