Training Session #2

Last week we covered a lot of ground on the history of MARS and the basic operating requirements for you to get on the existing Region 4 nets. We will briefly review some of the highlights of this information and then continue with new information.

First of all, we learned that your call sign is your identification in MARS and only your call sign will be used to identify yourself on any MARS net.

Second, we learned how to check into a net using this unique call sign and what information should be included in this initial call. We learned that you must always call a station unless you are replying to a call from another station. That is, you never come on a frequency with only your call sign, Use your call sign, Your state, and with traffic or no traffic followed by the prosing “Over”.

We also learned the first two prowords, which we must use during, and ending a series of communications with another station. The first was "OVER", which means you have finished your remarks and you expect a reply from the other station. The second was "OUT", which means you have finished your contact with the other station, no reply is expected, and you are returning the use of the frequency to the NCS.

We also learned that in the radiotelephone procedures course manual, there is a list of authorized words denoting each letter of the alphabet and used for the spelling of confusing words, names, and call signs. Whenever you check into a net, always give your call sign in phonetics. As an example, my generic call sign could be "ALPHA FOXTROT ALPHA FOUR GOLF DELTA". With the amount of noise that we can encounter on the frequencies, it is easy to transpose letters or misinterpret a letter, E, G, and T sound much alike. But it is almost impossible to confuse ECHO, GOLF, or TANGO.

Also on that page, was a listing of the numbers that we use, along with the correct pronunciation of each. Remember that the Phonetic alphabet and the pronunciation of the numbers have been developed over a long period of time and that they are used world wide in all types of communications. They are the only ones that are to be used on all MARS nets of all services. Don't try to modify them to suit your personal likes or dislikes by saying FOX for FOXTROT or OH for ZERO, etc.

We also learned the "Q" and "Z" signals that are widely used throughout the Amateur Radio frequencies are not used on MARS voice nets. They are used on the MARS Digital nets. On voice nets, a description of an occurrence or report is more appropriate. If a station wishes to know how you are hearing them, a reply might be that they are "GOOD READABLE" or are "LOUD AND CLEAR". After you have completed copying traffic from another station, you would say "ROGER" to acknowledge the traffic instead of saying "QSL".

Air Force MARS nets operate on specific frequencies and not within a band of frequencies. There is a specific tolerance on either side of the frequency and FYMON stations are charged with assisting NCS’ in maintaining the correct tolerance. If a NCS informs you that you are off frequency, NCS may count, you must tune to its frequency.

I mentioned that you are welcome to check into any Region 4 voice net to become familiar with their operations. The basic responsibility of Region 4 is the Region Traffic Net known as the "FOUR SIERRA ONE" (4S1) net. This net begins, as all military nets do, at RADAY, which is at 0000Z. The net is under the control of the Affiliate members of Region 4. The Region 4 Net Manager (AFF4N) assigns a voluntary NCS for each day of the week. These are voluntary positions and unfortunately, it may operate without an NCS from time to time. Any MARS station, except trainees, are invited and encouraged to check into the net and if necessary assume NCS.

Each frequency has a designator, which will be the only identification used when identifying one of the frequencies. Of course, there is always an exception. Remember that all listed frequencies are Air Force Tactical frequencies and may be monitored by persons unfriendly to our country and security. As you look at the Training Guide, you will notice many other nets of which some are assigned to other than voice operations such as PACKET and RATT. At the present time, you may not operate on any frequency or net except the Region 4 voice nets, until you receive your "Completion Of Training Certificate"(AF-3661). If there is a special net that you would like to operate on such as RATT, PACKET, or TRANSCON, notify your SMD who can make the necessary arrangements if you can justify the request.

The last thing we learned last week was Zulu time and how to determine Zulu from local time anywhere in the world. All military communications use Zulu time and by doing so, makes all time throughout the world the same regardless of whether it's Tokyo, London, or New York. It doesn't change with the sun. Also, the term RADAY MEANS 0000Z and all communication days start and end at RADAY and all logs are recorded as such.

Enough of review, let's continue. In the Region 4 Voice Training Guide, you will find a listing of all the approved prowords along with their meanings. I'm sure you'll agree that these prowords, when used properly and correctly, will make conversation over the air simpler. Study them and know their meanings as they are used in everyday conversation on MARS nets. You may hear a few that are not listed that are used for formal traffic handling and are not listed. You will become familiar with them when we get to traffic handling. Some have even sneaked into our everyday use and I'm sure you have heard them and they are self-explanatory. One is "SAY AGAIN" which is short form for "SAY AGAIN ALL AFTER" or "SAY AGAIN ALL BEFORE", which are used when requesting fills in a message. The short version comes in handy whenever we encounter noisy frequency conditions.

Before sending any traffic, picture yourself with a message form and pencil ready to receive traffic. Then, send your traffic only as fast as you could write it, if you were receiving it. If the receiving station must ask for lots of fills for information they missed because you were going too fast, a lot of extra time and effort is wasted for both parties. So, slow down, speak plainly and distinctly, and your transition to being a professional traffic handler and operator is well under way.

It is your responsibility to maintain a file at your station of all traffic you originate, relay, and deliver. This file must be kept for a period of 90 days from the active date of any entry into it. As an example, traffic handled in January can be destroyed in May of the same year.

Other important files to keep are the periodic MARS Broadcasts. These may also be retained for 90 days. The MARS BROADCAST is normally available from some of the Region Officials and the SMD's. It is usually read on individual state administrative nets and the Region administrative net. It can also be copied from the Region 4 web page. This broadcast is used for transmitting formal HQ policy and changes to the guidelines contained in the MODS. It also is used to advise of upcoming activities. Again the information is extremely important to the operation of your station.

If official mail to you is returned, because your address has changed and there is no forwarding address, May upset your SMD and the RMD. You are required to advise your SMD of any address changes, IMMEDIATELY. Also, your USAF MARS privileges expire with your Amateur license. Hopefully, your SMD will jog your memory prior to the expiration date, even though it is not his/her responsibility. It is YOUR responsibility.

There are two more prowords that we should learn at this time. They have a great deal to do with accuracy, when we handle traffic. The two prowords are "INITIALS" and "FIGURES". They are used extensively in each and every piece of message traffic that we handle. Each letter or group of letters that do not form a word will be preceded by the word "INITIALS". In addresses, we use abbreviations for magnetic directions, i.e. SOUTH, SOUTHWEST, etc. and STREETS, AVENUES, etc. SW for SOUTHWEST would be said as INITIALS SIERRA WHISKY. AVE, for AVENUE, would be said as, "INITIALS ALPHA VICTOR ECHO". FIGURES is used in the same circumstances except that it prefixes numbers. If the numbers of a street address are 1234, they would be read as, "FIGURES WON TWO THREE FOUER". In a mixed group of letters and numbers, the first character or digit determines the proword to be used. Some more examples follow:

Tube type 12BY7 --- "FIGURES ONE TWO BRAVO YANKEE SEVEN"

Frequency meter model BC-211 --- "INITIALS BRAVO CHARLIE HYPHEN TWO ONE ONE"

In military communications, there are no numbers greater than nine. Numbers greater than nine will be broken up into the individual digits that make up the number and pronounced individually. The number 27 as an example would be read as "FIGURES TWO SEVEN". This procedure also has an exception. Whenever a number is an even multiple of one hundred, it is read as such. Examples, "FIGURES ONE HUNDRED", or "FIGURES ONE THOUSAND", etc. Be extremely careful if you are the originator of traffic that contains dollar amount of money. Be sure that it does not violate the provisions of a prohibited type of traffic. With incoming traffic, there is little that you can do about violations, because once traffic is entered into the system, it must be passed and delivered without changes.

Study these prohibited types of traffic so that it will become second nature to recognize them and prevent their entrance into the system. You, as the originating station, are responsible for the form and content of all traffic entered in the system with your call sign. In the "From" line of every message is the call sign of the originating station and this is the station contacted if there are any questions concerning the traffic. Remember this fact, especially when handling re-file traffic from the Amateur to MARS. Even though you had nothing to do with the generation of the original message, you will be the originating station when you put this type of message into the MARS system and your call sign will be on the "Originating Station" line of the message.

Another important item is that MARS will NEVER handle an initial death notice. We have been asked to do this in the past and I'm sure we'll be asked to do it again in the future. If you are ever asked to pass this type of traffic, about the only thing you can do is to assist the party in contacting the American Red Cross, who is the only agency, authorized to carry this type of traffic. Be very considerate of the person asking you to do this, as it is a time of great trauma for them. They are coming to you because they recognize that MARS is capable of getting traffic to the armed forces overseas and this is their immediate concern at this time. Be helpful; know where the local Red Cross chapter is located and if possible know the 24-hour telephone number. By referring them to the Red Cross, you have assisted them beyond what they expected. The Red Cross notification is sufficient for an individual overseas to be granted immediate emergency leave. Recently, we have also been advised that the MARS service will not pass notification of serious injury or illness notifications.

There are specified guidelines regarding the spelling out of words or names in a message or any other time on military frequencies. You first pronounce the word or name, then state "I SPELL", then spell the word or name phonetically, and again pronounce the word or name after spelling. Example, a message going to John Smith. You would transmit it as: "JOHN, I SPELL JULIETTE OSCAR HOTEL NOVEMBER, JOHN, SMITH, I SPELL SIERRA MIKE INDIA TANGO HOTEL, SMITH".

Remember these rules when we get into traffic handling because one of the rules is that you always spell the names in both the "From" and "To" lines and any name in the text of the message. I will remind you of this when we get there because it is a very important part of passing accurate traffic.

About next week, See Training Guide for a the forms that we are going to use during these sessions:

USAF MARS MESSAGE FORM. We will use it for the training sessions. You should reproduce it for your own use, but it is not required for message handling.

AF FORM 427. These are used to mail messages that you cannot deliver any other way. They are available from your SMD along with official envelopes and stamps. At the bottom of the AF form 427, is an area for your name and address. Be sure to include them, and the name and address, if known, of the sender. Should the recipient of the message wish to send a reply message, they should send it to you.

One last thing. Any administrative supplies, like forms, stamps, etc., that you need, may be able to order from your respective SMD. He/She makes all of the decisions pertaining to the affiliate members within that state.

That’s all for Session #2.