Leaderboard

Some aircrews may remember MARS primarily for morale phone patches, but today's MARSRADIO provides considerably more. MARSRADIO is an Air Force MARS operation authorized under DoDI 4650.02, providing HF communications support to DoD aircraft and units worldwide as an additional backup to HFGCS. Air Force aircraft are consistent users of the service, but we also routinely support Navy, Marine Corps, and Army aviation. Most of the traffic we handle is real-world operational support, not exercises or training. So far this year, MARSRADIO operators have provided nearly 14,000 man-hours guarding our calling frequencies and supporting DoD aircrews. That has included more than 330 official phone patches, 80 METAR/TAF weather requests, and nearly 2,300 radio and SELCAL checks, in addition to morale patches and other operational support. The official traffic can be as routine as passing an ETA or arranging customs, fuel, parking, maintenance, or ground transportation. At other times, crews have used us for diversions, aircraft system problems, severe weather, medical situations, command post coordination, and troubleshooting SATCOM or digital communications. The real value is having another communications path when the expected one isn't working. We have had many situations where an aircraft could not establish its normal SATCOM or data link, but an HF phone patch through MARSRADIO allowed the crew and ground personnel to troubleshoot the problem, coordinate what was needed, and continue the mission. That is where MARSRADIO fits into P.A.C.E. planning—not as a replacement for existing systems, but as another path available when needed. The net operates nearly 24/7, and there is no need to coordinate ahead of time. Crews don't need to wait until something goes wrong to use us. A routine radio check, SELCAL check, weather request, phone patch, or pre-arrival call gives the crew familiarity with MARSRADIO before the day comes when the primary communications path isn't available. For aircrews unfamiliar with MARSRADIO, information on frequencies, calling procedures, and available services is available at MARSRADIO Global.

Where's a grizzly bear when you need one?

Haha, you and I both! I haven’t heard anything from my Wing either, but I’m definitely trying to have everything ready on my end. My TBAS is scheduled for next week, and I’m planning to have my packet complete by then. From what I was advised is to give the “why” and what I can bring to aviation community. I think leadership should still be emphasized in ways it may not be captured in the LOR but I’m sure others here will have better input. Wishing you best of luck 💪🏻

Good luck! Finished mine last year and it was a rewarding yet incredibly challenging few months leading up to it!

Sen Moreno asking Fauci “who the fuck do you think you are!” Classic

One must ask why Dr. Fauci would invoke the Fifth Amendment if he has already received a pardon. For years, the American people were told to simply trust the experts. Yet serious questions remain about the origins of COVID-19, gain-of-function research, and what government officials knew and when they knew it. Dr. Fauci has faced sustained criticism over his public statements regarding U.S. funding of research involving coronaviruses and whether that research met the definition of gain-of-function. Those questions deserve transparency and honest answers. A pardon does not answer those questions. It does not explain decisions that affected millions of lives, businesses, schools, and families. If there is nothing more to hide, the American people deserve a full accounting of what happened. History should be based on facts, transparency, and accountability—not unanswered questions. AQNK_aTkporUih4exAkCb4CZe5umWiAzpJXSoLKyNJ7_7WCENZvo-jtrC2eNglWkHIQAchR6A6HujgZiB6LOkP-ar5z6PMI8hk3I18wkzTWxBg.mp4

He’s sitting in front of congress pleading the 5th right now. The covid saga can’t be allowed to be buried in the pages of history. We must know the truth.