Greetings to all,
I am wondering just how many folks never received a QSL Card last year for a QSO with any of the Army MARS Stations or a Certificate for copying the Secretary of Defense Armed Forces Day Message. Being a former member of Army MARS as well as a State Director, Army MARS has always had a special meaning to me. Being a Soldier and far away from the MARS Stations made life a little bit easier knowing I could send or receive a messages and also be able to talk to a Family Member by Phone Patch. I have supported Army MARS before being licensed and afterwards. I use to enjoy working the Armed Forces Day Crossband events. Last year was a real dismal in making any contact via Phone BUT I did copy the SecDef Broadcast via RTTY sent by Station AAZ (Ft Huachuca, Az). I sent them what I had copied and to this date never received anything from them. I understand I'm not the only one this to happen to. Even after sending USPS Mail correspondence it fell on deaf ears. I was very disappointed this year NO SecDef Broadcast. Well atleast I was able to make Phone contact with AAZ this year and found out they were going to use QRZ for contact infomation as well as other means. This past week I once again sent an Email to Chief Army MARS expressing my dis-satisfaction about the Crossband Events of last year and this year as well.
The only one to respond sofar is the Sysop for AAA9USA and she is handling the QSL Cards.
Her response about the Cards:
"There is still some compilation going on and I expect that QSL cards will be processed within the next 60 days".
The following is in regards to last years SecDef Broadcast:
"No certificates were sent out last year for the Secretary of Defense Message."
"I am sure that some of the amateurs were very disappointed when they were not received."
"I personally heard of only two inquiries regarding the certificates."
"I was also advised that many attempts were made to get the certificates from the Secretary of Defense, but resulted into none."
So what do you think about how the MARS Services were this year regarding the Armed Forces Crossband event?
73 de Steve KB6HOH
Former Station operator AE1EE Furth Germany 1973-1975
Former Northern California Army MARS State Director AAA9CN
Member AAV9EB