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EVOLVED FROM THE ORIGINAL ARMY AMATEUR RADIO SYSTEM, ESTABLISHED IN 1925.
THE ARMY AND AIR FORCE MARS HEADQUARTERS STATIONS WERE OPERATED FROM THE
PENTAGON DURING THE 1950S AND 1960S.  THE MILITARY CALL SIGN OF THE ARMY
MARS STATION WAS WAR, AND ITS FCC CALL SIGN FOR THE AMATEUR BANDS WAS
K4USA.  THE AIR FORCE MARS CALL SIGN WAS AIR, WITH AN AMATEUR RADIO CALL
SIGN OF K4AF.  DURING THE 60S, AIR FORCE MARS MEMBER AND US SENATOR BARRY
GOLDWATER, K7UGA/ AFC6BC, OPERATED HIS PHOENIX, ARIZONA, STATION TO CONDUCT
THOUSANDS OF PHONE PATCHES FROM SERVICE PERSONNEL IN SOUTHEASTERN ASIA TO
LOVED ONES BACK HOME.  THE ARMY PHONE PATCH PROGRAM IN VIETNAM STARTED WITH
SIX STATIONS AND WAS COMPLETED IN 1969, WITH 47 MARS STATIONS IN SEVEN NETS
THAT CONDUCTED MORE THAN 42,000 PHONE PATCHES EACH MONTH.  IN 1948, THE
ARMY AND AIR FORCE ESTABLISHED THE MILITARY AMATEUR RADIO SYSTEM, LATER
RENAMING IT THE MILITARY AFFILIATE RADIO SYSTEM.  IN 1962, NAVY MARINE
CORPS MARS WAS LAUNCHED, CREATING A JOINT SERVICE PROGRAM.  IN 1997, ARMY
MARS AND AIR FORCE MARS INAUGURATED ON THE AIR INTEROPERABILITY.  IN 2009,
THE PROGRAM WAS RENAMED THE MILITARY AUXILIARY RADIO SYSTEM.  IN 2011, AIR
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