Author’s note: The above information has been updated in accordance with CMB 14-98 (change of email addees). 27JUL98

As you may remember, NAVMARCORMARS was slow to get on the ‘Internet band wagon.’ Other MARS services were using email and web sites at least a year before our folks received authorization to use the Internet in conjunction with our network activities. Once the floodgates were opened, however, NAVMARCORMARS web sites sprang up like dandelions, and only a few Areas in CONUS are not now represented on the World Wide Web (WWW). Our national web site now even solicits MARSGRAMs from WWW users. If you pay attention to the Ship’s Active Lists, it’s easy to see that the Navy has equipped many vessels with email capabilities. In fact, most of the vessels currently listed on the Ships Active List receive their MARSGRAMs not via HF radio but by email collected at the system operator’s (SYSOP) location.

Does the inclusion of email capabilities lessen the need for HF and VHF radio communications? Is MARS’ future doomed since the Internet provides, in most cases, near real time communications with afloat and deployed units? The answer to both questions is a resounding, "No!"

The Internet is a wonderful medium. In order to put the use of this new communications medium into perspective, it’s important to remember that the Internet is completely reliant on an operating telephone system. Even with the inclusion of satellite up- and downlinks to Naval units, messages still have to traverse CONUS using twisted pair technology (OK, some systems use fiber optic cable but, if it’s cut, it’s as useless as a broken wire). Anyone with any experience in responding to a real disaster can attest to the fact that, as a rule, the first utility to fail during or immediately after the event is the telephone system. Lines go down, switching networks are damaged, or, the telephone system becomes overloaded and unusable. No phones – no Internet and, no local (and, depending upon the scope of the disaster, regional) communications. That’s where we, as trained and suitably equipped radio communicators must shine. Our HF and VHF networks do not rely upon the telephone system. We have backup power systems (you do have an alternate power system, don’t you?) to enable us to operate during power outages. We have established networks and schedules. We have trained operators. We have a semi-automated digital communications system capable of sending messages over distances, both small and great, in what is, usually, a reasonably short time.

So, the bottom line is simple: As MARS communicators, we need to keep our skills sharp, our equipment in good working order and our antenna systems up to snuff. It’s not a matter of ‘if’ we’ll ever be needed, it’s just a matter of ‘when.’

In CMB 11-98, Chief MARS authorized the transmission of Actual Event/EEI messages via email. This change in policy was adopted when it became apparent that our digital MBO system did not always provide the immediacy required by the Department of Military Support (DOMS) and FEMA. These agencies want information regarding local emergencies and disasters as quickly as it can possibly be transmitted. Email will usually provide that measure of immediacy. In order for a MARS member to submit Actual Event/EEI messages via email, use the following format, which, incidentally, is an actual EEI message transmitted from the MI Area, and, coincidentally, is the first time an Actual Event/EEI message has been sent via email from Region Four:

TO: aoc@hqda-aoc.army.pentagon.mil

CC: aylwardp@hqda-aoc.army.pentagon.mil

mars00@nctcgw.navy.mil

SUBJ: ACTUAL EVENT/EEI NORTHERN MI

OO NOASA NOASC NOASG
DE NNN0HAQ 100
O 010016Z JUN 98
FM NNN0WAW MI
TO NNN0ASA MD/DC
NNN0ASZ GA
INFO NNN0ASG IL
ZEN/NNN0GAY MI
NNNN0ASG TWO IL
ZEN/NNN0GAY TWO MI
GR NC
BT
UNCLAS
SUBJ: ACTUAL EVENT/EEI
1. VIOLENT TWISTER/SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS NORTHERN MICHIGAN 
 A. NORTHERN MI AT APPROXIMATELY 310800Z MAY 98 A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS BEGAN ACROSS NORTHERN MI WITH AT LEAST ONE TORNADO AND MUCH TORNADIC ACTIVITY.
 B. UNKNOWN
 C. MANY ROADS AND BRIDGES BLOCKED DUE TO TREES AND POWER LINES BEING DOWN.
 D. MANY ROADS CLOSED DUE TO FALLEN TREES AND DOWNED POWER LINES. MANY HOMES DESTROYED OR PARTIALLY DESTROYED. NUMBER OF INJURIES UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.
 E. KNOWN AREAS WITHOUT POWER INCLUDE MASON, LAKE, KALASKA AND ROSCOMMON COUNTIES. UNKNOWN IF ANY AREAS ARE WITHOUT WATER. 
 F. MAJOR DAMAGE AND AREAS WITHOUT POWER INCLUDE MASON, LAKE, ROSCOMMON, OGEMAW, KALKASKA AND WEXFORD COUNTIES.
 G. COMMERCIAL TELEVISION, RELAY AND PERSONAL OBVERSATION.
 H. MASON COUNTY DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY AT APPROXIMATELY 311900Z MAY 98. RESIDENTS ADVISED TO REMAIN OFF ROADS DUE TO MANY POWER LINES AND TREES BEING DOWN. WEXFORD COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT OPERATING ON EMERGENCY POWER. SCHOOLS IN LAKE COUNTY CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO LOSS OF POWER. 
2. ACTUAL EVENT/EEI 
BT
OPNOTE: SUBMITTED BY E-MAIL AT 010013Z JUN 98 BY NNN0HAQ MI 
NNNN

 A couple of things need to be pointed out: This message was first relayed from the originating station (NNN0WAW) to another station (NNN0HAQ). Upon receipt, Mary reformatted the message by adding the OPNOTE, as required by CMB 11-98, and submitted it to the principal (TO) and carbon copy (CC) addressees listed. After sending the message by email, she, then, inserted the message into the NMDV MBO so that the other MARS addees (NNN0ASG, NNN0ASZ, et al) will also receive copies of the message. Even though this message was sent via email to Chief MARS, the DOMS, and LTC Aylward, remember that the precedence of the message inserted in the RDN is still IMMEDIATE and it should be handled with all due haste. Finally, note that the portions of the Actual Event/EEI/email message abovethat differ from standard EEI message formatting are in bold type. In the event you’re reading this from some medium which does not support enhanced text, the TO: and CC: lines and the OPNOTE between the final BT and the NNNN are the changes referred to which, in the original document, were highlighted.

Should the occasion arise that you need to send an Actual Event/EEI message via email, refer to CMB’s 11-98 and 14-98. All the details can be found in those messages. Do not, however, send MARS Exercise/EEI message via email. Send them only via the RDN/NDN digital systems.

The addition of email to our suite of communications media is just that: an addition. It does not nor is it intended to relieve us of our primary mission goal: ECOM preparedness.

Keep charging!