Welcome to the West Virginia NAVY-Marine Corps MARS Website

USS West Virginia (BB-48), 1923-1959 (click for Historical Information)


NAVY/MARINE MARS 
Click the MARS Logo to go to the Main Navy/Marine Corps MARS Page 

WV NAVY-MARINE CORPS MARS - WILD AND WONDERFUL

 

Table of Contents

1. Mission Statement
2. Message From the Director
3. State and Regional NETS  / ECOM Drill Information  / DIGITAL Modes
4. Members Listing      and    Members Location Map  and Region Three Frequency Schedule  NEW
 5. MARS History and application form
6. Picture Gallery
7. Member's Projects Page
8. Tribute Page In Memorial to Our  Departed Members
9. Two Auspicious Awards -- 2008 Northeast Area Green C Award & 2008 Communicator of the Year Award
10. WV Navy -Marine Corp MARS History Project    A Work in Progress

 

 

JOIN NOW --  You may submit an application form in two ways:

      1) Download, fill out, sign, date and attach a copy of your ham license. Scan document and forward to the State Director at         NNN0IOF at navymars (dot) org.

       2) Fill out an online form here from the NAVY-Marine Corps National Site. 

 

1.  Our West Virginia MARS Mission

The Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) is a Department of Defense sponsored program, established as separately managed and operated programs by the Navy-Marine Corps. Here in West Virginia, NAVY-Marine Corps MARS members are volunteer, licensed amateur radio operators who are ready, willing and able to support emergency communications for military, civil, and/or disaster officials during periods of emergency on the local and national level, meet the requirements of training for any communications emergency, and provide auxiliary radio communication in the State of West Virginia and beyond.   We are MARS operators, first and foremost. 



2.  A Message from the West Virginia NAVY-Marine Corps MARS State Director



Welcome to the WV Navy-Marine Corps MARS website! We are always looking for "a few good operators". If you enjoy this website, please considering becoming an active member of WV Navy-Marine Corps MARS and join us on our QRM-less HF frequencies.

Navy MARS operators enjoy many opportunities to expand their skill sets by participating in SSB and Digital Traffic Nets as well as a dedicated emergency net. Navy MARS offers many different training courses and our application of personal computer sound card technology continues to push the state of the art. WV Navy MARS members utilize MT-63, AMTOR, packet, PACTOR and MARS ALE (Automatic Link Enabling) techniques. Currently, there is a dedicated MARS VHF repeater on Coal Mountain in the Charleston area. Hopefully, we will add a repeater in the mountains outside of Romney, West Virginia to serve Navy MARS members in the Eastern Panhandle.

Training and educational opportunities are also available through an array of correspondence courses.

WV Navy-Marine Corps MARS - Wild and Wonderful!

Come join the fun.


Lee S. Mairs
WV State Director Navy-Marine Corps MARS
NNN0IOF
NNN0GCD
KM4YY/8
NNN0IOF at navymars (dot) org





 3. WV & REGIONAL NAVY/MARINE CORPS MARS SCHEDULED NETS   /   ECOM DRILL INFORMATION 

WEST VIRGINIA STATE MARS NET 

3D1B 
3D1B WV Traffic Net, 1700 Local DAILY, Primary Frequency is NCN.

OTHER REGIONAL NETS

3X1B Region Three Traffic Net, 0900 Local DAILY, Primary Frequency is NDA -As of 08/01/07. 

TRAINING NETS

NA1C Wed and Thursday at 1900 Local, Frequency NCN (Admin and NTP8 D training). 
(NOTE: THE NA1C WEDNESDAY NIGHT NET IS NOW CANCELLED AS OF THE 05 MARCH 2008. THE THURSDAY NIGHT NA1C WILL CONTINUE STARTING AT 1900 LOCAL ON FREQUENCY NCN.

NA1E 2nd and 4th Monday at 1900 Local, Frequency NCO (ECOM Training).

NA1Y Thursday at 2000 Local, Frequency NCN,  Digital Mode and sound card setup.

3X1Y Saturday 1200 Local, Frequency NDA, Digital Mode and sound card setup.

NEW -- WV (Statewide) NAVY MARS Training Net,  Monday Evenings at 1800 Local, Frequency NBE,   Focus will be on the JSOP, NTP-8(D) and ECOM procedures.  Also, technical training to include MT-63 operation as well as procedures for operating in an all-digital net.

NORTHEASTERN REGIONAL ECOM NET

NA2E, MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, 'Two hours after Sunset until Midnight', Local; Calling for Traffic & Check-ins on 15 & 45 minutes after the hour,  Operated on the National Common Frequency, NCL.

NECOS are needed for the NA2E Net, Contact the State Director.

 


ECOM DRILL INFORMATION 

Recent Exercises:

December 8, 2007  "I.R. Phone Home”  0800 hours to 1600 hours, Location: University of West Virginia, Parkersburg, WV, and Statewide on HF. Combined Exercise; WV NAVY Marine Corps MARS, numerous Military, State (West Virginia and Ohio) Governmental agencies as well as regional/local resources and the Red Cross.

Outcome:  WV NAVY Marine Corps MARS demonstrated ability to provide coordinated communication and command and control during a large scale simulated, significant event which exceeded normal operational communications capacity.

--

December 17, 2007   0700-1800 MST & 0830-1530 Local (EST) FEMA National Emergency Coordination Net , The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will conduct an exercise of the National Emergency Coordination Net (NECN). MARS participation will be limited to appropriate Net Control Stations. 

Second Quarter 2008   There were two large MULTI SERVICE LEVEL ECOM EXERCISES held in the SECOND QUARTER OF 2008. THE EXERCISES were NLE 2-08 AND CWID2008.

September,  2008   The Region 3 Howling Wind Exercise

 

 

NEW - DIGITAL MODES - MT 63 PROCEDURES, INFORMATION, PROGRAM DOWNLOAD LINK AND TIPS 

 

4. WV MARS MEMBERS LISTING 

NNN0AHJ    George
NNN0BDM   Tom    NNN0GCD SEVEN (Repeater Operations) 
NNN0EBC    Bob    NNN0GCD TWO (Emergency Communications), SHARES
NNN0FQF    Barney   SHARES
NNN0HAF    Prentice
NNN0HAG    Bill
NNN0IOF     Lee    NNN0GCD Director, WV NMC MARS, SHARES
NNN0JHJT     Danny
NNN0LLL     Bob
NNN0PEA    Dewey
NNN0QDS    Eric
NNN0RTK    Bob
NNN0TGQ    "Wick"  NNN0GCD THREE (Net Operations/Reports)
NNN0VBU    Bud
NNN0VMMT   Joey
NNN0KOK   Barry
NNN0VLG      Rob  NNN0GCD EIGHT  (Assistant for Public Affairs and Newsletters)
NNN0WPT    Jim    NNN0GCD FIFTEEN  (Interoperability/TSA Liaison), SHARES
NNN0WMWT   Robert
NNN0YED    Frank
NNN0YUG    Larry
NNN0ZMD    Bob

5. 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. NAVY-MARINE MARS stands Proud, Professional, and Ready.

6. Picture Gallery   

 

Gallery #1    North Bend 2007 State Conference Photos  

7.  MARS Member's Projects Page 

 

8.  MARS Member's Memorial Page

9. Two Auspicious Awards -- 2008 Northeast Area Green C Award & 2008 Communicator of the Year Award

10.  WEST VIRGINIA NAVY -Marine Corp MARS History Project 

The WV MARS History Project is an effort to present a historical perspective to what has become a well-oiled communication organization.  This section is a work in progress and as this library archive is built - we rememeber the lives and times, equipment and operating environments, the pioneers and progress in text and pictures. 

PROUDLY SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE

Site created and maintained by
NNN0GCD EIGHT  /    NNN0VLG  ROB
Last Update 11/10/2008