TRAINING NOTES & INFO

GENERAL. Training of all NAVMARCORMARS members is in accordance with prescriptions of the Navy - Marine Corps MARS National TRAINING and SKILLS DEVELOPMENT web site with which all members should be acquainted.

VIRGINIA TRAINING PLAN. In keeping with the general guidance and specific direction of ASN provided in the National Training and Skills Development web site, the VIRGINIA NAVMARCORMARS TRAINING PLAN is promulgated for Virginia member guidance and information.

NEW STAFF INFORMATION. The short course Essentials for New Staff Members is a prerequisite for staff volunteers at all levels. All Virginia members are urged to complete this course. Of particular interest to message drafters and Traffic Reps is the section on Collective Call Signs.

MARS WINLINK2000 (WL2K) IMPLEMENTATION. NAVMARCORMARS has replaced the completely radio based MARS DATA SYSTEM (MDS) with the INTERNET based WL2K sytem. All formal message traffic is routed via a set of mirrored Common Message Servers (CMS) either directly by TelNet, or via one of a constellation or Radio Message Servers (RMS) which bridge an Internet CMS with a Pactor radio user. Members should visit the WINLINK2000 web site, and the companion AIRMAIL site.

SOME THOUGHTS ON WL2K

The MARS Data System (MDS) was a computerized message sorting and routing system coupled with a radio based message transfer and delivery system. WL2K is an Internet based system consisting of a set of mirrored Common Message Servers (CMS) bridged to a radio based transfer and delivery system by a number of dispersed Radio Message Servers (RMS). WL2K message sorting and routing are up to the message originator, although some address translation is done within the system. Users may directly access a CMS via TelNet, avoiding the significant message handling time and equipment cost overheads of RMS bridging. Each WL2K message is purged from the CMS delivery schedule for a recipient immediately after first successful download of that message to that recipient, either directly by TelNet or via a RMS.

In NAVMARCORMARS usage, a WL2K message is but a container for a normally formatted plain dress message. The particular MARS addressees to which a message is directed are identified by their assigned MARS personal or administrative call signs in the TO: and INFO: lines of the contained message heading. All formal MARS WL2K messages are routed to the MARS WL2K State addresses indicated by the state designators normally appended to each MARS personal or administrative call sign. For multi-state addressing, the MARS WL2K National, Area and Region collective addresses (e.g. NNN0AL, NNN1N, and NNN3R) are automatically replaced by appropriate sets of individual MARS WL2K State addresses (e.g. NNN3CB) in the appropriate WL2K header line. For instance, NNN0AL in a WL2K To: or cc: line is automatically replaced by the fifty-two comma separated State addresses defined in CNM INFO BCST 13-08.

Because virtually all formal MARS traffic, including that addressed only to Area and/or Region management levels, is routed via one or more State Traffic Representative(s)(T-Rep) and associated State traffic net(s), it would be advantageous to have Region and Area WL2K addresses for just the management level of each, which the State addresses (e.g. NNN3CB) effectively are for the State level. Then, Area and Region staff specific messages need not clutter State traffic, and the complex “tactical call sign” scheme of CMB 11-08 would be unnecessary. Appropriate Directors define who should download WL2K messages for their level, and what should be done with them. Among the alternatives are: assembling and transmitting them as a broadcast 3 (per ACP-167) to the appropriate Traffic Net (e.g. 3X1B, 3B1B) at a specified time; bringing them to the appropriate Traffic Net for passing; posting them on the State, Region or Area web site; and, immediate forwarding of PRIORITY or IMMEDIATE messages by e-mail, land line, or any other means deemed fit. Since National staffers each have their own seven character MARS administrative call, they can get their messages direct by either WL2K or regular e-mail as ASA determines. Absent a need to use a RMS bridge by either the originator or an addressee, sending a person to person or station to station message via WL2K rather than regular e-mail is absurd.

Because a RMS is simply a bridge between an Internet CMS and a radio user, a T-Rep could be regarded as a dedicated RMS bridging a CMS to a radio data mode (e.g. MT63) broadcast, web site posting, or radio traffic net. Then, a WL2K capable TNC would only be needed as backup for when the T-Rep looses local Internet connectivity and an available RMS has connectivity. A general loss of the Internet destroys WL2K, but, as evinced by current experience, this is much less likely than a general loss of radio connectivity.

Until Annex E of NTP-8(D) is rewritten reflecting replacement of the MARS Data System by MARS WL2K, several questions remain hanging:

• Are MARS WL2K messages normally restricted to formal Plain Dress or Abbreviated Plain Dress message content?
• Can the MARS WL2K system be routinely used for free form, conventional e-mail messaging?
• Will any procedural or structural measures be prescribed to lessen the chance of message loss incident to the "one shot" nature of WL2K message down loading from the CMS set?
• Can two or more plain dress messages (e.g. EEI's) destined to the same set of WL2K addresses be "bundled" in a single WL2K message? Then TReps would need only one copy and paste for the bundle instead of one for each contained message. That could save considerable time in a fast moving crisis situation.

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NET CONTROL PROCEDURE FOR THE 3B1B TRAFFIC NET. PER CHIEF NAVMARCORMARS INFO BCST 45-07, The STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) for use on all MARS voice nets is promulgated in the DOCUMENTS section of the NATIONAL NAVMARCORMARS WEB SITE, and becomes effective on 1 January 2008. Thereafter, all voice net operations will be conducted in strict conformance with that SOP. Significant differences between our old practices and the new procedure are:

• The net opens in DIRECTED NET status without NCS explicitly stating the proword "THIS IS A DIRECTED NET".
• The NET DESIGNATOR (e.g. 3B1B or "THREE BRAVO ONE BRAVO") is the collective call for that net, replacing NNN0ALS and "ALL STATIONS THIS NET".
• When abbreviated call signs are in use, the NCS may use and be addressed by his abbreviated call sign.
• The proword "ROGER" is no longer a proper response in the "Radio Check" procedure.
• While a net is in DIRECTED NET status, pleasantries such as "Thank You" and "Have a nice evening" are discouraged.
• While a net is in FREE NET status, FULL CALL SIGNS must be used and all comments must, in some way, relate to MARS business or the mission of MARS.

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ON STATION LOGS

NTP-8 (C/D) paragraph 570 e. COMMUNICATION LOGS - states, inter alia, "A log of station operations will be maintained in chronological order. Contents should include, at the minimum, time, frequency, station called, mode of operation and summary of traffic handled." Accordingly, each Net Control Station is required to maintain a listing of all stations checking into his/her net (since he/she has to call each to acknowledge its checkin), as well as a count of messages handled during that net. By sending this log info, preferably by e-mail, to GCB THREE after each net, the NCS's facilitate orderly maintenance of report info required of GCB, and relieve themselves of an end-of-the-month chore. NTP-8(D) 502 b(4) specifically calls for such submission after each net session.
Further, since any station aboard a net may be required to assume net control, every station on the net should keep a list of all stations aboard and count of messages passed.

QUESTION - If on this evening's 3B1B net GCB directed each station to e-mail him a copy of their logs for all 3B1B nets which each checked into this month, what would you do?

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SOME WORDS ON PROWORDS

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`The question is,' said Alice, `whether you CAN make words mean so many different things.'

`The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, `which is to be master-- that's all.'

(From Lewis Caroll's "Through the Looking-Glass")

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As with our sister services, prowords authorized for use in NAVMARCORMARS are as defined in Allied Communications Publication 125 which reads as follows in its section 308.

"e. Procedure Words (Prowords). To keep voice transmissions as brief and clear as possible standard prowords are used in place of whole sentences. Prowords are easily pronounced and recognized words or phrases used to convey a specific predetermined meaning, for example:

Other authorized prowords applicable to MARS nets are similarly defined in Annex A to Chapter 3 of ACP 125 as follows.

OBSERVATIONS and COMMENTS

1. Of the seventy-nine prowords listed in Annex A to Chapter 3 of ACP 125, only WILCO contains a completely capitalized sentence in its explanation.

2. WILCO clearly applies to a SIGNAL. Except for those prowords applicable to the Executive Method which is not used in MARS, all other procedure words refer to a "message" or "transmission" as applicable rather than to a "signal". NTP-8 and some other communications instructions substitute "message" for "SIGNAL".

3. Standard fleet protocol required use of WILCO only in response to an ACKNOWLEDGE from the sender, AND the express authority of the addressed unit CO to so respond. This is reflected in NTP-8(C) Section C204 z, but not so in NTP-8(D). NAVMARCORMARS may be moving closer to other services in this regard which have historically used WILCO rather freely and haphazardly.

4. OVER simply means a response or answer is expected. It does NOT imply or infer a request to ACKNOWLEDGE. There is a separately defined proword to make such a request.

5. ROGER means, "I have received your last transmission satisfactorily." and nothing more. When referring to something not included in that "last transmission", ROGER is not a substitute for a concise phrase quivalent of the operating signals ZEV or QSL.[NTP-8(D) C100f]. ROGER does NOT mean or imply agreement with whatever is receipted for. If the receipt is for a requested or directed action, the originator will assume that the ROGERED action will be carried out. If the originator has any doubt in the ability or willingness of the addressee to carry out the request or direction, he/she should end his/her transmission with ACKNOWLEDGE OVER.

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SOME NIT PICKS

• OUT means no response is necessary or expected. Don't volunteer a "ROGER", "AFFIRMATIVE" or other uninvited comment. If you have more to say after an "OUT", a FULL PROCEDURE call is in order to initiate another exchange.
• Prowords are defined as standard words or phrases. Altering or embellishing those standard words or phrases is considered improper military radio telephone procedure. Some common for instances are: "ABBREVIATED CALL SIGNS ARE AUTHORIZED" rather than "USE ABBREVIATED CALL SIGNS"; "AFFIRMATIVE" when "ROGER" is appropriate; "NO STATION HEARD" or "STATION CALLED NOT HEARD" rather than "NOTHING HEARD"; and, "THIS WILL NOW BE A FREE NET, STATIONS MAY CALL ONE ANOTHER WITHOUT REFERENCE TO NET CONTROL, STATIONS MAY SECURE WITHOUT REFERENCE TO NET CONTROL, ALL STATIONS ARE REMINDED TO USE FULL NNN0 CALL SIGNS. OUT" rather than simply, "USE FULL CALL SIGNS. STATIONS MAY CLOSE DOWN AT WILL. THIS IS A FREE NET. OUT".

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SOME DEFINITIONS

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