State Director – Ron Keech ALM7AK

I would like first and foremost to thank the new additions to our membership, we are as strong now as we have been in many years. Since December 07 we have picked up 6 new Operators and 3 of those have completed their initial training! Also over that same period it has become clear that the HHQ and Region leadership is pushing forward with the expansion of the MARS Programs responsibilities. The number of agencies we serve continues to rise, and because of the dedication and hard work of all MARS Members we are getting back into the thought processes of Emergency Response functions.

I want to impress on everyone the importance of being professional. With propagation slowly turning around we will be hearing lower 48 traffic soon. If we practice our on air procedures regularly they become second nature. There is no need for any MARS Member to be mic shy or stumble when faced with one of the Region Nets or the Chief’s Net.

Get on air and use the proper terminology, listen to Net Control for instructions. If you don’t practice and become comfortable with the process; When the time comes your going to be less than effective, in an emergency that can be a serious problem.

Emergency Coordinator – Don Bush ALM7EAK

One of the various reasons for folks taking up the hobby of Amateur Radio, is to provide emergency communications and ARMY Mars, is another organization that does the same. Part of our mission is to assist as a liaison between Military and Civilian organizations during times of emergencies. In order to accomplish that mission, we need to be proficient in both Military and Amateur Radio procedures and the diplomatic way to interface the two. As in any emergency amateur operators have found that they are normally considered a 3^rd wheel, when it comes to emergency operations. We are the last to be called or even considered by some organizations to assist until all else fails. We should not let that discourage us in accomplishing our missions and assisting folks whether they want it or not.

Part of the reason this occurs, is lack of educations or previous associations that talk a good line but can’t walk the walk sort to say. We may not be included in most of the planning done by the various professional emergency responders, but sooner or later they call. We must be ready and must be operational proficient, so when we are called we can accomplish the mission, we have been asked to accomplish.

Most of the groups, who are not familiar with what we can provide, are maybe afraid of us. In the professional ranks, the person with the radio mike is considered the person in charge or the one who makes the decisions. In our realm, we are only the messenger. And this brings up our first important rule. Any messages or traffic we pass or send needs to be authorized or authenticated by the individual who is in charge. Now in reviewing the some of the various pubs that govern our operations, like DA Pam 25-XX, National Emergency OPLAN 4-02, and other SOPs that currently in affect, it explains what traffic we should pass, how to get it authorized for transmission, and various logging requirements.

One thing to keep in mind is that anything you send out on the air can be heard by anyone listening. Do not speculate or put your opinion into the traffic, unless you are the only one on scene and are passing your observations. Take your guidance from the “On Scene Commander”. In any situation, be it a disaster or automobile accident some one official takes command. Under the new concept adopted by FEMA, we need to take various courses to become familiar with the new communications concepts. At this site http://training.fema.gov/EMICourses/, you can take the various courses available to us. This is called the NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (NIMS). We have been asked to complete the 100, 200,700 and 800 series courses. These are free and once completed send a copy of your certificate to Larry ALM7TAK/ALM7JH. Other training opportunities include CERTS training. This is the Civilian Emergency Response Team. This will not only help you gain training in taking care of yourself and family, but how to interface and provide assistance to your community and the primary responders.

We talk about all this training and that it is important that we complete it, and then that it’s possible we may never be called by the professional emergency groups to assist. But when we are we want to be prepared and be capable of responding and operating to a level that they will become confident in our capabilities. We all have various backgrounds in communications, management, or other life skills that are valuable in emergencies. The radio is just a resource we use to facilitate and end to our means.

Our operating procedures are different that civilian and much more rigid than our amateur counter parts, but we have a strict chain of command or communications to follow. We must become proficient in our procedures so we operate efficiently and correctly. Our training officer, Larry ALM7JH, has been doing a great job, presenting the nuts and bolts of operating in a military surrounding. Now from there we need to think operating in an emergency situation. We may not regular power or a building to work out of. Are you ready? Do you have a “TO GO KIT” ready? Do you have emergency power and have you used it lately. One of our other Emergency Operations groups, ARES, practice this every month. In order to know what our members’ capabilities are, I would like you to email me your stations, capabilities, as well as portable capabilities away from your station. Other wise what can you bring to the party? Email alm7am@akmars.org with this info, as well as contact info, so I can put together a call out tree.

An example as to things that can be done is how me and the wife have things set up. We have a “TO GO KIT” set with back packs with the necessary things to allow us to survive or work away from the house for about a week; we have battery back up for our radios as well as generator backup, both at the house and portable. We have HF/VHF/UHF radios both for base, portable, and mobile operations. We have portable and back up antennas for all radios and the parts to build additional antennas as required. We also have laptops, extra fuel and food to maintain subsistence and requirements for our animals to take care of emergencies. We have been thru the 64 Quake, volcano eruptions, and the Miller’s Reach Fire, so we have experienced a few things and seen what we should have on hand to survive and assist others during these emergencies. These items will vary from members own situations and experience. Maybe a handheld radio and a TV Wire J-Pole may be the extent of it with some breakfast bars, but at lease you will have something. Having various manuals on hand for reference and forms required to be used during emergencies is also important. The old bailing wire and chewing gum items are still required and can be used.

From the Army Mars standpoint, I would obtain the following 3 manuals for reference. ARMY MARS SOP, (DA PAM 25-XX) May 7, 1997, Voice SOP, 22 Nov 2007, and the NATIONAL EMERGENCYH OPLAND 40-2, 3 April 2002. As you see these pubs may be from a ways back, but are still current with updates coming at all times. Army Mars pubs are constantly under review and as pointed out by our State Mars Director, always changing. The important thing is that these 3 pubs will give you the base of most of our operating procedures. The FEMA course will explain how emergency ops are current evolving and operating currently. During SET and other emergency drills we can practice these procedures and see what works and don’t work and modify them to work for Alaska and our operations. The pubs are guidelines and can be interpreted by use to fill the requirements we have. Now that all the MARS groups are merging procedures, we will have changes, but the base line will be followed and we should be professional in our operations. Next month we will continue this, but please pass me your information.

Other Info – ALM7BAA

The Elmendorf Army MARS Station is available to any member needing to operate from there. Coordination will be needed before hand as access is limited.

That being said several members already have access to coordinating will be easy enough.

Contact Ron Keech ALM7AK, Mike OKeefe ALM7BP, or Jason Profitt ALM7BN to get into the station. Use the email address on the main Website or call Ron direct at 349-2442 (home).

Last item of note – We are looking for a member to step up and become the Admin Officer. The duties are mainly collection of the Monthly Participation reports and providing that information to the State Director. The Admin Officer insures new members are reminded of their training status, and when their 6 month time limit is approaching. The Admin position pays well….not, is filled with glory….again not…. But it is an important function and we need to volunteer who will be willing to take care of business. As the Admin Officer you may be called on coordinate meetings and other administrative duties as needed by the State Director.

If your interested please contact the State Director, right now he is pulling double duty.

Future Business - MARS Crossband Test Saturday 10 May.

Alaska State Convention August – Guest Speaker will be the Director Army MARS