What kind of problem do you envision attaching an Elk antenna to metal masts?  Most of my masts are Rohn masts or military surplus made of steel.

Thanks for everyone's input!

73,
john
W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3O/AAA9AC

Yes, I have two of them on the roof of the building.  Nice enough, but I would not want to assemble/disassemble them in the field - too many small parts.

I am looking for something a bit more rugged and quicker to assemble.  Preferably without many screws! :-)

73,
john
W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3O/AAA9AC

I have been looking for a 2m/70cm beam suitable for use in a portable communications trailer.  I have purchased a couple of Rohn 5 ft collapsable tripods with 15 ft of mast and would like a beam with is easy to assemble/disassemble.

Have any of you purchased one of the new Elk Antennas? They look easy to assemble, with a minimal number of tools, but I am curious as to their performance.

73,
john
W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3O/AAA9AC

I suggest that you start here: http://wa.mars.hfradio.org/ .  And then contact the Washington Army MARS State Director with your remaining questions.  A lot of things, such as deployment, are a local issue depending on MOUs.

73,
john
AAT3BF/AAM3O/AAA3DE/AAA9AC

Yes, the age is correct.  17 with parents signature.

73,
john
W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3O/AAA3DE/AAA9AC

Evan -

I am an Army MARS member, but I think that I can answer some of your questions.

Multiple callsigns - Every MARS member receives a distinctive call sign.  Individual Air Force MARS members start with AFA, Army with AA, Navy with NNN. The numbers what follow indicate the Region.  Club and military stations also receive calls.  The second callsign indicates that the individual occupies a billet (AKA, position) within the organization.  For example, I have the following calls assigned to me:

AAT3BF   - individual callsign
AAM3O    - Emergency Operations Officer, Eastern Area
AAA3DE   - Delaware Army MARS Director
AAA9AC   - Army MARS Automation Coordinator

Each service has a different scheme for the assignment of billet calls.

The age thing.  I would assume that AFMARS is the same as Army - we will accept 17 year old members with a parent or guardian's signature.  Without it, you must be 18 to join.  We do, however, accept Auxiliary members who are younger.

73 and best wishes in your MARS experience,

john
W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3O/AAA3DE/AAA9AC

I have an ICOM 718 in my emergency commo trailer, in PACTOR service on a 5 MHZ MARS freq.  No issues to date.

It is a really nice radio for the money. I did equip it with the DSP (which was free at the time) and a high-stability TCXO.

73,
john
W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3O/AAA3DE/AAA9AC

AGM batteries should not outgas unless they are mistreated (like over-charging).  They use recombinant cells, but there is a pressure-relief valve on them to prevent explosions if you over-charge them.

You might start with the California North Army MARS Director, Maurice Valkema (mauryw6stw@aol.com).

73,
john
N3SKO/AAT3BF/AAM3O/AAA3DE/AAA9AC

Getting people to take training is a tough nut to crack. Army MARS requires completion of a Basic Training Course (no pushups required :-) within 6 months of joining.  Some states are more lenient in how the requirements are met than others. But it does guarantee that the new member is capable of sending and receiving 16-line NATO standard message traffic and participating in a formal net.  

The training requirement seems to be a hurdle for some amateurs.  They either don't apply when they are told about it, or they try to slide through it.  As a State Director, I insist on the new members completing all of the requirements.  If they are making a good attempt and showing progress, maybe just missing one emergency net, I will extend them.  Otherwise - out the door.  Untrained operators are of no use to anyone.

I think the program that Virginia RACES has setup for their Disaster Response Team is outstanding in principle.  It will be interesting to see how many amateurs step up to the challenge.

73,
john
N3SKO/AAT3BF/AAM3O/AAA3DE/AAA9AC

I'll add another point.  If you have read some of the articles in the Center for Army Lessons Learned's database, you are struck by the fact that units with poor field hygiene suffer many times the number of non-combat casualties than combat casualties.  A great example was the Russian Army in Bosnia - they got clobbered by medical problems which badly affected their readiness, largely due to their lack of a strong NCO Corps to enforce field discipline.

One thing that I have observed is the Army's use of disposables (paper plates, plastic forks and spoons) rather than the old mess kit.  Sure, disposal of the trash is a pain, but it is very difficult to adequately sanitize your mess kit in the field, especially if water is in short supply.  Likewise, the toilet paper ration in the MRE is not nearly enough (and the acronym stands for Meals Ready to Exit for some folks).  Bring disposables, toilet paper, hand sanitizer and the like and you will have lots of new friends. :-)  

The Army has a good Field Manual - FM 21-10 Field Hygiene and Sanitation which covers the basics. You can find it here: http://www.adtdl.army.mil/atdls.htm.

73,
john
N3SKO/AAT3BF/AAM3O/AAA3DE/AAA9AC

The Royal Robbins pants and shirts are nice for deployments, as well.  Well made and rugged clothing.  I have three sets in my deployment bag along with three sets of camo BDUs.  Which I wear depends on the circumstances.  The Navy Blue stuff looks sharp, yet clearly civilian in nature.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.  The Ops NCO at the Reserve unit I am working with told me that in a tactical environment, standing out from the others is NOT a good thing!  

73,
john
N3SKO/AAT3BF/AAM3O/AAA3DE/AAA9AC

Actually, they have more options on what to wear (esp. in deployments) than they used to.  There is quite an industry these days in making web gear better than the stuff that Natick Labs puts out.  Even Natick is starting to release some new designs (some successful, some not, according to the recent After Action Reports that I have been seeing).

There were some troops lusting after my new Eagle pack during our last field exercise. :-)  Beats the stuffings out of an ALICE.

True, except that using a properly assembled web harness and buttpack has much less impact on your center of gravity than a simple backpack.  As a result, it is less fatiguing.

This past summer, I was part of a team in the Army's Grecian Firebolt exercise.  Since we were simulating a tactical environment (including WMD scenarios), I wore standard BDUs and webgear, including gas mask and all of the trimmings.  It was not uncomfortable at all (and I am on the other side of 50 :-), even though we were working some 14-16 hour days in hot weather (June in Ft Meade MD).  I left my pack in the truck!

john
N3SKO/AAT3BF/AAM3O/AAA3DE/AAA9AC

That is true.  However, my philosophy is "plan for the worst and hope for the best".  In 1979, I was part of a radiological emergency response team.  COL Brown told me to grab my go kit and run up to TMI to assist the State Of PA with airborne radio-iodine and particulate monitoring.  I kept a three day deployment bag in my trunk and was one of the few people there who had everything they needed for what turned into a more than overnight situation.

I have had several other experiences along the same lines over the years where a short-term deployment turned longer-term.  I still carry my 3-day bags and TA50 in the back of the truck.  Better to have it and not need it.

My 0.02.

john
N3SKO/AAT3BF/AAM3O/AAA3DE/AAA9AC