Tom Kinahan-N1CPE writes:
Thank you to all of the Amateur radio operators who supported and participated in Exercise 19-4. Below is a message from ARMY MARS headquarters that I have been asked to relay:
P 181700Z NOV 2019
FM NETC G3-5 CUOPS HQ ARMY MARS FHU AZ
TO UHXWWW/ALL MARS STATIONS
BT
UNCLAS
EXER/COMEX 19-4//
MSGID/GENADMIN/NETC G3-5 CUOPS HQ ARMY MARS FHU AZ/416//
SUBJ/OPERATIONS UPDATE – ENDEX//
POC/DAVID MCGINNIS/CTR/NETC G3-5 CUOPS HF-MARS/FT HUACHUCA, AZ/-//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/Effective 18 NOV 2359Z, COMEX 19-4 is concluded. Complete all pending actions,
recall all personnel and recover/rehab equipment. MARS members, please remind each other to
complete the After Action Survey at www.dodmars.org and pass this message along to your partners
in the Amateur Radio Service (ARS) along with our thanks for their support.
The -19 Series of exercises intentionally provided opportunities for MARS leaders and members
to adapt to new situations with increasing complexity and unknown variables. You were presented
with a variety of new tasks, information products, and coordination requirements. Anticipating
conditions in a real incident, you were not read-in-to new requirements prior to the exercise.
With no time to train up we required you to adapt existing Tactics, Techniques and Procedures.
We continue to see more resilience when you are faced with uncertainty. Expect more challenges
from us in 2020.
Looking into 2020, we ask all MARS members and ARS operators to continue working on long term
emergency power capabilities, long distance HF radio capabilities, and building one-on-one
relationships in your community. Continue to shift normal operations from day-time to night
time hours. Amateurs and MARS members operating in the ARS are encouraged to continue practicing
using the MIL-188-110 Serial PSK mode on the 60 Meters channels where it is permitted. This mode
is important because it provides a means of digital interoperability with government stations
that are not able to use ARS digital modes.
Thank you for all your good work in COMEX 19-4, and enjoy a well deserved rest over the holiday season.//
BT
#0417