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(none of us MARS & Amateur alike) do not have time to try to recall the proper words to use for
absolute message clarity. By using these methods on a regular
basis they come naturally in times of unusual pressure to aid the speedy delivery of any traffic.
    We all (Amateur & MARS alike) will be there when the chips are down, for those around us, ready to assist as we can. Why not guarantee our neighbors that we have practiced communication skills and handle a message of some kind at least once a week? It does not need to be an ECOM message. Just a routine greeting to an old friend via the radio NTS circuits or a MARS gram to Any Vet will keep our skills practiced.
    The same principles relate to how we conduct the nets we participate in also. If we always use the same pattern for our check in procedure, subsequent communications and station securing requests our NCS (Net Control Stations) will almost know before you speak what you are going to say.
   Even in our casual contacts each day on the radio waves, whether it is VHF to our friend down the street or HF across the world. being certain we use proper station identification techniques & generally accepted forms of operating signals, prosigns and prowords will guarantee that our meanings are clear and understood in times of poor band conditions.
    Yes MARStians are sticky about communication skills but for a very good reason now that

we think about it. Language is the key, IF we can all talk the same language. WE CAN ALL COMMUNICATE when times are tough either due to emergency or getting that contact for your DXCC award.
    Let me again stress that NMCM exists to SERVE not supplant the communities traditional agencies communications. NMCM can only provide any service upon request. Unsolicited activation is not an option. To this end we urge you to become familiar with NMCM's capabilities, include us in your communities emergency operations plan, and remember that we are still in the business of sending those moral messages to & from our countries military services. Local Portland area NMCM members are available to serve you in any way we can.

Please feel free to contact:
NNN0GBP Oregon Area Coordinator
John 503-684-7218

NNN0GBP One Asst. Coordinator
Pete 503-646-8543

NNN0GBP Two Ecom Asst.
Mike 503-266-9630

    The MARSian Language!

  One of the comments heard a lot visiting with our amateur radio friends at the ham fests around the MARS recruiting booth is that those MARS members have a different way of talking than the amateur community does. So here's the facts. Navy Marine Corps Mars (NMCM) has a common verbal language with all amateur radio operators. MARS communication is based on the same ITU phonetic alphabet & punctuation that we all learned to pass our FCC amateur radio exams.
    Remember NMC MARS has a prime mission of emergency
communications. This requires that they be certain that their
skills of communication are clear, concise and consistent. To
accomplish this goal MARS does stress the use of correct use of
the phonetic alphabet and stick very closely to the prescribed
guidelines. On MARS circuits you will always hear the same use of phonetics' and always the use of repetitive net operational
procedures.
    This may seem rigid to some but when it comes to the stress of
high precedence messages we