What is MARS?

The Military Affiliate Radio System is a Department of Defense sponsored program, established as separate managed and operated programs by the Army, Navy and Air Force.

The program consists of licensed amateur radio operators who are interested in military communications. They contribute to the MARS mission providing auxiliary or emergency communications on a local, national, and international basis as an adjunct to normal communications.

MARS History
 

In November 1925, the Army Amateur Radio System (AARS) was formed by a few dedicated pioneers in the United States Army Signal Corps. This organization continued until the start of World War II when operations were suspended. Army amateur radio was authorized to resume operations in 1946 and the Army Amateur Radio System was reactivated and functioned as such until 1948 when the Army and Air Force established the Military Amateur Radio System, later renamed the Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS). In 1962, the Navy-Marine Corps MARS program was launched making MARS a joint service program.
 

MARS Mission

Provide Department of Defense sponsored emergency communications on a local, national, and international basis as an adjunct to normal communications.

Provide auxiliary communications for military, civil, and/or disaster officials during periods of emergency.

Assist in effecting normal communications under emergency conditions.

Create interest, and furnish a means of training members in military communications procedures.

Provide a potential reserve of trained radio communications personnel.

Handle moral and quasi-official record and voice communications traffic for Armed Forces and authorized U.S. Government civilian personnel stationed throughout the world.

Conduct an appropriate Amateur Radio program as a part of the annual celebration of Armed Forces Day.
 

Eligibility to Join Army MARS

The applicant must -

Be 17 years of age or older.

Be a United States citizen or resident alien.

Possess a valid amateur radio license issued by the Federal Communications Commission or other competent U.S. authority.

Possess a station capable of operating on MARS HF frequencies.

MARS members must agree to operate in accordance with the rules and regulations governing Army MARS as follows:

A minimum of 12 hours per calendar quarter with 6 hours being on HF networks.
 

Benefits of MARS Membership

Add to the enjoyment of your amateur radio hobby through the expanded horizon of MARS.

Become a part of the Army MARS worldwide communications system. There are MARS stations in Japan, Korea, the Trust Territories, Hawaii, Mid-East, Germany, Alaska, and the continental United States.

Increase your communications skills and capabilities. Selected correspondence courses in communications-electronics subjects are available free to Army MARS members after completion of six months active membership.

Operate on specially assigned military radio frequencies in voice and the various digital modes of communication.

Join a group of dedicated fellow amateurs participating in a 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 Equipment Program after 6 months active membership. Issue of 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.
 

Typical Army MARS Frequencies

MARS members stations meet periodically in scheduled networks on military frequencies outside the amateur bands. There are various types of networks and each accomplishes a specific goal. For example, administrative networks to take care of much of the day-to-day management of the program; traffic networks which exist solely to pass third party traffic; and of course, emergency networks which are established to provide for communication needs during periods of emergency. There are also technical nets and training nets. MARS nets operate in different modes. Although high frequency (HF) single sideband (SSB) voice is predominant, there are AMTOR, PACKET, PACTOR, and VHF nets.
 
 

How to Join Army MARS

To join Army MARS print both pages of the application form contained in the Army MARS page listed on this website. Complete all questions and mail both pages along with a 'signed' copy of your amateur license to:
 

Thad Stevens, SMD
P.O. Box 1313
Las Cruces, NM 88004-1313