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Keith Carpenter of Bridgewater opened his mail one day last week to find a certificate he had never seen or heard of before. It’s a United States Air Force Military Auxiliary Radio System Certificate of Outstanding Service. It was given to him, “in recognition of your outstanding service and selfless contributions supporting our Nation, the Department of Defense and United States Air Force MARS mission in 2017 and all of your teammates in Region 7.” Carpenter said it is the first time he has ever seen this certificate from the US Air Force MARS.
There were three of these awards given, one person from Region 5 and the third to a person in Region 8.
What Is MARS?
The Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) is a Department of Defense sponsored program, established as separately managed and operated programs by the Army and the Air Force. MARS members are volunteer licensed amateur radio operators who are interested in providing auxiliary or emergency communications to local, national and international emergency and safety organizations, as an adjunct to normal communications.
Carpenter is one of some 2,500 amateur radio operators, volunteering his time and radio equipment to assist government agencies in the event normal communications channels are disrupted, either by natural calamity or deliberate hostile action.
Carpenter has logged 600 hours in five states. He has recruited and trained three new operators in Iowa. Recruiting, training and setting up communication trailers are all part of the hobby Carpenter is very dedicated to. He began working with ham radios when he was 14 years old. When he joined the Marines in 1974, the ham radios became his job during his service.
Carpenter attended a SIMCOM located in Lake Delton, Wisconsin, in April, 2017. SIMCOM is the State Interoperable Mobile Communications, an exercise designed to display, educate and test mobile emergency communications from federal, state, tribal, local governments and volunteer agencies. Their goal is to develop relationships and understand the capabilities of other agencies before they are needed in a real emergency. Carpenter along with two MARS members Mike Vititoe and Tom Conrey ministers maintained stations in a TeePee type tent, with generator power, for five days.
“The hosts of the SIMCOM didn’t think we would last three days, but they were wrong.” Carpenter said. The SIMCOM for 2018 is to be held again in Wisconsin, however, Carpenter won’t be able to attend.
Carpenter was awarded the Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service in 2012 from the Army, for his help which resulted in a unified working relationship between the National Guard and county officials.
In addition to the Chief’s Award, Carpenter also received a 5x8 foot flag in a presentation case with documentation of the flag having flown over the White House. This was also from the Air Force MARS.
Carpenter currently serves as the Deputy Director for Region 7 of the Air Force MARS, a position he has held for the past 2 years. He was previously the director, a position he held for four years, but many personal factors caused him to step down, as he wasn’t able to devote the time to being director.
Region 7 covers the states of Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. Region 5 includes Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana.
Carpenter and his wife Roberta (Bert) live in Bridgewater. Both play important roles as volunteers in Bridgewater activities. Carpenter has worked at Bridgestone Firestone in Des Moines for 33 years and is looking forward to his retirement on May 1, 2018.