Subject: Cell phone woes
From: (William)
Date: 4/25/2004 10:17 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:
(Steve Robeson K4CAP) wrote in message
...
But right now...today...what I stated is true.
Nope, you're "FACTS" are moving targets. You've already backtracked
on your original statement and now say that 1% of MARS personnel are
not Amateurs.
OK...here we go again.
Brian, I have ALWAYS stated that there are SOME "non-Amateur" personnel
involved in MARS. Most of those are Active Duty Armed Forces. You provided
the name of ONE person who is neither Amateur nor ADAF. I will accept that
there are probably folks who fall into that same category for N/MC and Army
MARS. I still contend that the numbers will be around 1%, certainly no more
than 10%.
That means 90% of the load is carried by licensed Amateur Radio operators.
No Amateur Radio = No MARS, that 1-10% notwithstanding.
TOMORROW they may require that I be wearing Avon when I operate and
that I
hang from the shower curtain by my ankles.
But not today.
They won't. Trust me.
Try to stay away from extremes.
Hey...You're the one who can't/won't accept that MARS existence is
directly predicated on the participation of licensed Amateur Radio operators.
You're also the one who has made suggestions about what MARS may or may
not be based upon arbitrary rules changes that COULD be enacted SOME time in
the future.
Not what IS in writing...but what MIGHT happen.
That's "extreme".
Comms was not my functional area, but weather comms were. But I will
state for the record that I'd write anything into the plan or opord
that hhq told me to - as long as it was a legal order.
Then you were not being honest with yourself or faithful to your sworn
oath.
How am I not being honest?
You said you'd write "anything" if it were a "legal order".
Your commanding officer could tell you to write "I am gay" on a blackboard
100 times. That would be a legal order. Would you do it, knowing it wasn't
true? (Or is it?)
Yes, 99.999% of the time I am sure no one would ask you to write dumb
stuff.
Lots of dumb stuff is written here. Arguing minutia over and over and
over is what Carl commented on.
I am impressed that several people express angst over "arguing minutia",
but usually what THEY consider "minutia" is inversely proportional to whether
they find it important to themselves...Not what others consider important.
I, for one, do not consider your assertion of "significant role" in the
use of unlicensed radio services in emergency communications, to be valid, well
founded, nor even wise. You, however, considered it "minutia", no doubt due to
the fact taht it was an indefensible idea.
I suspect that MARS, if need be, could find volunteers who didn't have
amateur licenses. Isn't that what CAP does? Doesn't CAP use radios
on military frequencies?
What CAP does today is irrelevent to the topic being discussed.
Yes, it is. The USAF has set a precedent that they don't require
amateur volunteers to operate radios on military frequencies. Do you
disagree?
Yes, I do. (Disagree)
CAP is NOT MARS. It never was. It NEVER required Amateur licensure in
order to participate. CAP has encouraged Amateurs to participate, and
encourages it's members to consider being licensed. However they are also very
adamant that CAP operators not use Amateur frequencies for CAP business, and
"Amateur-like" communications not be conducted on CAP frequencies.
Apples and oranges, Brian.
And I have proposed changes to the AFMARS system that would allow CAP
members who have completed "ACUT" (Advanced Communicator User Training) and
who
have demonstrated competency to be allowed to enroll in AFMARS.
Hopefully you didn't include Avon products and hanging upside down
from the shower rod in your proposal.
Now please allow me to have an opinion.
You have a CAP volunteer who now wants to add AFMARS volunteer to
his/her credentials. Then the big disaster occurs and CAP calls him
up for duty. Then AFMARS calls him up for duty. Then RACES calls him
up for duty. Then the ARC calls him up for duty. Then the ER calls
him up for duty. Then home calls and say they need him there.
Choose one (1) emergency service to volunteer for and do it well.
When work calls and says they need you there, you go to work. When
home calls and says they need you there, you go home.
I am sure you have a point to make, Brian, but I think the point is that
you're jealous that others are capable of being/doing more than one thing.
If you're a one-thing-at-a-time kinda guy, that's fine. There's nothing
to be ashamed of. Lot's of people can't handle more than one thing at a
time...Or one thing at all...
I think some people collect volunteer credentials like some people
collect 10-10 numbers.
Like I said...If you're a OTAAT kinda guy, that's fine.
Some of us realize that there's only one pass at life and a lot of things
to do and experience.
I like to do a lot of things. I may never "master" any of them, but I
will have done them and been made better for it. And in some cases my having
DONE them has made things better for others.
That's the icing on the cake.
But that is NOT what the rules allow now, and what MIGHT happen in the
future is irrelevent NOW.
If future rules are irrelevant, why do you propose changes?
They are irrelevent at this moment. They may not be tomorrow. Can I hold
you accountable TODAY for a yet-to-be enacted law...?!?!
MARS is NOT "Amateur Radio."
Best of Luck, and last this subject.
No Amateur Radio = No MARS.
MARS is NOT "Amateur Radio."
No Amateur Radio = No MARS.
It really is THAT simple.
Steve, K4YZ