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Welcome to the Washington State Army
Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) Website.
WHAT IS MARS?
The Military Affiliate Radio System ( MARS) is an organization of FCC licensed Amateur radio operators who provide volunteer emergency communications support to national, regional, state and county organizations, agencies, and units. MARS is a Department of Defense sponsored program, established as a separately managed and operated program by the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Washington State Army MARS is part of U.S. Army MARS. US Army MARS is headquartered at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and assigned to the Headquarters, United States Army Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th Army Signal Command (NETCOM/9th ASC), which directly reports to the Department of the Army's Chief Information Officer/G-6.
Who is Washington State Army MARS?
Washington State Army MARS is an active unit of U.S. Army MARS, with an ever-growing membership. By conducting regular and frequent drills and exercises, daily training, and active mentoring, Washington State Army MARS members are highly-trained and prepared emergency communicators, capable of providing critical communications services to state and regional agencies and units, as well as to national federal and civic organizations.
If you are in Washington State and are interested in emergency communications and are a passionate
volunteer interested in homeland security and emergency services as a communicator, consider joining Washington State Army MARS. We will help you get the training needed so you can qualify for an FCC Amateur Radio license. Then we will assist you in joining the team.
MARS Overview
The primary function of U.S. Army Military Affiliate Radio System members is
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.
There are over 4,000 civilian members (all of them Amateur Radio operators) donating time and equipment to the Army MARS program. During recent national emergency communications exercises, the majority of the stations checking into the HF radio nets were MARS stations (Army, Air Force and Navy/Marine Corps MARS).
Approximately 200 Army MARS stations are chosen to support the National Communications System's SHARES (SHAred RESources) project. The SHARES network consists of stations operated by a number of Federal agencies (Departments of Defense, Energy, Justice, Treasury, FEMA, NDMS), some state emergency management agencies and a number of other telecommunications companies (such as AT&T, MCI, Sprint, the Regional Bell Operating Companies, etc.). The SHARES network operates voice and data networks on a number of HF (2-30 MHz) frequencies using HF Automatic Link Establishment, Pactor and Amtor technology.
To accomplish this mission of providing emergency communications, MARS furnishes a means of training members in the use of military communications procedures. It is a means of developing a potential reserve of trained radio communication personnel as auxiliary communicators for Military and Civil emergency communications.
MARS operators through their military communication procedures provide a pool of operators for local, national and international communication alternatives.
While many view MARS as a telegram service for Johnny over in Germany, MARS uses these MARSgrams primarily for practice to refine their skills as radio operators and of course to keep Johnny's family in contact with him. These skills play a critical role in Homeland Security, emergency communications support, and community service.
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Owen Ticknor, AAAØWA
State Army MARS Director
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US Army 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 communications.
Are you ready for an emergency? Find out if you are. How do you get ready?
If you are interested in joining US Army MARS in Washington State, please look over the requirements and instructions regarding US Army MARS Membership.
For more information on US Army MARS or for information on how to join Washington State Army MARS, please send an e-mail to, or write a letter to AAA0WA with your name, Amateur Radio License
call sign, phone number, and mailing address. Here's Owen's address:
Washington State Army MARS Director
Owen Ticknor, AAAØWA
6909 35th Ave SE
Lacey, WA 98503
Benefits of Membership in MARS
- 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 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. Qualified Army MARS members may apply for such courses at the Army Correspondence Course Program website.
- Operate on specially assigned military radio frequencies in voice, teletype, and packet 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.
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