DE AAA3RD NR26-8 R 261535Z AUG 2011 FM AAA3RD TO RGN 3 ARMY MARS MEMBERS BT SUBJECT: REGION 4 ARMY MARS LOI ECOM OPERATIONS - HURRICANE IRENE BELOW IS THE INFORMATION FOR THE REGION 4 EMERGENCY NET, AAR3GO WILL BE THE LIAISON OFFICER FOR REGION 4 DATE: 26 AUGUST 2011 1230Z FROM: DIRECTOR, US ARMY MARS REGION 4//AAA4RD FL (PORTABLE KY) TO: ALL US ARMY MARS REGION 4 SMD AND MEMBERS INFO: AAA1RD, AAA2RD, AAA3RD, AAA9EC, AAA9AC, AAA9F, AAA9USA, AAM4ENC, AAM4SC, AAV4PV, AAR4CH, AAN4EMG SUBJECT: REGION 4 ARMY MARS LETTER OF INSTRUCTION (LOI) ECOM OPERATIONS - HURRICANE IRENE (FREQUENCIES & DESIGNATORS FOUO) 1. (U) US ARMY MARS REGION 4 MAINTAINS AN EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS POSTURE ON ASSIGNED REGION 4 CHANNELS TO MEET REGIONAL ARMY MARS COMMUNICATIONS REQUIREMENTS AND PROVIDE ECOM CONTINGENCY SUPPORT FOR AGENCY SUBSCRIBERS. 2. (U) ALL REGION 4 SCHEDULED NETS ARE PRE-EMPTEDSUSPENDED OR RESCHEDULED TO FOLLOW THIS LETTER OF INSTRUCTION. 3. (FOUO) THE FOLLOWING ASSIGNED REGION 4 CHANNELS ARE DESIGNATED FOR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT AS INDICATED: NET DESIGNATOR FREQUENCY TIME OF USE FREQ DESIGNATOR USER-PURPOSE A4A 7314.0 USB DAY PRIMARY KFC REGION 4 CMD & CONTROL A4B 5217.0 USB DAY ALT KDE REGION 4 MULTIMODE TRAFFIC (FREE NET STATUS) A4A 4002.8 LSB NIGHT KCA REGION 4 CMD & CONTROL A4H 6823.0 USB DAY KEA SMD NORTH CAROLINA ECOM NET A4H 4027.0 USB NIGHT KCG SMD NORTH CAROLINA ECOM NET A4H 3255.5 USB NIGHT ALT KBE SMD NORTH CAROLINA ECOM NET 4. (U) TWO ARMY MARS ECOM NETS ARE SCHEDULED TO OPERATE IN REGION 4 DURING THE PERIOD 252359Z AUG 2011 UNTIL 280400Z AUG 2011. A. NORTH CAROLINA ECOM NET WITH THE DESIGNATION A4H WILL BE ESTABLISHED ON ORDER OF AA4NC OR AAM4ENC. B. REGION 4 ARMY MARS COMMAND NET WILL BE OPERATIONAL IN A FREE STATUS UNTIL SITUATIONAL REQUIREMENTS REQUIRE ACTIVATION. 5. (U) PRIOR RGN-4 DIRECTOR MESSAGES ADDRESSED CONCEPTS AND PLANS FOR THE OPERATION OF CERTAIN REGION NETS SIMULTANEOUSLY ON OTHER CHANNELS. THIS CONCEPT IS RESCINDED. ALL REGION 4 SCHEDULED NETS ARE SUSPENDED IN ORDER TO SUPPORT ECOM NETS. 6. (U) COORDINATION: A. AAM4RO GA AND AAM4GA GA ARE THE DESIGNATED ECOM OPERATIONS OFFICER AND ASSISTANT FOR THE REGION 4 ECOM NET. B. AAA4NC ESTABLISHES, OPERATES, AND MAINTAINS AN ECOM NET FOR NORTH CAROLINA ARMY MARS NETS. C. AAM4RO AND AAM4GA MAY DESIGNATE NCS AND ANCS AS NECESSARY TO MANAGE AND OPERATE THE REGION 4 ECOM NET. D. ALL REGION 4 ARMY MARS MEMBERS ARE REQUESTED TO MONITOR THE NORTH CAROLINA AND THE REGION 4 ECOM CHANNELS AND BE READY TO RESPOND. E. THE RGN-4 ECOM NET (A4A) WILL NOT BE OPENED FOR REGULAR CHECK-INS. THE NCS WILL MAKE SPECIFIC CALLS TO A STATE OR GEOGRAPHICAL AREA REQUESTING A SPECIFIC COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT. EXAMPLES: THE NCS NEEDS A STATION IN ALABAMA OR TENNESSEE FOR RADIO-TELEPHONE PATCH SERVICE. THE NCS WILL ASK FOR ANY STATION IN ALABAMA OR TENNESSEE WHO CAN PROVIDE PHONE PATCH SERVICE. THE NCS NEEDS A STATION WHO CAN TAKE TRAFFIC FOR RELAY TO AAA9USA, THE NCS NEEDS A STATION WHO CAN ACCEPT DIGITAL MT-63 TRAFFIC FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE OR ADDRESSEE. F. ALL STATION OPERATORS SHOULD MAINTAIN A LISTENING WATCH AND NOT MAKE A TRANSMISSION UNLESS CALLED. OUT-STATIONS HOULD NOT RESPOND TO A NCS REQUEST UNLESS THEY CAN MEET OR FULFILL THE REQUEST FROM THE NCS. G. REGION 4 COMMAND AND STAFF MEMBERS, CHIEF ARMY MARS SPECIAL STAFF, AND STATE MARS DIRECTORS MAY CALL INTO THE RGN-4 NET OR NORTH CAROLINA ECOM NET AND ADVISE THE NCS OF THEIR PRESENCE ON FREQUENCY FOR SUPPORT. H. ALL TRANSMISSIONS ARE TO BE SHORT, CONCISE, AND IN PLAIN LANGUAGE TO CONVEY THE INTENT OR MESSAGE CLEARLY. MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURES ARE APPLICABLE. I. SMD NC AND THE RGN-4 OPERATIONS OFFICER ARE RESPONSIBLE TO KEEP HQS ARMY MARS (AAA9USA) INFORMED OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS BY PROVIDING TIMELY UPDATES VIA WINLINK OR HF VOICE COMMAND NET (14.484 USB), OR BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET HQS ARMY MARS, AAA9USA, TEL: 800-633-1128, EXT #1, (ONE). J. JOINT USE OF THE REGION 4 MULTIMODE TRAFFIC NET (A4B) BY BOTH NC AND RGN-4 NET STATIONS IS ON A SHARED BASIS. CHANNEL KILO CHARLIE LIMA (KCL) MAY BE USED FOR BACKUP. CHANNEL KILO BRAVO ECHO WILL BE USED AS THE NIGHT-TIME MULTIMODE (DIGITAL) CHANNEL FOR BACKUP. K. ECOM NET OPERATIONS MAY BE SUSPENDED FOR THE EVENING HOURS AND RE-CALLED AT A PRE-DETERMINED TIME ON ORDER OF THE NC SMD. THE NET(S) WILL REMAIN IN FREE STATUS DURING SUCH PERIODS. THE DECISION TO SUSPEND NET OPERATIONS WILL BE BASED ON SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS OF ALL SUBSCRIBERS. COORDINATION WITH ALL SUBSCRIBERS IS REQUIRED PRIOR TO CLOSING ECOM NETS DURING EVENING HOURS. REGION 4 ECOM NET OPERATIONS WILL OPERATE TO INSURE COVERAGE AND BACKUP SUPPORT TO NC ARMY MARS AND ALL SUBSCRIBERS. THE NC AND RGN-4 ECOM NETS MAY BE PLACED IN A FREE NET STATUS AND GUARDED BY DESIGNATED ANCS THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS BY THE NCS OR ECOM NET MANAGER. L. NET ACTIVATION, DEACTIVATION, AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED REPORTS ARE APPLICABLE FOR BOTH ECOM NET CONTROLS. M. ACTUAL EEI REPORTS FROM OPERATORS IN THE EFFECTED STORM AREA ARE ENCOURAGED. N. THE USE OF CHANNEL KDE WILL PREMPT REGION 5 NET OPERATIONS. REGION 5 MAY ELECT TO OPERATE ON A NON-INTERFERENCE BASIS TO REGION 4. REGION 5 WILL RELINQUISH THE CHANNEL ON REQUEST FROM REGION 4 STATIONS. GUIDELINES: IF THE CHANNEL IS OCCUPIED BY REGION 5, THE REGION 4 STATION WITH ECOM TRAFFIC WILL ATTEMPT TO CONTACT THE REGION 5 STATION AND REQUEST USE OF THE CHANNEL FOR TRAFFIC. ANY PROBLEMS WITH USE OF THE CHANNEL ARE TO BE DOCUMENTED AND SENT TO THIS OFFICE. REGION 5 OPERATORS MAY BE USED FOR THE RELAY AND HANDLING OF ECOM TRAFFIC AS REQUIRED. O. THE PREFERED MODE FOR HANDLING TRAFFIC BY DIGITAL MEANS IS VIA WINLINK. THIS DOES NOT EXCLUDE THE USE OF MT-63, MFSK, OLIVIA, OR PEER-TO-PEER PACTOR MODES. 7. (U) AAA4RD REMARKS: REGION 4 ARMY MARS MAY BE CALLED UPON TO PROVIDE COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT TO THE NORTH CAROLINA EMA, SELECTED COUNTY EMA'S IN NORTH CAROLINA, FEMA, NC SOUTHERN BAPTIST DISASTER RELIEF, AND POSSIBLY OTHER AGENCIES. OUR SUPPORT, PERFORMANCE, AND DISCIPLINE IS TO BE TOTALLY PROFESSIONAL. SELF DISCIPLINE IS KEY TO ACCOMPLISHING THE TASKS. DO NOT TRANSMIT UNLESS YOUR INFORMATION OR SERVICE IS NECESSARY OR ESSENTIAL TO MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT. THE STATE EMA MAKES THE DECISIONS ON HOW, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, AND IF ARMY MARS ECOM SUPPORT IS USED BY THE STATE. THE THE USE OF PROPER RADIO COMMUNICATIONS TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES ON ALL MODES IS REQUIRED. I CANNOT OVER-EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ACCURATE, RELIABLE, AND TIMELY IN YOUR HANDLING OF ANY TRAFFIC FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. SGD HAMILTON/AAA4RD BT NNNN