Grading Correspondence Courses

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Correspondence Course Changes · Classified/Restricted Courses
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Member's Responsibilities

Responsibilities of Area FOURs

MARS Operator Course

NMO Courses
other courses

Documenting Graded Assignments

Unsat exams

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The following policies have been established in concert with the express directions of
Chief, Navy-Marine Corps MARS. 

See also "Correspondence Course Changes" and "Classified/Restricted Courses"

Army and AF MARS members taking the NMO series of courses shall forward their tests for grading to Chief, Navy-Marine Corps MARS, preferrably by e-mail to nnn0asa@navymars.org.

  Area FOUR responsibilities
The area FOUR, area ONE, or area director are charged with grading the MOC final exam.  The MOC review test should be graded at the state level, where primary responsibility for new member training lies.

The Area FOUR is responsible to grade all NAVEDTRA and NEETS courses for the NMO grades.  They shall notify the member in writing on NMCMARS letterhead of their satisfactory completion of assignments.  These may be sent electronically as e-mail attachments, but the file must contain a MARS letterhead format.  

Area Fours are not authorized to delegate NMO course grading responsibility.  At the discretion of the area director, or in the absence of an area FOUR, either the area ONE or the area director may grade the NMO course work.  This duty can not be delegated to the state or region level, or to any other Area staff, except by explicit authorization from Chief, NAVMARCORMARS.

Only Chief MARS, the Assistant to Chief MARS for Training, the respective Area Director, Area ONE, and Area FOUR are authorized to possess the answer keys or grade the NMO course work assignments.

Area Fours are responsible to maintain tight security on all answer keys and related materials.  Graded answer sheets are not to be returned to the member.  Simply notify the member of their grade and whether or not they passed the course.

Note that some Navy courses provide a maximum possible grade on retesting if a student did not pass the first time, no matter how well the member does the second time.  

If a member receives a passing grade they may not retake the test to try for a better score.

The area FOUR should maintain all answer sheets in a file for a period of one year.  After one year they should be destroyed.  

Upon issuing the member a letter of satisfactory completion of an entire course, the area FOUR should retain a copy of the satisfactory completion letter with the answer sheets for the remainder of the year.

  Member's Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of each MARS member who takes any correspondence course to insure the following are met:

A. they are entitled to take the course;

B. the correct course exam answer sheet is used for each assignment and each page contains:

   i. member's full name as it appeared on their membership record;

   ii. Their full personal MARS call sign and state;

   iii. The correct course title, version # (if applicable), and assignment #;

   iv.  Include a mailing address, e-mail address, and any other means by which the grading authority can contact the member with the results (such as FAX #).

C. ensure that their state director received and placed in the member's record a copy of any course completion notifications;

D. contact their respective state training staff or state director for any assistance needed with the course(s) being taken.

E. each member MUST keep confidential, their answer sheet(s) to all correspondence courses.  Members should not keep any copy of an answer sheet beyond that necessary to take the test and receive notice of satisfactory completion.  

Members should keep a copy of the answer sheet pending notification of their grade.

Sharing of a member's answer sheet except as expressly authorized (such as for grading purposes) is strictly prohibited!  It is grounds for disciplinary action as deemed appropriate by the area director, or higher authority.

  MARS Operator Course
It is recommended that the review test for MOC be graded by state FOURs as state directors hold primary responsibility for the progress of Tango members.  The MOC final exam must be graded at the area level.

 If the Area Four position is vacant grading responsibility falls to the Area Director or Area One.

If you are an area FOUR and do not have the answer key for the MOC final exam contact your area ONE or area director.  If they do not have it, contact me NNN0ASN, for assistance.

The answer keys for these assignments shall be treated as controlled documents and kept confidential.  They shall not be given to any other member or staff person without express permission of Chief MARS.   Primary responsibility resides with the Area Director. This duty may not be  delegated to other than the Area Four or Area One without express permission of Chief MARS.  All requests for waiver of this policy should be routed through NNN0ASN.

Chief MARS is very serious about the control of correspondence course answer keys.

  NMO Courses
Each Area Four is charged with the responsibility of grading the course assignments for the NMO grades.  This includes the NAVEDTRA and the NEETS courses.  In the absence of an Area Four the responsibility for grading these courses shall fall to the area ONE or area director.  Exceptions must be approved by Chief MARS.

Any area FOUR who does not have the answer keys for these assignments should contact their Area ONE or area director first, then NNN0ASN, for assistance.

The answer keys for these assignments shall be treated as controlled documents and kept confidential.  They shall not be given to any other member or staff person without express permission of Chief MARS.  This duty may not be delegated to other than the area FOUR, Area ONE, or area director.

  Other Training Courses
Other course work, whether US Navy, NAVMARCORMARS, or from another agency (such as FEMA) will be submitted for grading and processed according to instructions provided for that training material.

All training staff should familiarize themselves with the requirements of courses being taken by members in their AOR so they can answer questions about grading and documentation of course completion.

  Documenting Graded Assignments.
In all cases, notice or letter of satisfactory completion of a course or series of assignments should be forwarded to the cognizant state director.

Each state director shall maintain a copy of all written satisfactory completion notifications in the member's personnel file.  These notices become a permanent part of the member's record.

If a trial service member (Tango) fails to satisfactorily complete a required training within the specified time line the state director shall handle according to the policy and requirements in place for Trial Service members.  The state FOUR should keep the state director apprised of each Tango member's progress.

When a member takes a correspondence course that is graded outside the MARS administrative system it is the member's responsibility to forward a copy of any written notice of satisfactory completion to both their state and area directors.

State directors should forward a copy of all course completion documents to the area director for inclusion in the area personnel file.  Based, of course, on your area's record keeping policies.

The authorized staff member who grades a course or assignment must do each of the following:

1. for each assignment, or group of assignments  satisfactorily completed the grader shall notify the member, in writing, by means of a letter of satisfactory completion and advise the member's state director via message or correspondence,

2. the letter of satisfactory Completion shall contain:
A. Sufficient information to positively ID the member's record.  At a minimum the member's full name and MARS personal call sign

B. The course title and version, the assignment(s) completed, and the final grade in GPA format (4.0 is a perfect score) for each;

C. Contain a statement of satisfactory completion;

D. Contain the signature of the grading authority

3. The respective grader shall maintain the member's answer sheets for a period of one year from date of grading notification, after which the answer sheet(s) may be destroyed.  Do not return graded answer sheets to members.

  Handling Unsatisfactory Exams
The grading authority shall notify the member of any unsatisfactory results of their assignment(s) in a timely manner.  This should be done only by U.S. Mail or e-mail, never by message in the MARS system, or other means that might submit the information to viewing by other than the intended addressees.  Do not send test answer sheets back to the member at any time.


In the case of a Trial Service member who has repeatedly submitted an unsatisfactory final exam for the MARS Radio Operator course, the area FOUR shall notify the cognizant state and area directors in a discrete manner.

  Where to get Answers
State and region training staff should direct their questions and comments to their respective region and area FOUR.  An area FOUR may direct their questions or comments to their Area One, Area Director, or NNN0ASN.  See "contact us" page.
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