MARS Day Out
Summer, 2008

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MARS Day Out (MDO) has been a great concept in ECOM readiness.  It implements the true nature of field deployment, operations on emergency power, and gets you to dust off and check out that field gear you may not have used for a while.  It's also a great opportunity to socialize with fellow MARS members you may not have seen for a while.  It is a more relaxed approach so there is more time for trouble shooting, tweeking your set up, and generally reviewing your layout and logisticals.

Unlike an ECOM exercise or actual event, MDO allows you to pick, or help pick, a location.  It can be a hilltop, a park, or even your own back yard.  The latter may seem like the easy way out, but think about it for a moment.  You're still carrying out the key points of the purpose for MDO.  

Besides, not everyone is going to be asked to deploy to a field site.  Home is where you might be needed.  Just the same you could be without power, maybe wind has damaged your antennas, so you set up your generator and portable antenna, and away you go.

FHA assists JBG in the
back yard
JBG and FHA took turns calling the PA1E net from Pete's back yard during an ECOM exercise.  They were operational on HF and VHF Your emergency generator doesn't have to be large to be effective Neither does your HF antenna.  Select something that is readily portable, easy to set up, and fairly stable.
With a little planning your station set up can be in a very compact area, such as JBG did in the above photo.  A small tent, a tarp, or even a beach umbrella can be adequate for protection from weather or the hot sun.  Here you want to plan ahead a little bit.  As with everything else you want some versitility in how you will be able to set it up and it should be fairly compact for light weight, ease of hauling around, and ease of setting up.

A trailer set up with all your gear can be the fastest and easiest way to be on sight and on the air with a minimum of effort. Large tent(s) or awning(s) can accommodate a larger group of people and provide more flexibility, but the set up factor must be considered. Large tents can provide multiple operating positions as well as space to relax, eat, and converse away from the operating positions. Or an umbrella over a compact operating position can be adequate in many cases.

The key in any operation is: Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance.

Check your go-out bag.  Does it have your ECOM info kit?  Is it up to date?  Got some current rosters?  There are several on the Region Ten web page designed to aid NCS and stations on the go.  There are rosters sorted by call sign, sorted by location, sorted by county, staff rosters, and more.  Check out the Rosters section if you haven't lately.

Got flashights?  At least a small pocket size and a larger 5 cell or other bigger light are a good idea.  You should have at least two medium size as well (ya never know when a bulb goes out or batteries die).  Speaking of... got extra batteries?  Got a method of charging your hand helds from the generator?  What else do you need?  Start with a check list.  Make one up and run off several copies so that each time you check the gear you can check off the list.  That way you don't miss anything.

When considering your gear think in at least three catagories. Gear you are expected to bring, gear you are not expected to bring but might want to (in case), and gear for personal needs and wants.  

Some general gear you may or may not be expected to supply such as generator, portable HF rig, tent, portable antenna, etc.  Then there's personal gear such as water, some sustainable food (such as ration packets), your rosters, HT, batteries, chargers, etc.

With good planning you can be comfortable and operate efficiently from a modest space. Even a compact space can be comfortable if properly arranged. On the other hand, you can really spread out; if the circumstance permits. Don't forget to plan for comfort.  You may be there a while.  There is no sense being miserable too.

And don't forget to have fun!!!  
If you happen to be lucky enough to be at JBG's sight, where ever it may be, there's bound to be great food With a table like this you've got room for some gear and still plenty of room to chow done! Even small operations can easily accomodate time for relaxation, discussion (of critical and important topics, of course), and... Food.

And while you are thinking ECOM, don't forget to look into getting your ECOM Qualifications certificate and cool pin you can wear with pride.
It says you accomplished those little extras that make for a better operator.
More info? Click here!

Got questions?  Need some advise? Looking for someone to buddy up with on your next ECOM exercise, or the next MARS Day Out?  Drop a note to your State ECOM assistant or State Director.