My first Army MARS call was: A9DRC and my ham call was W9DRC back in 1956 or 1957. Then I joined Navy MARS and my MARS call was N0JAN. Later it became NNN0JAN. Then I joined AF MARS and became AFA4CM. Then I got my region official call AFF4C.
For those that might want to know. MARS got started in November 1925. The program was called ARMY AMATEUR RADIO SYSTEM (AARS). Then the service got reactivated in 1946 right after WW-II. In 1948 the program got split up into an Army MARS program and a Air Force MARS program. Later in 1962 the Navy Marine Corps MARS program got launched. You have to be 18 years or older to join a MARS program and you can only be in one of the MARS programs at any one time. It is correct the mission of MARS is changing but it is becoming very involved with national disasters. The Army MARS program is taking the lead on this. I might add, the Air Force program has been doing MANY phone patches each and every day for B-52 pilots. Lastly, there is a program called SHARES whereby any government station be it local government or state government or national government can apply to join this organization. Once per week the SHARES appointed stations check into region and national HF nets. (This occurs on Wednesdays). Being a member of a MARS organization qualifies you to apply for acceptance into SHARES. The idea behind SHARES is to allow a common meeting place where all aspects of government can find a place to MUTUALLY meet and pass traffic among themselves and be able to talk to one another. Lee, w0vt, AFF4C US Air Force Region 4 Director > [Original Message] > From: Doug Person <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Date: 05/11/2007 8:17:32 PM > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] RE:MARS > > Interesting to see some old Navy Mars call signs. Been a long time... > > Doug - K0DXV - Ex-Navy Mars N0EOC > > Bob Nielsen wrote: > > > > The MARS callsigns have changed a bit over the years. At one time > > they used prefixes which are now allocated to amateur radio. > > > > Bob, N7XY > > ex- AF6SWE - Air Force Mars (~1954), N0KHM - Navy Mars (~1968) > > _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
