Armed Forces Day Crossband Military/Amateur Radio Communications Test

Today was the Annual Armed Forces Day Crossband Military/Amateur Radio Communications Test. Here is an overview from the official test document.

"The annual celebration features traditional military to amateur cross band communications SSB voice tests and copying the Secretary of Defense message via digital modes. These tests give Amateur Radio operators and Short Wave Listeners (SWL) an opportunity to demonstrate their individual technical skills, and to receive recognition from the Secretary of Defense and/or the appropriate military radio station for their proven expertise. QSL cards will be provided to those stations making contact with the military stations. Special commemorative certificates will be awarded to anyone who receives and copies the digital Armed Forces Day message from the Secretary of Defense."

I was able to make contact with eight of the fifteen or so military stations that were operating. The Military station transmits on thier designated frequency range and we recieve there. Then we transmit in the Amateur frequency range and they recieve there. So I set up the Kenwwod TS-440 to operate in Split mode. Worked well. Here is a list of my contacts.

NAV4 - Navy/Marine Corp MARS, Great Lakes, IL - 14467/14328
WAR - Army MARS, Pentagon, Arlington, VA - 13512.5/14325

AIR - Air Force MARS, Andrews AFB, MD - 13985.1/14260

NAV3 - Navy/Marine Corp MARS, Corpus Christi, TX - 13974/14240

AAZ - Army MARS, Ft. Huachuca, AZ - 14402/14211

WUG-231 - Army MARS, Memphis, TN - 7360/7270
AAC - Army MARS, Lexington, KY - 7363/7295

NBL - Navy/Marine Corp MARS, Chelmsford, MA - 14391.5/14325