Armed Forces Day 2006 military/amateur activities set

ARRL, April 28, 2006Â The US Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard will cosponsor the annual military/Amateur Radio communications tests Saturday and Sunday, May 13-14 in celebration of the 56th Armed Forces Day. Although the actual Armed Forces Day is Saturday, May 20, the Armed Forces Day on-the-air activities will take place earlier, to avoid conflicts with those who might be attending Dayton Hamvention, May 19-21. The annual activity features traditional military-to-amateur crossband (ie, hams transmit on amateur frequencies and receive military stations on nearby military channels) SSB voice tests and copying the Secretary of Defense’s annual Armed Forces Day message via digital modes (RTTY, PACTOR, AMTOR, PSK-31 and MT63). “These tests give Amateur Radio operators and Short Wave Listeners an opportunity to demonstrate their individual technical skills and receive recognition from the Secretary of Defense and/or the appropriate military radio station for their proven expertise,” the US Armed Forces Day announcement says. QSL cards will be provided to those making contact with military stations. Commemorative certificates will be awarded to those receiving and copying without error the digital Armed Forces Day message from the Secretary of Defense. The tentative schedule of on-the-air events–including a list of participating stations, the Secretary of Defense’s message transmission schedule and more information–is available on the US Army MARS Web site (click on the “Armed Forces Day” link). The schedule is subject to change without notice.