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.

MARS 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 in 1962, the Navy-Marine Corps MARS program was launched making MARS a joint service program.

MARS Mission

• Provide Department of Defense sponsored emergency communications on a local, national, and international basis as an adjunct to normal communication.
  
• Provide auxiliary communications for military, civil, and/or disaster officials during periods of emergency.
  
• 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 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.
  

Eligibility to join MARS

• Be 17 years of age or older.
  
• Be a United States Citizen or resident alien.
  
• Possess a valid amateur radio license issued by the Federal Communications Commission or other competent U.S. authority.
  
• Possess a station capable of operating on MARS HF frequencies. MARS members must agree to operate in accordance with the rules and regulations governing MARS and the following:
  • For Army - A minimum of 12 hours per calendar quarter with 6 hours being on HF networks.
    
  • For Air Force - A minimum of 12 hours participation per calendar quarter with 6 hours in their primary HF assignment.
    
  • For Navy-Marine Corps - A minimum of 18 hours per calendar quarter with 12 to the 18 hours being on area or region HF networks.
    

Benefits of MARS Membership

• Add to the enjoyment of your amateur radio hobby through the expended 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 member ship.
  
• Operate on specially assigned military radio frequencies in voice, teletype, CW, 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 Equipment Program after 6 months active membership. 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 or entitlement of the recipient to receive or demand MARS property.
  

Typical MARS Frequencies

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 predominate, RATT, VHF, PACKET, and even slow scan TV nets.