1. AFMARS 2015 NE Div Conference AIR FORCE MARS PHONE PATCH NET Organization, Requirements, Training and Operations

2. AFMARS 2015 NE Div Conference Organization Phone Patch Net Manager – Richard Duncan/AFN6PP – Dardanelle, AR Deputy Net Manager – Ed Woods/AFN5PP – Greenwood, IN Total members = 20, including 2 ARMY MARS and 2 former Navy MARS are located in 15 states Auxiliary receiver in Great Britain to assist in hearing stations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East

3. AFMARS 2015 NE Div Conference Requirements The Phone Patch Net is a Closed Net An operator must be an active member in MARS typically for more than one year and must be recommended to the Phone Patch Net Manager by the State MARS Director in order to apply Operators are assigned to the Phone Patch Net by the Net Manager after successfully completing specialized training & testing, the Phone Patch Net is the primary net assignment

4. AFMARS 2015 NE Div Conference Requirements (cont.) To qualify for application to the Phone Patch Net, an operator & station must be capable of: 1. Operating on all HF PPN frequencies 2. Operating at a power level of 1000 watts 3. Operating with a directional antenna on MARS frequencies above 13.9 MHz 4. Operating on the PPN pri. and alt. frequencies simultaneously is desirable 5. Working knowledge of computers and the Internet

5. AFMARS 2015 NE Div Conference Requirements (cont.) 6. Can encrypt / decrypt information 7. The station must have the necessary phone patch equipment and a clean telephone connection with no hum or buzz 8. The operator must be willing to contribute much more than the minimum required hours of quarterly MARS participation -Several PPN operators contribute over 300 hours per quarter

6. AFMARS 2015 NE Div Conference Training & Testing Candidates for Phone Patch Net assignment must be experienced members, proficient in Directed Net operations and must be willing to take Net Control according to the net rotation Candidates are taught about our customers, their missions, and the nature of the phone patch requests they make – OPS, METRO, Command Post, Refueling, Maintenance, morale, etc.

7. AFMARS 2015 NE Div Conference Training & Testing (cont.) Candidates are taught PPN operating procedures as well as establishing contact with a station calling for “MARS Radio,” determining the correct beam heading for optimum signal strength, coordinating a change in frequency if propagation requires, and in obtaining the necessary information to contact the unit or installation receiving the phone patch

8. AFMARS 2015 NE Div Conference Training & Testing (cont.) Candidates are trained on how to give real-time coaching on phone patch techniques (speaking slowly and distinctly, minimizing background noise, using the proword OVER, etc.) both to an experienced pilot who is not familiar with phone patching as well as to Mom receiving the first phone patch from her son or daughter

9. AFMARS 2015 NE Div Conference Training & Testing (cont.) Once the candidates have practiced the individual skills, they are then required to pass an on-the-air test of completing a phone patch, usually between the Phone Patch Net Manager and another Phone Patch Net station 1. They are evaluated on skill and proficiency in running the patch as well as quality of radio and telephone audio

10. AFMARS 2015 NE Div Conference Training & Testing (cont.) Once candidates have passed the final test, they will be admitted to the Phone Patch Net as trainees 1. Trainees are then required to complete 5 morale phone patches before being allowed to run official patches or assume Net Control

11. AFMARS 2015 NE Div Conference Operations Of the 20 Phone Patch Net members, typically 3 to 5 are on the net at any one time 1.Specific shifts for members are not required; personal schedules dove-tail to provide adequate coverage 2.Geographical dispersion gives near-global coverage

12. AFMARS 2015 NE Div Conference Operations (cont.) Phone Patches are categorized as Official, Other Official, and Morale 1.“Official” patches (45%) include patches regarding in-flight emergencies, aircraft operations & maintenance, in-flight refueling scheduling, landing instructions, weapons release, MEDEVAC requirements to treat wounded troops, weather forecasts & observations, etc.

13. AFMARS 2015 NE Div Conference Operations (cont.) 2.“Other Official” patches (26%) include: radio checks from air crews, test comms with radio maintenance technicians, etc. 3.“Morale” patches (29%) are recreational patches to family and friends In all cases, the parties are warned that comms are “unencrypted and in the clear”

14. AFMARS 2015 NE Div Conference Operations (cont.) The Phone Patch Net day usually runs from East Coast sunrise to West Coast evening 1. Operators will extend their operating hours if conditions are favorable and there is traffic on the net 2. The Phone Patch Net will stay open for exercises and actual events

15. AFMARS 2015 NE Div Conference Operations (cont.) The Phone Patch Net has near-global coverage 1.Patches have been run to the Arctic, the North Atlantic, Europe, Southwest Asia, Middle East, Africa, South America, Antarctica, the Central Pacific, Pago Pago, the Bearing Sea and Alaska

16. AFMARS 2015 NE Div Conference For further information: http://marsphonepatch.net Richard Duncan/AFN6PP afn6pp@gmail.com Jim Edmonds/AFA2CM je3977@twcny.rr.com

17. AFMARS 2015 NE Div Conference The members of the Air Force MARS Phone Patch Net are grateful to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces for their service. It is an honor to volunteer our time to support them and their mission.