Training is an important aspect of the continued success of Army MARS operations. Texas Army MARS prides itself on having some of the most technically well-trained volunteer communicators available. This page contains training topics for the beginner and advanced MARS operator. Note that the official Basic Training Course materials are available in the Document Vault and will require a valid login to gain access.

• TRAINING FOR 13 MAR - 20 MAR 2010: NIMS ICS Forms
• TRAINING FOR 7 MAR - 13 MAR 2010: All Digital Net Ops
• TRAINING FOR 28 FEB - 6 MAR 2010: Sound card tune up
• TRAINING FOR 21 FEB - 27 FEB 2010: Solar Activity Training
• TRAINING FOR 18 FEB 2010: Synchronizing multiple Airmail installations
• TRAINING FOR 14 FEB - 20 FEB 2010: TBD by individual NCS

Visit the weekly training archives

• Zulu Time
  Understanding Zulu time is essential to daily MARS operations
• NVIS/Propagation Training
  A good basic level training of NVIS propagation. Other solar weather and propagation information can be found at these links
• Message Logging Procedures
  A good walkthrough of how to maintain a good message log

• Basic Sound Card Training
  A tutorial for setting up soundcard digital modes using the popular MixW software
• Registration and Setup for MARS Winlink
  A tutorial for setting up an Airmail installation for use on the MARS Winlink network
• Peer-to-Peer Pactor using Airmail
  A tutorial for transmission of peer-to-peer Pactor messages using Airmail
• Texas Army MARS Digital Net Procedures
  The bare-bones essentials for digital net operations in TX Army MARS

• ACP131(F): Military Operating Signals
  Published by the Combined COmmunications-Electronics Board in April 2006, this document serves as a complete reference for Q and Z signals for use in digital and voice operations
• ACP125(F): Military Radio Procedures
  An Allied Communications Publication released in September 2001, this document covers almost all aspects of a radio net
• Assembling Anderson Powerpoles
  Created by AAR6CX, this doc serves as a comprehensive guide to creating your own Anderson Powerpole cables
• Assembling PL-259 Coax Connectors
  Created by AAR6CX, this doc serves as a comprehensive guide to installing PL259 connectors
• Attachment Tutorial
  This tutorial describes how to reduce scanned image files into a small PDF file suitable for HF Pactor transmission
• Deployment Guide
  This deployment guide will be limited to discussing procedures used during operations with the Texas Military Forces
• NVIS Antenna Theory & Design
  An advanced discussion of the specifics of NVIS propagation and antenna theory
• Solar Superstorms
  This is a National Communications System summary of key findings related to the Solar Superstorm threat.