[MilCom] MARS Program Future Status?

[Ken]

Got to wonder what is going to happen to all of the MARS programs when 
January 2008 rolls around and the new VHF narrow band standards become 
mandatory.  Public access information at CAP 
http://level2.cap.gov/visitors/programs/operations/communications/radios_radio_network.cfm 
& the CAP technology site 
https://ntc.cap.af.mil/comm/equipment/equipment.cfm seems to indicate that 
VHF-NFM wise, virtually every major brand of reasonably priced amateur radio 
equipment DOES NOT meet the new standards.  The same applies to the HF/SSB 
equipment with only one exception.

Did the MARS program get an exception to implementation of the new narrow 
band standards and if so for how long of a period?  Maybe some sort of 
"GRANDFATHERING" of both VHF & HF equipment (although if you look at the CAP 
site, much of the amateur equipment was only wideband capable)?  Unlike CAP 
that gets some AF funding, for the most part individual MARS stations are 
personally member funded, although I would assume repeaters & links are 
funded by the respective MARS military service.

According to press releases from EF Johnson, CAP purchased over $7 million 
in VHF NFM P25 capable radios in CY 2006 & 2007
http://www.efjohnson.com/news.asp
http://www.efjohnson.com/news-2006.asp

I can't find any stories about MARS program radio equipment purchases.

Looks like a good story that our various hobby publications military 
communications "investigative" columnists could look into! :)

Ken