NETCOM QRPX Low-Powered HF Radio Competition

MAJ Sherburne, CPT(P) Martin CDT Blake Wilson '18 operated West Point's US Army Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) station – AAM2P during the US Army NETCOM sponsored QRPX 2018 global High Frequency (HF) radio exercise, a no-threat competitive environment which focuses on HF radio fundamentals and developing HF skills. The objective of the competition is to make as many contacts using field expedient antennas and radios transmitting no more than 20 Watts. Cadet Wilson made six contacts with stations from the 10th Mountain Division, Nebraska's Echo Company, 134th Infantry Regiment (LRS-ABN), and various MARS stations from Illinois, New York, Kentucky, and South Carolina. MAJ Sherburne contacted the US Army Reconnaissance School in Fort Benning, Georgia and various MARS stations located in Ohio, Missouri, and Florida. The West Point MARS station made four more contacts this year than they did during last year's competition. The station was also able to send digital messages with military units.