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Author Topic: Weekends only?  (Read 5913 times)

NR5P

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Weekends only?
« on: April 15, 2004, 03:24:18 AM »

I want to join MARS and have read some information about it but I still have a couple questions.  The main one is I only have time on the weekends to participate due to work and school.  This would be ok right.  Also do all the services (airforce, marines, etc.) work on different frequencies?  I guess it would be more beneficial if I joined Army Mars beings I live near Ft. Hood.
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KL0S

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Weekends only?
« Reply #1 on: April 15, 2004, 09:26:26 AM »

Choosing a service to affiliate with is a personal decision. Some make their decision based on the branch they may have served in, others with no military experience pick the service they're most interested in. Proximity to a service installation is probably really not a big factor except that it makes it very convenient for delivering morale and welfare traffic. Each service MARS program has its own unique character but procedures are for the most part identical and all are focused on providing emergency communications support and situation reporting. The three programs are Army, Air Force and Navy/Marine Corps with the Army having the largest membership. The programs do operate on different frequencies however interoperability has come a long way in the last few years and you will hear other service member stations checking into sister service nets routinely.

Only being able to operate on the weekends is not a show stopper but will require you to devote a significant effort to complete your training program within the new member training period (6 months for Army, similar for the other services I believe).

Regardless of which service MARS program you choose you'll enjoy the satisfaction of helping serve our armed services, its servicemen and women, and our nation. (Pick Army, but of course I'm biased!).

Check out each of the service MARS programs at:

Army: http://www.asc.army.mil/MARS/

Air Force: http://public.afca.scott.af.mil/public/mars1.htm

Navy/Marine Corps: http://navymars.org/

Hope to see you on the air.

Dino AAT3BE
U.S. Army MARS
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KC5FM

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Weekends only?
« Reply #2 on: April 15, 2004, 12:49:36 PM »

Weekend only activity, as has been noted, makes it more important to get your hours during the training period.  However, it's not a killer.

Should you join Army MARS, for example, you will have plenty of daily nets (typically, at least, two).

In fact, just in Navy-Marine Corp MARS, on Saturday alone, I could do one of three nets during the day.  Air Force has a nice two-hour net on Saturday morning.

Since I am in NAVY-Marine Corp, I can also say that there are plenty of evening nets.  In other words, you can get on the different State nets to get your participation time.  (Just one difference, if I understand right, between the services.  NAVY carves up the big State of Texas into three parts with a "State" net for all three.)

Join the MARS program that suits your interest.  If it's ARMY, do it because you are interested in ARMY.  There's plenty of activity going around.

I am seeing more Army and Air Force stations checking into NAVY nets (and vice versa).  It adds value to the interoperability factor when military units come to help during a disaster.

I hope you have found this helpful.

Lloyd Colston
Pryor, OK USA

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WD9CYI

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Weekends only?
« Reply #3 on: May 03, 2004, 03:38:00 PM »

I find participating on Saturday mornings better for me. Less noise and better conditions. Also my week nights are packed.

Rich  AFA1CY
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N3ZKP

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Weekends only?
« Reply #4 on: May 03, 2004, 04:43:31 PM »

That's kind of tough to do when your states nets are in the evenings. :)

Lon NNN0OOR
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KB8NJH

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Weekends only?
« Reply #5 on: January 08, 2005, 10:10:31 PM »

 On the piority list work and school should come first.
 Perhaps this is not the best time for you to pursue
 a Public Service goal. Plenty of time after graduation
 I don't wish or would not discourage you. My son
 graduated about 3 years ago and I know what a load
 you are under. Assess your time wisely. After training
 ,which is time consuming, WV requires 12 hours per
 quarter. I wish you luck and want to encourage you.
 I also at some point hope to hear you on a Net...
 AFT2KA/WV
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