Monday, October 19, 2015

COMEX November 7th-10th

Here is the redacted MARS announcement for the upcoming COMEX on November 7th through 10th.  A request for information for county messages will be sent out shortly after 1200Z on November 8th (Sunday).  That will be shortly after 7 AM November 8th.  I would expect that local messaging and traffic will be from 8 AM until noon on that day.  There will be smaller messaging exercises on the days to follow, but the main involvement locally will be on November 8th.

If you would like to participate, please email me at ae5me@yahoo.com.


P 291501Z SEPTEMBER 2015 ZYS


FM /MR PAUL ENGLISH CIV NETC-OP-ATD / MARS PM

/MR DAVE STAPCHUK CHIEF AIR FORCE MARS

TO /ALL ARMY MARS REGION DIRECTORS

/ALL AF MARS DIV DIRECTORS

/ALL AF MARS REGION DIRECTORS

ZEN/MR MIKE COREY AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE

BT

UNCLAS FOUO

MSGID/GENADMIN/HQ ARMY MARS FT HUACHUCA AZ/AMO 14-15//

POC/DAVID MCGINNIS/CTR/NETC-OP-ATD MARS/FT HUACHUCA AZ//

ORDTYP/ORDER/HQ ARMY MARS//

TIMEZONE/Z//

GENTEXT/SITUATION/

A. (U) GENERAL OVERVIEW:

(1) (U) CHIEF, AIR FORCE AND ARMY MARS ARE COORDINATED ON THIS

TASKING.

(3) (U) EXECUTION OF THIS COMMEX REQUIRES COORDINATION WITH RADIO

STATIONS IN THE AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE (ARS).

(4) (U) TRAINING EXERCISE SIMULATES A NOTIONAL CORONAL MASS EJECTION

(CME) AND GEO-MAGNETIC STORM. IN 1859, ONE OF THE LARGEST GEOMAGNETIC

STORMS ON RECORD OCCURRED. KNOWN AS THE CARRINGTON EVENT, THE CME

ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SOLAR STORM WAS A DIRECT HIT ON THE EARTH. TELEGRAPH

COMMUNICATIONS ACROSS THE GLOBE, WHICH HAD BECOME THE PRIMARY METHOD

FOR COMMUNICATIONS AROUND THE WORLD, FAILED. IN 1989, ANOTHER CME

KNOCKED OUT ELECTRICITY FOR 12 HOURS TO OVER 6 MILIION RESIDENTS IN QUEBEC.

THE SOLAR STORM OF 2012 WAS OF SIMILAR MAGNITUDE TO THE CARRINGTON

EVENT BUT PASSED EARTH’S ORBIT WITHOUT STRIKING THE PLANET. SHOULD A CME

OF THIS MAGNITUDE STRIKE EARTH TODAY, THE RESULTING GEO-MAGNETIC STORM

IS EXPECTED TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO ELECTRICAL AND TELECOM-

MUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE, CONSUMER ELECTRONICS, AND CAUSE WIDESPREAD

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DISRUPTIONS. SOME ESTIMATES INDICATE UP

TO 2 TRILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGE AND RECOVERY FROM SUCH AN

EVENT MAY EXTEND FROM SEVERAL MONTHS TO YEARS. ONLY EQUIPMENT

THAT HAS BEEN PROTECTED DURING THE GEO-MAGNETIC STORM SHOULD

BE EXPECTED TO OPERATE POST-EVENT.

(5) (U) THROUGHOUT THE COMMEX, STATIONS SHOULD OPERATE UNDER

EXERCISE CONDITIONS THAT SIMULATE A COMPLETE UNAVAILABILITY OF

CYBERSPACE, ELECTRICAL, AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE.

ALL MARS AND AMATEUR RADIO STATIONS SHOULD PLAN TO EXERCISE,

REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO USE BACKUP POWER.

B. (U) FRIENDLY FORCES

(1) (U) AIR FORCE MARS

(2) (U) ARMY MARS

(3) (U) AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS

(4) (U) DOD FORCES

(5) (U) AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE

C. (U) ENEMY FORCES

(1) (U) SOUND OPERATIONAL SECURITY (OPSEC) AND ANTI-

TERRORISM/FORCE PROTECTION (AT/FP) PRACTICES WILL BE

IMPLEMENTED AND USED THROUGHOUT THE COMMEX.//

GENTEXT/MISSION/

(U) IN A SIMULATED NATIONAL CRISIS SITUATION, MARS STATIONS WILL

EXERCISE CONTINGENCY COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT IN COOPERATION WITH

AMATEUR RADIO STATIONS FROM 071200Z NOV 2015 TO 102359Z NOV 2015

IN ORDER TO FULFILL NATIONAL MILITARY REQUIREMENTS IN SUPPORT OF

THE DOD NATIONAL CONTINGENCY COMMUNICATIONS MISSION INCLUDING:

(1) (U) JOINT TASKING AND UTILIZATION OF VOLUNTEER PERSONNEL

FROM MARS TO FULFILL NATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

(2) (U) COORDINATING WITH AVAILABLE AMATEUR RADIO RESOURCES.

(3) (U) SOCIALIZE WARNING OF A NOTIONAL, IMPENDING HAZARDOUS

EVENT THROUGHOUT THE MARS FORCE. IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO PROTECT

THESE RESOURCES FROM THE NOTIONAL HAZARD.

(4) (U) DEMONSTRATE INTEROPERABILITY BETWEEN DOD NETWORKS

AND AMATEUR RADIO.

(5) (U) RADIO STATIONS OPERATING WITHIN THE DOD GLOBAL HF

ENTERPRISE NETOWRK MEET PERFORMANCE STANDARDS DESCRIBED IN MIL-STD

188-110 AND TEXT MESSAGE STANDARDS IN MIL-STD 6040 (USMTF)//

GENTEXT/EXECUTION/

A. (U) INTENT

(U) ESTABLISH AND SUSTAIN DEPENDABLE, MULTI-LAYER HF

RADIO-ONLY NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS TO SUPPORT DOD OBJECTIVES

AND INTERFACE WITH RELEVANT AMATEUR RADIO NETWORKS AS REQUIRED

TO FULFILL DOD INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS.

B. (U) CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS

(U) THIS COMMEX IS DESIGNED TO EXERCISE TASKS THAT WOULD NORMALLY

OCCUR FOR A PERIOD OF TIME OF SEVERAL DAYS OR LONGER. HOWEVER, THE

COMMEX IS CONDUCTED OVER A COMPRESSED TIME PERIOD. THIS IS A

HIGH PRIORITY ACTIVITY AND ALL MARS ASSETS AVAILABLE TO TRAIN

SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN THIS COMMEX.

(1) (U) NOTIFICATION PHASE

(U) THE TIME PERIOD 071200Z THROUGH 080900Z NOV 2015 IS THE

NOTIFICATION PHASE OF THE COMMEX.

(U) AT 071200Z NOV 2015 ALL MARS STATIONS WILL SIMULATE A

GROWING AWARENESS OF A NOTIONAL CME AND GEOMAGNETIC STORM

CONSIDERED LIKELY TO HIT EARTH AS DISCUSSED ON NOTIONAL

SOCIAL MEDIA AND NEWS NETWORKS. THE GROWING CONSENSUS

IS THIS CME IS LIKELY TO BE OF A CATASTROPHIC MAGNITUDE.

(U) DURING THIS PHASE, STATE MARS DIRECTORS AND STAFF SHOULD

PREPARE MARS STATIONS FOR A POTENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS

DISRUPTION AND SOCIALIZE TECHNIQUES WITH THEIR SUBORDINATES TO

PROTECT RADIO AND COMPUTER EQUIPMENT. ADDITIONALLY, AMARS

STATE CIVIL AFFAIRS OFFICERS AND AFMARS STATE EMERGENCY

COORDINATORS SHOULD WORK TOGETHER TO BEGIN COORDINATION

ACTIVITIES WITH LOCAL AMATEUR ORGANIZATIONS. REGION MARS

DIRECTORS AND OPERATIONS STAFF SHOULD PREPARE FOR PERIODS

OF HIGH INTENSITY AND SUSTAINED NETWORK OPERATIONS. MARS

MEMBERS SHOULD MAINTAIN EMAIL AND TELEPHONE CONTACT WITH

THEIR STATE MARS STAFF, CHECK INTO REGULARLY SCHEDULED

MARS NETS, CHECK AND TEST EQUIPMENT, SOFTWARE AND

REFERENCE INFORMATION TO ENSURE THEY ARE UP TO DATE AND

OPERATIONAL IN ALL AREAS.

(U) AT 080001Z NOV 2015 G2 SOURCES WILL NOTIFY MARS OF AN

IMPENDING CME. DOD WILL DIRECT MARS PROGRAMS TO IMPLEMENT A

POSTURE TO ENSURE SURVIVALABILITY OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL STATIONS,

DISCONNECT RADIO AND COMPUTER EQUIPMENT FROM ALL WIRING BETWEEN

THE HOURS OF 080900Z THROUGH 081200Z NOV 2015. MARS MEMBERS

WILL BE NOTIFIED OF POTENTIAL REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION FOLLOWING

CME IMPACT. MARS STATIONS SHOULD COMMUNICATE INFORMATION

RELEVANT TO PROTECTING EQUIPMENT FROM THE EFFECTS OF THE

GEOMAGNETIC STORM TO ALL MARS MEMBERS AND FINALIZE PREPARATIONS

FOR OPERATIONS.

(2) (U) GEOMAGNETIC STORM PHASE

(U) BETWEEN 080900Z THROUGH 081200Z NOV 2015 THE NOTIONAL GEOMAGNETIC

STORM WILL OCCUR. ALL MARS STATIONS RADIO AND COMPUTER

EQUIPMENT SHALL BE PHYSICALLY DISCONNECTED FROM ANTENNAS, POWER

MAINS, AND INTERCONNECT WIRING IN A MANNER THAT PROVIDES THE

BEST PROTECTION FROM THE EFFECTS OF THE GEOMAGNETIC STORM.

(U) NO EXERCISE RADIO OPERATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED DURING THE

GEOMAGNETIC STORM PHASE.

(3) (U) POST GEOMAGNETIC STORM PHASE / HIGH INTENSITY NETWORK

OPERATIONS (HINO)

(U) AT 081200Z NOV 2015 MARS STATIONS WILL OBSERVE NOTIONAL LOSS OF

ELECTRICAL POWER, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, AND CYBERSPACE AS A RESULT

OF THE NOTIONAL GEOMAGNETIC STORM. BASED ON THESE NOTIONAL

TRIGGER EVENTS, MARS STATIONS SHALL TAKE INDIVIDUAL ACTION THAT

COLLECTIVELY ACTIVATES HF RADIO NETWORKS AT ALL LEVELS.

COMSPOT REPORTS SHALL BE GENERATED AT EACH LEVEL AND SENT TO

HIGHER.

(U) SHORTLY AFTER 081200Z NOV 2015, A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR

COUNTY MESSAGES WILL BE FORWARDED TO MARS. MARS STATIONS

IN EACH COUNTY OR ADJACENT OR NEARBY COUNTIES WILL COMPLETE

COUNTY MESSAGES AS TASKED.

(U) MARS MEMBERS, USING THEIR AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE, SHALL CONTACT

AMATEUR RADIO STATIONS AND CONVERSE WITH AMATEUR OPERATORS TO

OBTAIN THE INFORMATION VARIABLES NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE COUNTY

REPORTS. MARS STATIONS SHOULD NOT EXPECT AMATEUR STATIONS TO

KNOW FIPS COUNTY CODES OR THE COUNTY MESSAGE FORMAT. BECAUSE

EXERCISING THE MARS/AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE INTERFACE IS A PRIMARY

OBJECTIVE OF THIS COMMEX, MARS STATIONS SHOULD OFFER LOCAL AMATEUR

STATIONS EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN IN THIS COMMEX TO INCLUDE TAKING

DUPLICATE INFORMATION FROM AMATEUR SOURCES WHEN THE INFORMATION

MAY BE AVAILABLE DIRECTLY TO THE MARS STATION.

(U) AMATEUR RADIOS OPERATORS THAT WOULD NORMALLY OPERATE AT A

STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER OR AT

ANOTHER GOVERNMENT OR CIVIL FACILITY DURING AN ACTUAL EVENT OF

THIS TYPE MAY SIMULATE OPERATING FROM THAT FACILITY DURING THIS

COMMEX, AS APPROPRIATE. THE INTENT OF THIS COMMEX IS NOT TO

REQUEST ACTIVATION OF STATE/LOCAL OR CIVIL FACILITIES, RATHER

TO EXERCISE NFORMATION EXCHANGE BETWEEN MARS AND AMATEUR NETWORKS.

(U) IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ONLY REAL-WORLD INFORMATION IS

COLLECTED. SIMULATED OR NOTIONAL CONDITIONS ARE NOT REPORTED.

IE: IF THE POWER IS REALLY ON, THEN THE REPORT SHALL BE THE

POWER IS ON.

(U) THIS EXERCISE SIMULATES THE INACCESIBILITY OF CYBERSPACE.

THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO EXERCISE HUMAN INTERACTION BETWEEN RADIO

OPERATORS IN THE MARS AND AMATEUR SERVICES USING BASIC

TECHNOLOGIES. CONTACT TO AMATEUR RADIO STATION SHALL BE ONLY

THROUGH TRADITIONAL RADIO METHODS. NO INTERNET-BASED LINKING,

REMOTE, STORE AND FORWARD, OR EMAIL SYSTEMS ARE PERMITTED TO

BE USED TO FULFILL THE EXERCISE REQUIREMENT.

(4) (U) SUSTAINED NETWORK OPERATIONS

(5) (U) MARS / DOD ACTIVITY

(6) (U) CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS

C. (U) TASKS TO SUBORDINATE UNITS:

(1) (U) US ARMY GATEWAY STATION FORT HUACHUCA:

(2) (U) MARS STATIONS SUPPORTING THE TRANSGLOBAL NET:

(U) SCHEDULE MAJOR RELAY STATIONS AND MAKE ALL NECESSARY

PREPARATIONS TO STAFF THE TRANSGLOBAL NET.

(3) (U) MARS STATIONS SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL SUPPORT NET:

(U) THE NATIONAL SUPPORT NET WILL RECEIVE ADDITIONAL

INSTRUCTION IN A SEPARATE COMMUNICATION.

(4) (U) ARMY AND AIR FORCE MARS REGION DIRECTORS

(A) (U) ESTABLISH PROCEDURES AND ISSUE DIRECTIVES WITHIN

THEIR REGION TO SUPPORT THIS COMMEX.

(B) (U) ESTABLISH ALTERNATE COMMAND AND STAFF ASSIGNMENTS

WITHIN THE LEADERSHIP TEAM.

(C) (U) SOCIALIZE THIS EXERCISE WITH AMATEUR

RADIO ORGANIZATIONS TO ENCOURAGE PARTICITATION.

(U) (U) ENSURE ALL MARS STATIONS MAXIMIZE TRAINING

OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMEX AND ARE CAPABLE OF

OPERATING USING SSB VOICE AND MIL-STD DATA.

(6) (U) AIR FORCE MARS DIVISION DIRECTORS

(U) PROVIDE ALL NECESSARY SUPPORT TO AIR FORCE MARS

REGION DIRECTORS TO EXECUTE THIS COMMEX.

(7) (U) JOINT PHONE PATCH MANAGER:

(U) NO SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL DEMANDS FOR PHONE PATCH

SERVICES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS COMMEX. CONDUCT

SCHEDULED PHONE PATCH OPERATIONS ACCORDING TO EXISTING

DIRECTIVES.

D. (U) COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS:

(1) (U) TRAIN-UP

(U) THROUGH INDEPENDENT STUDY PRIOR TO THIS COMMEX, MARS

STATIONS SHOULD FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH THE POTENTIAL

EFFECTS OF A CARRINGTON-CLASS CME AND ACTIONS THAT CAN BE

TAKEN TO PROTECT EQUIPMENT FROM THE RESULTING GEOMAGNETIC

STORM.

(2) (U) AMATEUR RADIO ACTIVITY

(U) THIS EXERCISE DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY FORMAL TASKING

ASSOCIATED WITH A PARTICULAR AMATEUR RADIO ORGANIZATION;

HOWEVER, THIS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUAL, NON

MARS AFFILIATED AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS TO SUPPORT A DOD

ACTIVITY IN A REALISTIC, AD-HOC MANNER. THE SOURCE OF

ANY REQUEST FOR INFORMATION CAN BE A LOCAL AMATEUR RADIO

STATION WHO IS NEAREST THE REQUESTED RESOURCE. STATE MARS

DIRECTORS, THROUGH THEIR CIVIL AFFAIRS OFFICERS (A) AND

EMERGENCY COORDINATORS (AF), SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO

ENLIST THE SUPPORT OF INTERESTED LOCAL AMATEURS, GROUPS,

AND ORGANIZATIONS.

(U) AMATEUR RADIO ACTIVITY IS LIMITED TO RADIO ONLY,

NO TCP/IP TECHNOLOGY WILL BE USED DURING THIS EXERCISE.

(3) (U) JOINT COORDINATION

(U) REGION MARS DIRECTORS, SUPPORTED BY DIVISION DIRECTORS SHALL

COORDINATE ALL COMMEX ACTIVITIES TO ACHIEVE:

(A)(U) HF RADIO NETWORK COVERAGE AS REQUIRED.

(B) (U) A SCHEDULE TO ENSURE NET CONTROL AND MINOR/

MAJOR RELAY STATION AVAILABILITY.

(C) (U) ASSIGN AND TRAIN MARS STATIONS TO ACCOMPLISH ALL

ANTICIPATED TASKS.

(D) (U) PRIORITIZE AND SCHEDULE RESOURCES TO ENSURE

COMMEX IS FULLY STAFFED THROUGH THE ENTIRE PERIOD.

(E) (U) ENSURE COMSPOT REPORTS INCLUDE REMARKS CONTAINING

THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBER CALL SIGN OF ALL STATIONS THAT

CHECKED INTO THE NET WHILE THE NET WAS OPERATING.

TAKE ALL NECESSARY ACTIONS TO ENSURE ALL MARS STATIONS

THAT TRAINED IN THIS EXERCISE ARE RECORDED.

(F) (U) COMPLETE AND SUBMIT AFTER ACTION REPORTS (AAR) TO

THE RESPECTIVE HEADQUARTERS OR DIVISION DIRECTORS NO

LATER THAN 15 DAYS FOLLOWING CONCLUSION OF COMMEX.

MARS AFTER ACTION REPORTS SHALL CONTAIN THE ASSIGNED

STATION (NOT BILLET) CALL SIGN OF EVERY MARS STATION

PARTICIPATING.

(4) (U) A REDACTED VERSION OF THIS ORDER WILL BE PROVIDED FOR

REFERENCE AND DISTRIBUTION TO THE AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNITY.

(5) (U) OTHER ACTIVITIES MAY COINCIDE WITH THIS EXERCISE.

MARS STATIONS ARE TO PROCESS "NO PLAY" MESSAGES AND TRAFFIC

WITHOUT DELAY, AS REQUESTED.//

GENTEXT/ADMIN AND LOG/

(U) ALL MARS STATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE SELF SUPPORTING FOR

THE DURATION OF THE COMMEX. NO SERVICE SUPPORT IS PROVIDED.//

GENTEXT/COMMAND AND SIGNAL/

A. (U) COMMAND

(1) (U) CHAIN OF COMMAND.

(U) US ARMY NETCOM IS THE LEAD AGENCY DESIGNATED FOR

EXECUTION OF THIS TASK. THIS ACTIVITY IS COORDINATED

BETWEEN HQ ARMY MARS AND CHIEF AIR FORCE MARS.

(A) ARMY MARS PROGRAM MANAGER / US ARMY NETCOM G34 ATD;

(B) CHIEF AIR FORCE MARS / US AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND

38SCM;

(C) ARMY MARS OPERATIONS OFFICER / US ARMY NETCOM G34 ATD;

(D) ARMY MARS REGION DIRECTORS AND AIR FORCE MARS REGION DIRECTORS;

(E) AF MARS DIVISION DIRECTORS (ADMINISTRATIVE ONLY);

(F) ARMY AND AIR FORCE MARS STATE DIRECTORS;

(G) MARS MEMBERS.

B. (U) SIGNAL

(4) (U) INTERNET TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING HF EMAIL AND

INTERNET LINKED REPEATER SYSTEMS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THIS

EXERCISE.

(U) MARS MEMBERS OPERATING ON AMATEUR RADIO FREQUENCIES SHALL

UTILIZE THE PREVAILING OPERATING MODE IN USE ON THE FREQUENCY.

(6) (U) OFF LINE ENCODING

(B) (U) IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT AMATEUR STATIONS DO

NOT HAVE ENCRYPTION CAPABILITIES. COMMUNICATIONS WITH

AMATEUR STATIONS SHALL BE UN-ENCRYPTED AND IN ACCORDANCE

WITH EXISTING AMATEUR CONVENTIONS.

(7) (U) COMMUNICATIONS PLAN

(B) (U) AMATEUR RADIO: LOCAL VHF/UHF AND HF AMATEUR RADIO

NETS AND OTHER LOCAL AD HOC AMATEUR ACTIVITY.//

SGD/

ENGLISH

SGD/

STAPCHUK//

BT

#0021

NNNN

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