Laserfiche WebLink
NAVY-MARINE CORPS MARS <br />(MILITARY AFFILIATE RADIO SYSTEM) <br />MINNESOTA AREA FOURTH REGION <br />INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION <br />The attached brochure provides basic information on the MARS <br />program. As you can see, there are programs sponsored by the <br />Army, Air Force and Navy-Marine Corps. All three programs are <br />similar in their operation. <br />Due to the fact fact that many Navy operations are conducted by <br />ships afloat, Navy-Marine Corps MARS plays an important role in <br />providing a communications channel for military personnel who may <br />not have any other regular means of communicating with their <br />friends and families back home. For overseas shore personnel, <br />MARS provides a fast and economical means for military personnel <br />to advise their families of their movements and plans. <br />Therefore, Navy-Marine Corps MARS operations are busy even in <br />peacetime operations. <br />Wo of the Navy-Marine Corps MARS program cordially invite you to <br />"come aboard" and help us meet the MARS mission of emergency <br />preparedness while making home a little closer to Navy-Marine <br />Corps personnel. <br />FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS <br />ABOUT NAVY-MARINE CORPS MARS OPERATION <br />CAN NOVICES AND TECHNICIANS PARTICIPATE ON MARS HF NETS? <br />YES! Any valid Amateur Radio license will allow you to <br />participate in MARS HF phone operations. Many Technician class <br />license holders are active in the MARS program and operate like <br />any other MARS station. Novice class license operators also <br />participate in HF phone nets right away. Novices, however, must <br />spend a portion of their operating time on a CW net and upgrade <br />to a next higher class of license within 180 days. <br />WHAT OTHER OPERATING ACTIVITIES CAN I ENJOY? <br />There are slow-scan television, RTTY, packet and phone-patch <br />nets. All members may participate in these activies by obtaining <br />authorization. <br />DO I NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER EXAM TO PARTICIPATE IN MARS? <br />NO! You must have authorization to operate on government <br />frequencies. It is obtained by simply filling out an application <br />form. The area coordinator in this state processes your <br />application and assigns your call sign within a few weeks. <br />L