MARS fills military communications need
By Chairman Z. Brackett
Correspondent
When Ed Dodds was serving in
“We didn’t have phones,” said
Mr. Dodds, a Johnson Controls employee at
More than 30 years later. MARS’ mission has changed but volunteer operators such as Mr. Dodson believe it still has a vital role. Amateur radio has been working with the military since November 1925, when a few Signal Corps members started the Army Amateur Radio System.
Operation was suspended during World War II. In 1948, MARS was created.
Each branch of the military has its own MARS program, with the Navy and Marine programs being combined. Sponsored by the Department of Defense. there are more than 5,000 MARS operators serving the military.
With the advent of the Internet and e mail, it’s easier for family members to communicate with deployed soldiers. However, Mr. Dodds said, there are still some areas in the world where military members are hard to reach. MARS grams (similar to telegrams) can be sent to service members abroad.
“Today’s mission is more of a support of the homeland,” Mr. Dodds said.
The amateur radios could be important in the event of natural disasters such as floods or storms in which power is cut off to areas, he said.
“If a hospital loses communication, we can go in and provide communication,” he said.