INTRODUCTION TO ARMY MARS
Military Auxiliary Radio Service (MARS) is an Army sponsored program that organizes, trains, and utilizes Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensed amateur radio operators, as military Auxiliarists, to contribute to and support the Department of Defense (DoD). Army MARS is made up of private citizen volunteers who employ their own High Frequency (HF) radio stations in support of the DoD and Services. These individuals are organized into a military auxiliary, assigned internationally recognized U.S. Army radio call signs and operate on designated military radio channels. You do not have to have been a member of any military branch of service to become a MARS auxiliarists.
MARS Auxiliarists are in communities throughout the United States, its territories and possessions and serve as the principal interface between the DoD and licensed Amateur Radio operators in local communities. During a catastrophe and the immediate aftermath, local amateur radio stations are often the only source of communication, news, and information in the affected area.
Army MARS Auxiliarists are HF radio Subject Matter Experts and members are expected to mitigate risk in cyberspace, maintain operational and cyber security, recover quickly from a cyber-incident, utilize type three encryption, as well as establish reliable, military interoperable communications over long distances using HF radio when access to cyberspace has been impaired or denied. MARS does not use VHF or UHF communication capability. The communication skills and procedures needed to support the DOD are subject to change at any time. In providing this potential broad range of support, MARS Auxiliarists do not deploy. Auxiliarists provide the contingency of HF network connectivity from their home stations. While many of our MARS members wear multiple hats in their community as radio operators, MARS offers another opportunity in support of that mission. MARS supports DoD Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts by interfacing with Amateur Radio stations in disaster areas, or other Amateur Radio stations that are in contact with the disaster area, to obtain information concerning the conditions, impact and extent of the disaster, and other information pertinent to coordinating a possible U.S. HADR response by interfacing with members of the Amateur Radio Service in the communities throughout the United States, and to process situational awareness information products for DoD.
ARMY MARS Membership
Individual MARS Membership is open to civilian, volunteer Amateur Radio operators who desire to support the United States’ defense related activities utilizing their Amateur Radio station.
Individuals applying for ARMY MARS membership must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Eighteen Years of age or older
- Citizen of the United States or lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence under 8 USC Chapter 12
- Hold an FCC Amateur Radio license (any class)
- Agree to follow all rules and procedures prescribed by the Chief Army MARS and have a desire to provide voluntary communications support to the defense of the United States
- Have no prior record of being terminated for cause by another Service MARS program
- Agree to the membership agreement, privacy statement, and non-disclosure statement in the Army MARS membership application
- Able to pass a background check, ie: Of good moral character, no felony convictions, or under indictment or information in any court for a felony, no associations with known terrorist organizations, not an unlawful user of illicit drugs, has not been discharged from the Armed Forces for other than honorable conditions, has not been terminated for cause by any MARS service, and has not been declared mentally incompetent.
ARMY MARS members are expected to meet a minimum, on-going training requirement to retain their skills. A minimum of 72 hours per year (optimally spread over 18 hours per quarter) and active participation in at least one national level exercise is required of MARS members to retain membership.
You will need to have a radio station capable of transmitting at least 100 watts and capable of being modified to operate between 2-30 MHz on both SSB voice and MIL-STD 188-110A serial PSK mode. A computer system connected to the radio equipment capable of operating the supplied messaging software, for drafting, sending and receiving required messages.
The Motivation to Serve Army MARS is a unique activity for most people, requiring a great deal of personal investment for very intangible, perhaps even esoteric personal reward. MARS members do not receive surplus government equipment, nor are they provided with radios or reimbursement. Most MARS members find their service rewarding with the knowledge they are performing a patriotic duty doing something positive that is of essential value to their nation’s defense.
Does this sound like you? Then we welcome you into the Army MARS community. The MARS application below is the first step.
To Join Army MARS click below.
AR MARS Form 1 v2.2 Individual Application 20260531.pdf – Google Drive
For questions contact Bill Drake at kj5zv@verizon.net