Back on May 22, 2009, I broke the news to the radio hobby on this blog that the Navy was working on sunsetting the Navy/Marine Corps MARS program. See my original article on this subject at http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2009/05/nnwc-proposes-to-disestablish-navy-mc.html
While it appears the program isn't quite dead yet, unfortunately, they have managed to put it on life support. To you folks at HQ, time to let the patient die with some dignity. All the MARS programs have long outlived their usefulness to the military services. Quit wasting the taxpayers money, and while your at it take that useless cousin SHARES with you on the way out the door.
Here is the latest update from the Chief of Navy/Marine Corps MARS as of July 15.
DE NNN0ASA 051
R 151300Z JUL 2009
FM CHNAVMARCORMARS WILLIAMSBURG VA
TO ALNAVMARCORMARS
INFO ZEN/CHIEF ARMY MARS FT HUACHUCA AZ
ZEN/CHIEF AIR FORCE MARS SCOTT AFB IL
BT
UNCLAS
SUBJ: CHNAVMARCORMARS BCST 04-09
A. CHNAVMARCORMARS WILLIAMSBURG VA 162200Z MAY 2009
B. DOD INSTRUCTION 4650.02 (PROPOSED) NOTAL
1. THIS BROADCAST UPDATES REF A.
2. THE NEGOTIATIONS ON REF B ARE STILL IN PROGRESS. WE DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER THIS WILL TAKE.
3. I HAVE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION FROM COMMANDER, NAVAL NETWORK WARFARE COMMAND (NNWC) VIA COMMANDER, NAVAL COMPUTER AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AREA MASTER STATION ATLANTIC (NCTAMS LANT):
QUOTE
THE MARS PROGRAM WILL REMAIN INTACT FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, HOWEVER, IT WILL BE COMPRISED OF ONLY ONE GS POSITION (YOURS). THE MARS MISSION WILL REMAIN ALIGNED UNDER NCTAMS LANT. ALL MILITARY BILLETS AND THE CIVILIAN POSITION WERE ZEROED OUT IN FY2010 AND BEYOND, THE MILITARY POSTIONS WILL NOT BE REINSTATED.
UNQUOTE
4. IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ABOVE DIRECTION:
A. AREA DIRECTORS WILL TRANSFER ALL MEMBERSHIP RECORDS TO HQ NOT LATER THAN 31 AUG 2009. WHEN RECORDS HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED, STATE DIRECTORS WILL SEND ALL MEMBERSHIP RELATED MATTERS DIRECTLY TO CHNAVMARCORMARS VICE THE AREA DIRECTOR. (NORTHEAST AND SOUTH AREA RECORDS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TRANSFERRED TO HQ.)
B. AREA DIRECTORS WILL CLOSE DOWN THEIR OFFICES AND TURN IN ALL EQUIPMENT TO DRMO NOT LATER THAN 30 SEP 2009. (SEPARATE GUIDANCE WILL BE PROVIDED TO CENTRAL AND PACIFIC AREA DIRECTORS.)
C. NONE OF THE EQUIPMENT AT THE AREA DIRECTORS STATIONS WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO ANY MEMBERS UNLESS SPECIFICALLY APPROVED BY NNN0ASA. THE EQUIPMENT MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO OTHER OFFICIAL NAVY ORGANIZATIONS (LIKE MWR OR SPECIAL SERVICES) TO HELP EQUIP OR START UP MILITARY RECREATION STATIONS. THESE TRANSFERS WILL BE APPROVED BY HQ ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. ANY REMAINING EQUIPMENT WILL BE TURNED IN TO DRMOS.
5. THESE CHANGES AND THE PENDING ISSUANCE OF REF B WILL REQUIRE A COMPLETE RE-WRITE OF NTP 8(D) (DRAFT). IN THE INTERIM, WHEN THE AREA DIRECTORS ARE TRANSFERRED, THE DEPUTY AREA DIRECTORS WILL ADMINISTER AREA STAFFS TO SUPPORT THE REGIONS AND STATES IN THEIR AREA. THEY WILL TAKE OVER RESPONSIBILITY FOR COMPILING QUARTERLY ACTIVITY SUMMARIES AND FREQUENCY USAGE REPORTS.
6. MARS: TOGETHER WE CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING
BT
NNNN