San Antonio Hams

August 18 , 2008 – MOU Signed between Texas MARS and Texas REACT

August is hurricane season but apparently it is also the season for cooperation between various radio communications agencies as well.  On August 18, 2008, Charles Land, president of the local San Antonio based Hill Country REACT Team, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the South Texas Navy – Marine Corps MARS (Military Affiliated Radio System).  Minutes later, Texas State REACTCouncil Secretary, Lee Besing, signed a similar agreement with the Texas Navy – Marine Corps MARS. The MARS signature was NOT that of Bob Hejl, W2IK, but rather that of a MARS officer higher up in the chain of command for Texas. See links at bottom of this article for PDF copies scanned with signatures of both agreements.

{Photo Left – Right; Charles Land (KC5NKK) signing as president of Hill Country REACT, Bob Hejl, (W2IK, NNN0GBY2) representing MARS, and Lee Besing (N5NTG) signing as the secretary for the Texas State REACT Council.} This agreement was initiated by local MARS operator Bob Hejl, and supported by the MARS officers above him in their chain of command.  Bob contacted REACT to ask if they would be willing to sign such an agreement, and the rest is history. Ironically, the signing took place during REACT’s monthly meeting at the Bulverde Volunteer Fire Department, where the sign on the wall behind them said “Don’t train till you get it right, train until you don’t get it wrong.”By signing this agreement, it opens the doors to joint operations, and sharing of equipment such as the radio equipped communications trailer operated by the REACT Team, or the many other resources provided by MARS.  The wording of both agreements were similar, and basically provide a mechanism by which the two emergency radio organizations will utilize so that they can better communicate with each other prior, during, and after, emergency operations.  To characterize one member’s summary, he said “we’ve agreed to play nice with each other and talk to each other.” The agreement does not commit either organization to specific actions, but does create a framework to encourage communications between the local REACT Teams and local MARS units. Texas State REACT Council secretary Lee Besing was quoted as saying “We plan to use this MOU as a basis for approaching other Ham Radio emergency agencies in Texas to establish similar agreements with them and will be asking REACT International’s board of directors to open similar talks with MARS as well on a national basis.”Both groups are comprised of volunteer radio operators, normally licensed Amateur Radio operators (also referred to Ham Radio operators or Hams), who have agreed to use their two-way radio skills to help their communities in time of need, or in the case of REACT; also for public service events.  There are nearly two dozen organizations in the San Antonio and Central Texas area who utilize Ham Radio in their missions.The Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) is a Department of Defense sponsored program, established as separately managed and operated programs by the Army, Navy-Marine Corps and Air Force. MARS members are volunteer licensed amateur radio operators who are interested in providing auxiliary or emergency communications to local, national and international emergency and safety organizations, as an adjunct to normal communications. Last month in late July, a Navy – Marine Corps MARS unit in the south Texas Rio Grande Valley was very instrumental during Hurricane Dolly when 6 out of 10 key Ham Radio voice type repeater towers in that area were knocked off the air by the storm and loss of power.  The MARS unit (Ray – NNN0VHO) stationed down at Harlingen was able to maintain radio communications through out Hurricane Dolly and send messages via HF digital modes on Ham Radio up Bob Hejl’s station, and then Bob relayed them to Amateur Radio Operators located in the San Antonio Emergency Operation Center (manned by another ham organization called ARES) and to the Texas State EOC up in Austin, Texas.  Information in the reports included such facts as updated info about local area flooding of major streets and highways, damage to structures and infrastructures, availability of emergency vehicles to respond to calls during the storm, and weather reports as the hurricane passed through his area.REACT Teams are independently organized groups of radio operators using multiple modes of communications, including Amateur Radio, FRS & GMRS radio, and in some areas of the country, CB radio. REACT Teams are known for working public service events and playing a supporting role to other agencies and organizations, such as the Bexar County ARES who provides the primary manpower for the local American Red Cross and the San Antonio EOC.  REACT Teams are only chartered thru REACT International, Inc., which provides for their 501(c)3 non-profit status and liability insurance coverage. REACT’s stated mission as listed on their website is as follows:  “We will provide public service communications to individuals, organizations, and government agencies to save lives, prevent injuries, and give assistance wherever and whenever needed.   We will strive to establish a monitoring network of trained volunteer citizen-based communicators using any and all available means to deliver the message.”

• Read the local MOU between Hill Country REACT and the South Texas Navy – Marine Corps MARS here in PDF format.
• Read the statewide MOU between Texas State REACT Council and the Texas Navy – Marine Corps MARS here in PDF format.