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WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DOES MARS PROVIDE? <br />Your first three months membership is a trial period. Upon <br />getting your license you will receive the Navy-Marine Corps Mars <br />operations manual. In addition to familiarizing yourself with <br />this manual, you must also check into a phone training net for a <br />few weeks. This net is held on Sunday afternoons and provides <br />instruction and practice opportunities in MARS operating <br />procedures. (During this trial period you are encouraged to <br />check into the Minnesota area net as well.) Upon completing your <br />training net requirements, you will be sent 6-10 questions to <br />answer by return message. You are permited to use your <br />operations manual to answer these questions. <br />HOW MUCH TIME IS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN MEMBERSHIP? <br />A total of 18 hours per quarter is required. Twelve of these <br />hours must be in Area HF net operations. That tranlates to 3 <br />hours a month. In military terras, hours are only counted as <br />whole units. Therefore, if you spend on minute on the air, you <br />receive 1 hour credit. As you can, see the minimum time required <br />is minimal. We do hope you will enjoy MARS operations enough so <br />that you are a regular check-in to the rets. Other time may be <br />credited to your totals by delivering traffic, studying, <br />maintaining equipment, etc. Active members benefit themselves <br />and the system by participating on a regular basis and carrying <br />their share of the load. <br />WHAT OTHER BENEFITS ARE THERE BY PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM? <br />Obviously, the biggest benefit to belonging to the MARS program <br />in the satisfaction knowing you are providing a useful service <br />for your country. But,there are other benefits as well. You may <br />enroll yourself in a variety of Navy correspondence courses <br />covering electronics, radio communications and other unclassified <br />courses. If you are a member of the reserves, your operating <br />time may count toward your retirement. There is a recognition <br />program for your contributions. Although there is a surplus <br />equipment program for members, there is little useful equipment <br />available. <br />WHEN ARE THE AREA NETS HELD? <br />The primary Minnesota area net is held every evening at 6 30 PM <br />on 4802 USB kHz, This the net you are required to check into <br />often enough to meet your minimum time requirement. You may also <br />listen to the Region net on 4470.5 USB kHz also at 6:30. During <br />these nets will hear common net operating practice, which is only <br />slightly different than Amateur Radio practices. You will hear <br />traffic routed to individual stations for delivery by members <br />such as yourself. Other nets for CW, RTTY SSTV and other <br />interests are held at various times throt-.ghout the week. <br />1 <br />i <br />i <br />1