MARS
[020103/1menu1.htm]
ARMY MARS |
Please advise if you have any Questions, David N2RSN - Amateur AAT0AQ - Army MARS THE MARS CORNER By Lorraine S. Matthew/AAA9PR [email protected] People Power! Much has been written in these pages and in most other documents about the MARS programs and the results of MARS operations. What is often lost is the fact that for every radio, every computer, every document, every operation, there is a person...collectively, people. Close to 10,000 people from every walk of life have chosen to devote much of their time and many of their assets to the three service MARS programs. Is there a "typical" MARS member? I am often asked if a MARS member had to have once been a member of the armed services. No. That is not a necessary qualification. Many MARS members are veterans and were, at first, introduced to the MARS program from overseas assignments. Some became MARS operators at those locations while others were happy to use the services to the military personnel that MARS had (and still has) to offer. Remembering the contribution that MARS made in their lives, many of these veterans have joined the MARS programs. The only factors that all MARS members have in common is the requirement that each one be an F.C.C. licensed Amateur Radio Operator and be able to operate on military frequencies. They also have a desire to serve their country and their fellow human beings. All other factors are as unique as the person is himself or herself. As a non-veteran member, the desire to serve my country in some way led me to MARS membership as soon I received my first F.C.C. license. As I look back on those early days in my MARS career, I think my "service" might have been a disadvantage to my state MARS program. Boy! Was I green! The willingness of the MARS organizations to take on people at all levels of radio competence is one of the great assets to the MARS applicant. No matter what level his or her license or experience might be, the new MARS member is welcome to operate on all the available modes. Nowhere else can a new Ham gain this type of experience. Members are most willing to help and the learning by doing on the nets is the fastest way to learn. I would not be the accomplished operator and traffic handler that I am today without having had my MARS membership and experience. There is still much that I don't know; but there is always a MARS member who is willing to help and to teach me what I need to know. That is the key to MARS operations in all areas. One major program which has truly become interservice is the Helping Hands program which originated in Army MARS but includes members, helping and being helped, from all the services. It is nothing uncommon for a mix of Army, Air Force, and Navy personnel to be in on a project to help get a member on the air and functioning. Major assistance in such states as Michigan, Virginia, Alabama, West Virginia, and several others have given us very valuable MARS members. I have worked with one gentleman who is blind and runs one of the best digital message centers that I have ever worked. I could cite specific people and have given this much thought; but I don't want to have them singled out as being atypical MARS members. The Helping Hands program is not limited to the physically challenged in terms of health. It is also available to any MARS member who needs help for temporary health reasons or for any other reason causing a hardship. As a reasonably new widow, I would qualify because of the fact that my husband used to do all the muscle work in keeping the station on the air. I am fortunate to have radio friends and an active radio club whose members help me when I need it. The staffers responsible for the Helping Hands program are Cindy Rogers/AAA9HH and her husband, Jim/AAA9TC. They are, themselves, physically challenged and have long been assisting Hams to stay active and to be able to operate. They have simply and most effectively extended their expertise to the MARS services as well. They emphasize the training of those operators who want to help because this is not an area into which a person just wades in and then tries to figure out how best to help. They refer those who need the help to those who want to give the help. They also, very often, steer the challenged one to appropriate software and equipment that might solve that person's problem. They are fine teachers. People helping people was reflected in the remarks of the FEMA representative, Mr. Paul Reid, when he participated in the Chief's Command Net on 10 March 2000. His remarks reflected the widespread participation of MARS members in the FEMA National Emergency Coordination Nets that are tested quarterly. " First of all, I would like to thank the Army MARS membership for their continuing support of the National Emergency Coordination Net, or NECN as it is commonly known. As you know, the NECN is the command-and-control backup for the Federal Response Plan. The Federal Response Plan is the plan approved by the White House that all Federal agencies follow when responding to a disaster. In order to ensure that the NECN is ready to support the Federal Response Plan, it is tested each quarter. The June exercise, scheduled to coincide with the start of hurricane season is open to check in by each Federal station desiring to participate. The remaining three exercises limit MARS and Civil Air Patrol check-ins to net control stations. This is done to make it easier for the other Federal stations to check in as most perform this as an additional duty and must return to their other duties as soon as possible. During this past exercise, Army MARS had 538 stations participating, with 50 of those being direct check-ins. During an actual emergency, the activation messages that the FEMA Communications Center sends out will contain instructions governing check-ins. Generally speaking, we are looking for check -ins from stations in the immediate affected areas, plus net control stations from adjoining states. We do not need lists of stations you have below the net control stations, but those stations may be needed to help distribute traffic. If the activation is for a hurricane in Florida, we do not need the net control station from California or other distant states to check in. During many emergencies, we will designate working frequencies and have the most critical stations move to those frequencies. These working frequencies are generally between 3 to 17 MHz. In conclusion, I want to again thank the Army MARS members for their hard work and dedication and ask for their continued support." Mr. Reid can be assured that MARS will continue to support the FEMA efforts when an emergency or disaster occurs. By serving FEMA and other relief organizations, MARS members are also servings friends and neighbors. Army MARS continues to serve...Proud, Professional, and Ready. |