U.S. Air Force MARS
AFA4ZX
Florida U.S. Air Force MARS
There are
several links to sites that would be of interest to prospective, current, and
former Air Force members, as well as all current members of Region Two Air
Force MARS and amateur radio operators in general. Other regions and states
are shown on the map below. If you would like to join MARS contact your state
MARS Director on the Region AF MARS
Regions Following are some
links of interest United States Air Force Home Page Federal Communications Commission...Amateur Radio Service This site is updated often so please stop by again to see further additions. A BIT OF MARS HISTORY
In November, 1925, the Army Amateur Radio System (AARS) was initiated by
a few pioneers in the United States Army Signal Corps.
The 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.
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 then 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 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.
MARS has grown in all of the services throughout the world. They rely on
our civilian and military MARS members to be available in case of emergency
or disaster to provide communications support. At such times they need all
of the support MARS can provide. 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.
Air
Force MARS Region Four