Department of Defense
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER
4650.02
December 23, 2009
ASD(NII)/DoD CIO
SUBJECT:
Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS)
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE
. This Instruction reissues DoD Directive (DoDD) 4650.2 (Reference (a)) as a
DoD Instruction (DoDI) in accordance with the guidance in DoDI 5025.01 (Reference (b)) and
the authority in DoDD 5144.1 (Reference (c)) to establish policy, assign responsibilities, and
provide procedures for MARS (formerly the Military Affiliate Radio System) and update its
organization, membership, and functions.
2. APPLICABILITY. This Instruction applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of
the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the
Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD
Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the Department of Defense (hereafter
referred to collectively as the “DoD Components”).
3. DEFINITIONS
. Unless otherwise noted, these terms and their definitions are for the
purposes of this Instruction.
a. contingency radio communications support. The provision of radio-based transfer or
exchange of information to assist with DoD or civilian authorities’ operations during, or
responses to, any major disruption of DoD or other communications networks, such as those
associated with official national security or emergency preparedness events or activities.
b. military auxiliary. An organized body of volunteers prepared to supplement the
uniformed services or any designated civilian authorities by provision of specialized autonomous
services when called upon or when situations warrant (e.g., Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard
Auxiliary).
