MARS - TSA Alliance
Article contributed by Bill Sexton

FORT HUACHUCA AZ.-Ham radio operators in the Military Affiliate Radio System will provide emergency backup communications for the Transportation Security Administration under a formal agreement announced by Army MARS Chief Kathy Harrison. Airport protection during the current hurricane season will be the immediate focus, Chief Harrison said. She added that the new collaboration with the TSA "is likely to expand to other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) areas" in the future. A "Memorandum of Understanding" signed by the two agencies--and already in effect--provides for use of MARS networks, manpower and equipment to maintain communications during the initial 72 hours of incidents involving aircraft, mass transit and pipelines. MARS is also tasked to provide interoperability with other communications systems. "This is an extensive area and will require [MARS] member support across the continental United States," Chief Harrison said in her broadcast announcement. "We will need many volunteers to man teams assigned to specific geographical areas, starting with airports throughout the hurricane corridor." The chiefs of the separate Air Force and Navy-Marine Corps MARS organizations immediately messaged their members signifying participation alongside Army MARS. This MOU documents the most extensive support role MARS has signed up for since the development of the Essential Elements of Information (EEI) mission. That mission dates back to 1994 and the Northridge earthquake that devastated California's San Fernando Valley. "I am very excited about this MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) because TSA has been able to provide such specific definitions of their needs," Harrison said. "This will be a fast-moving recruitment/development action and I request your support in filling these teams." Don Poquette, Chief Air Force MARS, followed up with a message to his members pledging, "AF MARS will assist to accomplish this mission" as soon as logistical details and guidance can be worked out. The TSA-Army MARS MOU was signed for the TSA by James Schear, General Manager, Operational Plans and Programs, and for the Army by Col. Mary Beth Shively, Chief of Staff, Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th Army Signal Command, which is tasked with the MARS mission for the Army. The MOU states, "A reliable backup solution is needed to ensure the continuity of TSA's command and control function during the first 72 hours following any incident interfering with normal communications channels and to provide local, regional and nationwide TSA communications during that time." Seventy-two hours is considered the maximum time required for federal response organizations to deploy their internal emergency communications gear. "This solution," the memorandum continues, "is immediately available at no cost to the TSA from NETCOM/9th ASC through the use of the existing Army MARS emergency communications network." Under the MOU, TSA agrees to provide MARS volunteers with access to its facilities and space for radio equipment as well as to integrate MARS capabilities into its emergency planning and exercises. The Army's commitment includes providing "volunteer MARS radio operators, equipment, and use of the MARS radio networks" and developing "alert procedures and a communications support plan" that "will identify specific frequencies, call signs, and radio operator level duties." A particular MARS responsibility is to "provide communications interoperability with local, state and national communication networks (i.e., Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service, Shared Resources.)" The latter refers to SHARES, a separate web of national and regional HF radio networks linking federal agencies under the DHS's National Communications System. MARS is already a primary participant in the NCS system. Harrison said she and her headquarters staff had just met with TSA and Department of Homeland Security representatives to formalize the details. "Your Area Coordinators will soon be providing very specific requirements to State MARS Directors to recruit members and equipment capabilities to support TSA," she said.