About the United State Army Military Affiliate Radio System

MARS is a Department of Defense sponsored program, established as a separately managed and operated program by the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The program consists of licensed amateur radio operators who are interested in military communications on a local, national, and international basis as an adjunct to normal communications.

MARS has a long and proud history of providing world-wide auxiliary emergency communications during times of need. The combined three service MARS programs (Army, Air Force, and Navy-Marine Corps) volunteer force of over 5,000 dedicated and skilled amateur radio operators is the backbone of the MARS program. The benefit of MARS membership is enjoying an amateur radio hobby through the ever-expanding horizon of MARS. Our affiliate members' continued unselfish support of our mission keeps Army MARS Proud, Professional, and Ready.

US Army MARS Mission

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


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


• To assist in effecting normal communications under emergency conditions.

Visit the official U.S. Army MARS Home Page.

History of Army MARS Program

In November, 1925, the Army Amateur Radio System (AARS) was initiated by a few dedicated pioneers in the United States Army Signal Corps led by Capt. Thomas C. Rives. His original intention was to enlist the talents of volunteer Amateur Radio operators as a source to train soldiers in the then new technology of radio as well as pursuing radio research and development to improve radio equipment within the Army. His efforts were very successful.

This organization continued until the United States entry into World War II, at which time radio Amateurs were denied the use of the air. Therefore, the activities of AARS, as it was known, were suspended until 1946 when, once again, AARS was allowed to go back on the air. During the years 1925 through 1942, the AARS functioned more or less as an extra curricular activity of the U. S. Army Signal Corps, its scope being necessarily limited by the meager budget of the pre-World War II depression years. The best available figures indicate that as of the 7th of December, 1941, there were approximately 60,000 FCC licensed Amateurs within the United States and its possessions. Some 5600 of those Amateurs were members of the AARS. About 20% of the pre-World War II AARS members eventually entered the service of their country either in the Army or in a civilian capacity. The U. S. Army recognized the great importance of reactivating the AARS to train vitally needed communications personnel at a relatively inexpensive direct cost to the U.S. government. Therefore, in 1946, the AARS was reactivated and functioned as such until the creation of the Military Amateur Radio System in 1948, later renamed the Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) with Army MARS and the newly formed Air Force MARS reflecting the creation of the Air Force as a separate service. In early 1963, the Navy-Marine Corps MARS was established.

MARS has grown in all of the services throughout the world. It relies on civilian and military MARS members to be available in case of emergency or disaster to provide communications support. At such times, MARS needs all of the support it can provide. Amateur Radio, collectively with MARS, has made its mark in American history. Each year provides new evidence of the important role it plays in the service of the nation.

Official Sponsorship

The Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) is an official Department of Defense and Department of the Army sponsored communications system. Therefore, it has official status, is assigned missions and functions, and authorized the use of assigned military radio frequencies.

Army MARS is directed and managed by the Department of the Army through the United States Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th Army Signal Command and is a world-wide organization. It is comprised of both military and civilian personnel. In fact, the majority are civilian volunteers. Each volunteer Army MARS member is required to hold a valid Amateur Radio license from the Federal Communications Commission. These volunteers are under no service obligation, but must meet a 12-hour per calendar quarter minimum participation requirement. A volunteer may resign from Army MARS at any time without difficulty or prejudice by simply submitting a written resignation.

Our Customers

	The Department of State is the lead U.S. foreign affairs agency, and the Secretary of State is the president's principal foreign policy adviser. The Department advances U.S. objectives and interests in shaping a freer, more secure and more prosperous world through its primary role in developing and implementing the president's foreign policy. The Department also supports the foreign affairs activities of other U.S. government entities including the Department of Commerce and the Agency for International Development. It also provides an array of important services to U.S. citizens and to foreigners seeking to visit or immigrate to the United States.
	The Director of Military Support (DOMS) serves as the Secretary of the Army's action agent for planning and executing DoD's Support Mission to civilian authorities within the United States. The DOMS, a general officer appointed by the Secretary of the Army, is the DOD primary contact for all federal departments and agencies during periods of domestic civil emergencies or disaster response. On behalf of the DOD, the DOMS and his supporting staff, serving as a joint staff, ensure the planning, coordination, and execution of many domestic support operations.
	The Federal Emergency Management Agency -- FEMA -- is an independent agency of the federal government, reporting to the President. Since its founding in 1979. FEMA's mission has been clear: to reduce loss of life and property and protect our nation's critical infrastructure from all types of hazards through a comprehensive, risk-based, emergency management program of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
	The purpose of National Communications System "SHARES" Program is to provide a single, interagency emergency message handling system by bringing together existing HF radio resources of Federal and federally affiliated organizations when normal communications are destroyed or unavailable for the transmission of national security and emergency preparedness information.
	The National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) is a Federally coordinated system that augments the Nation's emergency medical response capability. The overall purpose of the NDMS is to establish a single integrated National medical response capability for assisting State and local authorities in dealing with the medical and health effects of major peacetime disasters.
	The Transportation Security Administration formed immediately following the tragedies of Sept. 11. Our agency is a component of the Department of Homeland Security and is responsible for security of the nation's transportation systems. With our state, local and regional partners, we oversee security for the highways, railroads, buses, mass transit systems, ports and the 450 U.S. airports. From Alaska to Puerto Rico we ensure your travels – by plane, train, automobile or ferry – are safe and secure.

A little bit more about MARS...

MARS has a long and proud history of providing world-wide auxiliary emergency communications during times of need. In order to maintain operator proficiency and ensure network and system integrity and effectiveness during emergencies, the MARS program provides morale messaging services for members of the Armed Forces stationed around the world. This is done free of charge.

Most morale messages are simple text messages called MARSgrams. These messages are relayed around the world from members of the Armed Forces and eligible federal government employees to their friends and families. The radio operators of MARS relay these MARSgrams over military and civilian radio networks to and from overseas locations. Once the messages have been relayed to the geographical regions of the addressees, volunteer and military radio operators deliver the messages by telephone or mail at DoD expense. The average delivery time for typical MARSgram messages is 12/48 hours depending on location.

Depending upon location and availability of equipment, MARS also offers service members the opportunity to place free phone calls home from overseas, from military aircraft, and from ships. This is accomplished by connecting phone lines to radio equipment with the radio link acting as the long-distance carrier. This process is called, "phone-patching."

The morale messaging services of MARS play an integral role in maintaining the effectiveness and integrity of the MARS program, ensuring that the MARS program is ready in times of crisis. Washington State Army MARS stands Proud, Professional, and Ready.