W. J. "Bill" Freiler
NNN0ASI
NNN0GCP
NNN0FBK
Welcome to the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) Northeast Area Website. On 1 June 2000, I had the honor of assuming the duties of Acting Director, Region One, of the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS). I relieved the previous Director, ITC Benjamin Thompson, whose tour of duty as Region Director ended, and he left for his next duty assignment at sea.
Effective 27 August 2002, the new Region One Director, ITC Uleaner Renee Killingsworth, reported aboard at Region One Headquarters at the Naval Submarine Base, Groton, CT. I'm sure that the Region One membership joins me in saying "Welcome Aboard Chief." Effective 1 June 2003, as part of the Navy-Marine Corps MARS reorganization, the former Region One became the Northeast Area, which consists of Region One (states of ME, NH, VT, MA, CT and RI), Region Two (states of NY and NJ) and Region Three (states of MD, DE, PA, WV, VA and the District of Columbia). Basically, the former Region One extended from Maine to Delaware and New Jersey to Ohio. In the Navy-Marine Corps MARS reorganization, the new Northeast Area has gained the States of Maryland/DC, West Virginia and Virginia, and we lost Ohio to the Central Area. As you can see Northeast Area has just expanded to consist of Maine to Virginia and New Jersey to West Virginia. I would like to say Welcome Aboard to our new MD/DC, WV and VA members. To our departing Ohio members, Fair Winds and Following Seas.
On 1 August 2004, I had the honor of assuming the duties off Acting Director, Northeast Area. I relieved ITC Killingsworth when her tour of duty as Director, Northeast Area ended upon her retirement from the Navy. Fair Winds and Following Seas, Chief, and best wishes on your retirement. Effective 22 October 2005, the new Northeast Area Director, ITC Jeroald "JD" Dever, reported aboard at Northeast Area Headquarters at the Naval Submarine Base, Groton, CT. I'm sure that the Northeast Area membership joins me in saying "Welcome Aboard Chief."
On 12 August 2008, I had the honor of assuming the duties of Acting Director, Northeast Area. I relieved ITC (SW) Dever when his tour of duty as Director, Northeast Area ended with his terminal leave prior to his retirement from the Navy. I'm sure that I speak for the Northeast Area membership, when I say, "Fair Winds and Following Seas, Chief, and best wishes on your retirement." In case you're wondering about what Navy-Marine Corps MARS is and what we do, our parent command is the Naval Network and Space Operations Command (NNSOC). Our Primary Mission is Emergency Communications (ECOM) in support of the Department of Defense (DoD). Our Secondary Mission is ECOM in support of Civil Authorities.
Our Third Mission, is the one that many associate with us. That is being available to pass MARSgrams to and from deployed Armed Forces personnel and their families and friends, along with providing telephone patches over the radio. Any licensed amateur radio operators within the Northeast Area described above with an interest in the activities that we are active in, who may have an interest in joining us, please contact me. There is a short training period that consists of on the air Training Nets, along with studying a course with an open book test.
Effective 01 October 2009 I received the appointment as Area Director (NNN0ASI) Northeast Area(CHNAVMARCORMARS BCST 05-09). We (NAVCORMARS), will be navigating uncharted waters in the future. I'm confident, that with the professionalism, that Navy-Marine Corps MARS Members have always displayed, that we will succeed and succeed extremely well in our Primary Mission Of Emergency Communications (ECOM) Support to the Department Of Defense (DOD) and Civil Authorities in the future.
If you are interested in joining Navy-Marine Corps MARS visit the Navy-Marine Corps MARS National Website www.navymars.org for more Information.