The Boy Scouts of America have just announced a new
"Interpreter Strip" for Morse Code. An "Interpreter Strip"
on the uniform means that the Scout or adult leader is able
to communicate in a particular language.
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Those older Scouts and former Scouts among you may remember
the Boy Scout requirements that said a Scout had to learn
Morse Code or signal flags to send and receive a message.
And, even though that requirement has disappeared and Morse
Code is no longer mandatory to get any amateur radio license
in the United States, the BSA is reviving Morse Code as a
"language" worth learning.
You can probably credit Jim Wilson, K5ND, for getting this
one from concept to reality.
He's the BSA's "Jamboree on the Air" organizer and the
volunteer chairman for the next K2BSA operation at the 2013
National Boy Scouts Jamboree at the Summit in West Virigina.
Wilson works at BSA headquarters in Texas and is a big
promoter of amateur radio in Scouting.
So much so, Wilson says he organized a national Radio
Scouting advisory committee last year to get stronger
support in the amateur and Scouting community for JOTA.
Earlier this year, Wilson says a member of that committee
made a suggestion about getting some additional Scouting
recognition for amateur radio.
Wilson says there were some ideas that eventually evolved
into exploring the "interpreter" strip worn on the Scout
uniform to show a Scout has some ability to speak a certain
language.
Wilson admits he came up with the idea for "Morse" on the
strip - but in the letters of the language - dah-dah, dah-
dah-dah, di-dah-dit, dit-dit-dit, dit."
Wilson says he quickly moved the idea over to the BSA's
national awards committee where it got a favorable reception
and approval within months.
So how does a boy earn it?
Wilson says there are three requirements, the first....
"It's carrying on a 5-minute conversation in Morse Code at a
speed of at least 5 words per minute," Wilson explains.
"And, then the second one, copying correctly a 2-minute
message sent in Morse Code at a minimum of 5-words-per-
minute.
"And, copying of course means writing the message down as
it's received. And, then, three, sending a 25-word written
document in Morse Code at a minimum of 5 words per minute."
Wilson says Scouts can be certified by their Scoutmaster or
maybe even a ham who's an adult Scout leader.
Wilson says the idea is to further cement the bonds of
brotherhood between Scouting and ham radio operators. And,
of course, Wilson is....
"Eager to increase participation in amateur radio to provide
an opportunity for Scouts to get involved in a fun hobby, a
hobby that promotes communicating with lots of Scouts and
others around the country and around the world," Wilson
says. "And, it's science, it's technology, it's engineering,
it's math - the stem items that are of enormous interest
right now and frankly have been in Boy Scouting for quite
some time."
