[Elecraft] RE:MARS

[pulsarxp at earthlink.net]

My first Army MARS call was: A9DRC and my ham call was W9DRC back in 1956
or 1957.  Then I joined Navy MARS and my MARS call was N0JAN.  Later it
became NNN0JAN.  Then I joined AF MARS and became AFA4CM.  Then I got my
region official call AFF4C.  

For those that might want to know.  MARS got started in November 1925.  The
program was called ARMY AMATEUR RADIO SYSTEM (AARS).  Then the service got
reactivated in 1946 right after WW-II.  In 1948 the program got split up
into an Army MARS program and a Air Force MARS program.  Later in 1962 the
Navy Marine Corps MARS program got launched.  You have to be 18 years or
older to join a MARS program and you can only be in one of the MARS
programs at any one time.

It is correct the mission of MARS is changing but it is becoming very
involved with national disasters.  The Army MARS program is taking the lead
on this.  I might add, the Air Force program has been doing MANY phone
patches each and every day for B-52 pilots.  

Lastly, there is a program called SHARES whereby any government station be
it local government or state government or national government can apply to
join this organization.  Once per week the SHARES appointed stations check
into region and national HF nets.  (This occurs on Wednesdays).  Being a
member of a MARS organization qualifies you to apply for acceptance into
SHARES.  The idea behind SHARES is to allow a common meeting place where
all aspects of government can find a place to MUTUALLY meet and pass
traffic among themselves and be able to talk to one another.

Lee, w0vt, AFF4C
US Air Force Region 4 Director


> [Original Message]
> From: Doug Person <doug at northroutt.net>
> To: <Elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
> Date: 05/11/2007 8:17:32 PM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] RE:MARS
>
> Interesting to see some old Navy Mars call signs.  Been a long time...
>
> Doug - K0DXV - Ex-Navy Mars N0EOC
>
> Bob Nielsen wrote:
> >
> > The MARS callsigns have changed a bit over the years.  At one time 
> > they used prefixes which are now allocated to amateur radio.
> >
> > Bob, N7XY
> > ex- AF6SWE - Air Force Mars (~1954), N0KHM - Navy Mars (~1968)
> >