WV NAVY-MARINE CORPS MARS - WILD AND WONDERFUL

Welcome to the West Virginia NAVY-Marine Corps MARS Website

Proudly Serving Those Who Serve

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

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 &    NEW Director's Corner (Staff Appointments and NEWS)
3. State and Regional NETS / ECOM Drill Information / How to Operate MARS Digital Modes
                                                                                                  DIGITAL Modes including WINLINK 2000 OVERVIEW
                                                                                                 More Information on PSK Digital Modes
4. Members Listing      and    Members Location Map and Region Three Frequency Schedule
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
11. NA2E REGIONAL NET (The NET is currently in need of additional NECOS)

Updated Link to NTP-8 (05/27/2011)

"For your info. Tango members can use the search options in NTP-8D to
rapidly find answers for the MARS Operators Course."

Lee, NNN0IOF,
NNN0GCD, West Virginia State Director

" I removed NTP-8 (C) and consolidated (D) under one heading.
The link is http://www.navymars.org/ntp8/default.htm
This will give you links to each of the chapters, annexes, and other items in NTP-8 (D) Draft."

Joseph, NNN0FGN, Navy-Marine Corps MARS,
NNN0AST, Assistant to Chief MARS for Telecommunications.

Note NTP-8(D) Chapter 7 is listed here for reference only. It has been replaced by the Standard Operating Procedure for Calling and Operating a Voice Net (Voice SOP)

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 Auxiliary 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 NBI. (Updated 06/2010)

OTHER REGIONAL NETS

3X1B Region Three Traffic Net, 0900 Local DAILY, Primary Frequency is NDA (Updated 06/2010)

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 Region 3 Howling Wind Exercise

February 28, 2009 Region 3 Dark Day Exercise EEI Messages Sent and After Action Report

WINTER 2009 - REGION 3 ECOM EXERCISE (DARK DAY) EEI MESSAGES AND AFTER ACTION REPORT

March 20-25, 2010 Region 3 Hidden Shadow Exercise (included MARS WINMOR HF)

DIGITAL MODES - WINMOR, and MT 63 PROCEDURES

4. West Virginia MARS MEMBERS LISTING (Updated 05/20/2011)

NNN0AHJ    George
NNN0BDM   Tom    NNN0GCD SEVEN (Repeater Operations)
NNN0EBC    Bob    NNN0GCD TWO (Emergency Communications), SHARES
NNN0FQF    Barney   SHARES
NNN0GPC   Karin
NNN0HAG    Bill
NNN0IOF     Lee    NNN0GCD Director, WV NMC MARS, SHARES
NNN0JDW   Jim
NNN0KOK   Barry
NNN0KONT Tom
NNN0LLL     Bob
NNN0QDS    Eric
NNN0RTK    Bob
NNN0TGQ    "Wic" NNN0GCD THREE (Net Operations/Reports) / NNN0GCD FOUR Assitant for Training
NNN0VBU    Bud
NNN0VLG    Rob NNN0GCD EIGHT (Assistant for Public Affairs and Newsletters), SHARES
NNN0VTNT David
NNN0WPT   Jim    NNN0GCD FIFTEEN (Interoperability/TSA Liaison), SHARES
NNN0YSD Stan
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

Featuring a 40M QRP Rig

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

"I wish to have no Connection with any Ship that does not Sail fast for I intend to go in harm's way."

Captain John Paul Jones, 16 November 1778, in a letter to le Ray de Chaumont.

"Damn the torpedoes, Full speed ahead!"

Admiral David Glasgow Farragut (1801-1870). Aboard Hartford, Farragut entered Mobile Bay, Alabama, 5 August 1864, in two columns, with armored monitors leading and a fleet of wooden ships following. When the lead monitor Tecumseh was demolished by a mine, the wooden ship Brooklyn stopped, and the line drifted in confusion toward Fort Morgan.

"The battle of Iwo Island [Jima] has been won. The United States Marines, by their individual and collective courage, have conquered a base which is as necessary to us in our continuing forward movement toward final victory as it was vital to the enemy in staving off ultimate defeat.... Among the Americans who served on Iwo Island, uncommon valor was a common virtue."

Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, 17 March 1945.
[CINCPACFLT Communique No. 300, World War II Command File, Operational Archives Branch, Naval Historical Center.]

"The Navy has both a tradition and a future--and we look with pride and confidence in both directions."

Admiral George Anderson, CNO, 1 August 1961.

If you'd like to see a famous Naval quote here, please send your recommendation to NNN0VLG. Thanks.

Site created and maintained by
NNN0GCD EIGHT / NNN0VLG ROB
Last Update 05/28/2011