Chief’s Message
You may have noticed that NARS has a new name and a new logo. Because we’re not a “System,” we changed that part of the name to “Service,” since service is what NARS is all about. We’re now the Naval Auxiliary Radio Service, which better describes our mission.
We’re also working on a NARS trifold brochure to help get the word out. Download it here and share it with fellow operators.
NARS at Work for the Navy
In September, NARS.04 Chief Petty Officer Shane Callaghan and Dr. Dennis Watson briefed U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF) and Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) on NARS capabilities. The initial planning meeting for HURREX/CITADEL GALE 2027 was held on 24 September 2026.
USFF and CNIC were very impressed with NARS’s performance in HURREX 2026. CNIC hopes to use the NARS team for other HURREX exercises on the East Coast and for CITADEL Rumble exercises on the West Coast. The HF kits also drew a lot of interest from the audience.
Highlights from the HURREX/CG26 assessment:
- During simulated catastrophic power and cellular outages, Winlink proved effective as an auxiliary email and voice relay across multiple shore sites and afloat aboard USS Kearsarge.
- Amateur radio operators used portable Winlink systems to send critical hurricane weather reports by email between Norfolk, Washington, D.C., and SUBASE New London.
- Operators established ship-to-shore email and voice communications with USS Kearsarge.
Recommendations for HURREX/CG27 include formally integrating auxiliary radio operators into regional emergency management plans, testing Winlink as a formal part of the emergency communications plan, and validating interoperability with other regions, afloat commands and civilian emergency agencies.
Winlink Tuesday
Send a Winlink message every week to stay in practice. It isn’t hard, though it’s clearly not a Microsoft product! Each Tuesday, send a one-line check-in with your call sign, first name, town/location, nearest naval activity and method of transmission. For example:
NL9H/RICH/GREENE, RI/SUBASE NEW LONDON/HF
Try HF Winlink first. If HF isn’t available, use VHF/UHF. If neither is available, use Telnet Winlink.
Military Observances
- October 13: Navy Birthday
- October 26: National Day of the Deployed
Get a Friend to Join!
Know an operator who would like to support the Navy? Share the NARS application and point them to our Join page.
