page_title: Military Auxiliary Radio System
section_title: MARS Today
hierarchical_section_title: Military Auxiliary Radio System / MARS Today
caption_attribution_description: English: MARS Operator, AAT3OT, using a radio to communicate with the U.S. Army Reserve in the MARS Emergency Communications Unit trailer.
context_page_description: The Military Auxiliary Radio System is a United States Department of Defense sponsored program, established as a separately managed and operated program by the United States Army, and the United States Air Force. The United States Navy-Marine Corps program closed in 2015. The program is a civilian auxiliary consisting primarily of licensed amateur radio operators who are interested in assisting the military with communications on a regional and national level when access to traditional forms of communication may no longer be available. The MARS programs also include active duty, reserve, and National Guard units; and Navy, Marine Corps units.
  MARS has a long history of providing worldwide auxiliary emergency communications during times of need. The combined two-service MARS programs, volunteer force of over 3,000 dedicated and skilled amateur radio operators provide the backbone of the MARS program. The main benefit of MARS membership is enjoying the amateur radio hobby through an ever-expanding horizon of MARS service to the nation. MARS members work by the slogans "Proudly Serving Those Who Serve" and "Proud, Professional, and Ready."
context_section_description: The Military Auxiliary Radio System continues to be active today. Its primary mission is to provide contingency communications to the Department of Defense and Military Services.  When tasked, MARS may provide communications for Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) such as FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security.  
  On a day-to-day basis MARS members are available to handle messages to and from service men and women: active duty, reserve, guard, or retired and certain employees of the federal government who are stationed outside the US.
  Morale and welfare messages are no longer the largest activity in MARS due to the increased use of the Internet and e-mail by  deployed military personnel. MARS had an increased role in providing interoperability communications between Army National Guard and Air National Guard forces and  civilian state agencies.  However, this service providing interoperability communications was terminated as of May 2015 based on a decision by USAF and ARMY MARS. MARS also provides testing of Military Standard communication modes for use by MARS members.
  MARS participates in exercises such as Grecian Firebolt to help support military communications.  MARS members from all around the world played a role in Grecian Firebolt 2005 by sending exercise Essential Elements of Information (EEI) reports through the MARS radio network.  The EEI's consisted of scenario disaster information.  When the EEI's were received, they were sorted and sent to Army Military Intelligence centers.  MARS played a large part in reporting up-to-date information on disasters and requesting military assistance using a dispersed and redundant radio network.
  MARS also supports government agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and participates in programs such as the Department of Homeland Security Office of Emergency Communications SHAred RESources (SHARES).
  The traditional land or sea-based MARS Radio Phone Patch is largely a thing of the past because land and sea-based MARS stations have been dismantled in favor of Satellite Phones. However, modern military aircraft are still equipped with  HF radios, and many military aircrews still use MARS Phone Patches as a backup or substitute to Satellite Communications. The USAF MARS Phone Patch Net provides 24/7 HF Radio Phone Patch service to all branches of United States military aircraft worldwide.
caption: MARS Operator, AAT3OT, using a radio to communicate with the U.S. Army Reserve in the MARS Emergency Communications Unit trailer.
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