This month we are going to address several topics – and break from my self-imposed policy of limiting all correspondence

to one sheet of paper. Today you get 4 pages, plus attachments too. Some of our regular topics are not included. When

following along, keep in mind change is a constant in life. A static state is comfortable but life demands our flexibility.

1. The DoD Instruction issued in December 2009 (Number 4650.02)

2. Yet another installment in Digital Procedures

3. Changes to the Procedures for Calling a Voice Net specifically the use of FULL PROCEDURES and

ABBREVIATED PROCEDURES in accordance with ACP-125

4. A re-introduction of the use of ABBREVIATED CALL SIGNS to Army MARS.

5. Introduction of the use of CALL WORDS to Army MARS.

6. Picking up the pace – Speed.

The DoDi has superseded all previous directives and orders, and is the new orders MARS program operates. All

previous instruction, including the Joint Voice Procedures, any procedures outlined in the Road Ahead, MARS tradition,

and any old manual you may have is superseded. Changes in procedures are warranted base on the following

statements in the DoDi.

“MARS radio procedures shall be based on Allied Communications Publications procedures maintained by the Combined

Communications Electronics Board …”

The ACP is now the basis for all our procedures. Our procedures are distinctly military. Headquarters has prioritized

aligning Army MARS more closely with our military counterparts. This new posture is prompting both a change in

procedures and culture in Army MARS. Much of what follows is a re-alignment of our operations with the ACP, and

actual military practices.

What this means for training. AAA9TC has been tasked to develop the written material to communicate this information

through out the Army MARS program. This process will take some time to implement in its entirety. Trainers are

encouraged to review the ACP. Relevant sections of the ACP are referenced in new material.

There appears to be some confusion about the use of digital modes. This comes in two parts:

1. Appropriate Selection of a digital mode for Station to Station communications.

The Army MARS volunteer has available a vast number of digital modes through various sound card programs developed

for Amateur Radio. Amateur Radio has done a good job of advancing skills in both the communication and technical

phases of the art, inside the boundaries of Part 97. We have seen a rapid expansion of tools for digital communications.

Much of this is specific to the activities and conditions prevalent in Amateur Radio. This development has not always

followed instep with technology and techniques used outside of Part 97. Some of the Amateur Radio tools are not always

the best choice for use in MARS.

For instance: In MARS we have relatively wide bandwidth channels appropriate for voice communications. We use these

same channels for digital operations. Our priorities are Reliability and Speed. Narrow bandwidth modes, while very

applicable in Amateur Radio, do not apply to us. Reliability and Speed are two of our priorities, and we have the bandwidth

to make the most of both.

Another example is selecting modes because they are very slow, and allow us to type comfortably ahead in a buffer and

correct our typing errors before transmission. This practice is not acceptable. Our purpose is not keyboard chat. Keeping

our transmission as sort as possible is very important. For services messages of this sort, type them in a text editor or

word processor and cut/paste them into the transmit window.

Army MARS stations are given a wide variety and the discretion to pick a digital mode that is appropriate for the task.

However, with that discretion comes a responsibility and accountability for the decision. It is expected operations will be

conducted using the best tool for the MARS mission. For example, MT63 is an excellent tool that provides both speed

and reliability for network operations, and therefore is very commonly used in this role. If leaders decide to conduct

exercises and operations using a specialty mode, such as PSK31 or RTTY, then they should be prepared to justify the

reason for that selection and why it is the best tool under the circumstances.

Since most of the modes available to us are also legal in the Amateur Radio service, simple familiarization with the mode

is in most cases more appropriately done in that setting.

2. WINMOR, Pactor I, and Pactor III. AirMail and RMS Express

All stations operating Pactor 1 or Airmail software are encouraged to upgrade to RMS Express software and WINMOR.

WINMOR does not approach Pactor III speed, but is an improvement in speed than Pactor 1. WINMOR is an adaptive

ARQ waveform that operates on a soundcard device and Windows PC. WINMOR is packaged with RMS Express, and is

now available from the Winlink Development Team at the www.winlink.org website.

Government Agencies have adequate resources to purchase the best equipment for Winlink operations. At this time, this

means a Pactor III. Individual volunteers when working with and advising Agencies about equipment to purchase should

not recommend WINMOR or Pactor 1 as options. This is Army MARS policy.

3. FLDigi Macro / TOD transmission – Correction

My thanks to Steve Schroder AAM8ECO for drawing my attention to a bit of misinformation that I disseminated. In a

previous training bulletin, I had advised <ZDT> was the proper macro to use for inserting the Time Of Day into FLDigi

macros. I have provided the wrong information. The correct macro is <QSOTIME>Z.

ACP-125 describes two ways of network operation. One way is the Full Procedure, the other is the Abbreviated

Procedure. The ACP allows for these procedures to adapt to various circuit conditions or increase the pace of the net.

This occurs at the direction of the Net Control.

Currently, we are exclusively using what is best described as Full Procedures. A couple of years ago we used what is

best described as Abbreviated Procedures. As of now, we are going to do both.

The reason for this is simple: Not long ago, a group of soldiers during training checked into an Army MARS net.

Consistent with ACP-125 they checked into the net using the Abbreviated Procedure. A certain amount of confusion

resulted. The soldiers were right. They used the procedure we are directed to use by the DoDI 4650.02. Because of

this, we are going to make changes.

using common sense to solve a problem or achieve an objective. You are responsible for selecting the correct

procedure for the circumstances. Listen carefully, recognize what is occurring and adapt. This requires a higher level

of human performance than simply following rules to the letter. The Army MARS volunteer is a highly intelligent and

experienced communications expert. This should be no problem.

Procedure is required does the NCS order the use of Full Procedures. When conditions improve such that Full

Procedures are not required (the ACP calls this “Normal”) then the NCS orders the use of Abbreviated Procedure.

This allows the net to transition from fast to slow, and back to fast based on changing conditions.

What this means specifically:

1 – The Net Control Stations call sign is normally omitted from calls to the NCS.

2 – Initial calls (when sending traffic) may be omitted.

*** About item #3. Use common sense. The ACP is intended to be very flexible, and adaptive to conditions and

Abbreviated Procedures. How you handle this on VHF may differ than how applied on HF.

A page with a detailed explanation of this procedure is attached.

It has been a long time since Abbreviated Call Signs were permitted in Army MARS. In that time, we have all been trained

Abbreviated Call Signs are very common outside of Army MARS. They are in ACP-125. Our rules for identification are

significantly different than Amateur Radio. Army MARS is no longer familiar with this common practice in military

communications.

Abbreviated Call Signs are now authorized. See the attached page on the topic for details. Abbreviated Call Signs are to

be applied thoughtfully and with discretion. The Net Control Station is responsible for authorizing the use of Abbreviated

Call Signs, or Full Call Signs. As stated in a previous topic, responsibility and accountability apply to making decisions

and exercising discretion.

The system for abbreviation is not perfect, and duplications are possible. It is not envisioned Abbreviated Call Signs will

be used on every net routinely – however, Army MARS will become familiar with their use and the advantages they offer in

speeding communications, and the tool is available to use when appropriate.

A call sign is a letter / number combination that identifies a station or a collectively a group of stations. A call word is

usually two words that identify a station or collectively a group of stations. The difference is the Call Word uses words

rather than letters and numbers.

This is another area of military communications Army MARS will become familiar with.

We will begin using Call Words as collective call signs. We shall not use call words to identify ourselves individually.

Call Words are often frequently changed, however some call words stay the same over a long period of time. Our Call

Words shall be static, that is, not subject to periodic change.

Most of these call words are an aid to a Net Control Station to call for and identify stations with certain capabilities.

The following call words are authorized in Army MARS.

frequencies that are in Free Net without a NCS present; however it may apply in other circumstances. Typically, the

station using the Call Word will have traffic of some sort and is not familiar with the individual call signs of the stations

monitoring or the net call sign if any applies.

new or other information.

See the attached page on this subject for details.

You may have guessed that increasing our operational speed is something we are striving for. The amount of messages

we can move through the system while the messages are still relevant depends on speed. Some of our networks move

very slowly in routine conditions. This is an area for improvement.

The new procedures and flexibility to implement them are only one part to increasing speed. We must be clear and

concise. Our speech must be calm, efficient, without being hurried and difficult to understand. We must listen carefully

and not require repetitions of information. All of this takes practice. Practice you must and will do. Off the air, while alone

at home, in the shower or anyplace you won’t bother others and draw unwanted attention to your self. Train your self to

think of the words you want to say before you say them, to construct your sentences concisely, and then say them clearly

and quickly. If you verbalize noises between words when you talk, such as “ummm”, then train your self to stop. Make

recordings of your self, and listen to them. You may be surprised at what you hear.

We must change our attitudes about what we choose to say, the information we choose to share on nets. This is not a

social setting, and while many of the people involved are your friends, they are your colleagues in MARS. There are no

extra points on the participation report for having the longest time the transmitter was keyed. We must stay on topic, and

avoid small talk and being chatty. A suggestion is for NCS stations to stop polling the net for “comments”, but instead use

the word “information”. Comments imply we are interested in opinions, and are an invitation for open dialogue on any

topic. “Information” is more business like, and implies only relevant information is welcome.