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MARS Membership Eligibility Requirements and Responsibilities
The MARS program consists of volunteer members who operate official nets supporting emergency and auxillary communications. Members must meet the eligibility criteria and retention requirements specified below.
Criteria. MARS participation is limited to individuals who meet all of the following criteria:
1. 17 years of age or older. Signature of parent or guardian is required on the application if under 18 years of age.
2. Citizen of the U.S. or aliens who have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence under the provisions of the U.S. Code, Chapter 12, Title 3.
3. Willingness to comply with the regulations prescribed for participation in the Army MARS program.
4. Access to a radio station capable of operating on HF or VHF MARS frequencies.
5. A valid FCC and/or host country amateur radio operator license.
Member Responsibilities and Requirements
1. Complete the Basic Training course within 6 months of receiving the temporary MARS call sign.
2. Individual and club station members must meet a minimum of 12 participation hours in MARS activities every 90 days to retain licensed membership (6 of those hours must be on-the-air participation.).
3. Submit to the state director a monthly Participation Report documenting time spent in support of MARS.
4. Comply with MARS rules, regulations, and procedures as specified in the DA PAM 25-XX.
5. Conduct only official business on all MARS frequencies and nets.
Benefits of Membership
Add to the enjoyment of your amateur radio hobby through the expanded horizon of MARS.
Become part of the Army, Navy-Marine Corps, or Air Force MARS worldwide communications system. There are Army MARS stations in Japan, Korea, the Trust Territories, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Central America, Alaska, Germany, Africa, and the continental United States.
Increase your communications skills and capabilities. Selected correspondence courses in communications - electronics subjects are available free to MARS members from their respective affiliated service after completion of six months active membership.
Operate on specially assigned military radio frequencies in voice and various digital modes of communications.
Join a group of dedicated fellow radio amateurs participating in meaningful public service.
Affiliate with the service branch of your choice and become part of the professional military communications family.
Gain a feeling of being associated with a military mission and contributing to the welfare and preparedness of the nation.
Participate in regulated, disciplined radio nets with structured lines of organization and very specific operating rules.
Participate in the MARS Excess/Surplus Property Program after 6 months active membership. Issue of Government excess/surplus equipment is based on availability, of equipment, and possible assigned mission of individual activity. The granting of MARS membership to an individual or activity does not in itself convey an automatic right or entitlement of the recipient to receive or demand MARS property.
Additional Information
There are several types of Army MARS Membership. Click here to view the categories and explainations.
New members will be admitted on a probationary basis, pending completion of the Army MARS Basic Training Course. Former MARS members eligible to rejoin the Army MARS program will also be required to take the Army MARS Basic Training Course. New members will be issued a letter license initially, with a certificate issued after completion of Basic Training. The Basic Training Course is an 'open book' series of tests that can be completed in the comfort of the member's home.
Although some HF MARS operating frequencies are near enough to the amateur bands to allow operation with ham-band-only equipment, many are well outside the normal amateur bands. Most general coverage amateur equipment is easily modified to operate on MARS frequencies. The wide frequency spectrum of MARS operations require MARS operators to have an antenna tuner or antennas specifically cut for MARS operating frequencies.
Digital capabilities are not a requirement for an Army MARS station. It is however, required if a member wishes to participate in all the phases of MARS operations that are available.
There are MARS VHF repeaters located in and around many of the larger US metropolitan areas. Amateur VHF equipment must be modified to access the frequencies used by these repeaters.
If you want to apply for membership in New Mexico Army MARS, print out and complete two (2) copies of the application. Mail along with two (2) copies of your 'signed' Amateur license to:
New Mexico Army MARS Director
Ed Bingler, SMD
5421 Superstition Drive
Las Cruces, NM 88011
All others can email Hqs Army MARS Membership Administrator, to get the mail address for your State Director. You can also obtain the below application forms by mail from the Hqs Army MARS Membership Administrator. Be sure to include your mailing address in your email.
Army MARS Application Instructions for Completing Application
NOTE: These are the new March 2005 application forms. The old application forms will not be accepted after 15 May 2005. Both of these documents are in PDF format. To download a free version of Acrobat Reader, click on the Acrobat Reader logo.