From: Brian Nielsen (brian.nielsen@TCS.WAP.ORG)
Date: Wed Aug 30 2000 - 18:00:17 CDT
on 8/29/00 9:10 PM, IK at ikmom4@CORE.COM wrote:
> These are the bugle calls listed on a web site I found, but what are they
> used for in scouting? Sorry, excuse my ignorance, maybe a military person
> can enlighten me. For example what do you use to wake the boys up [REVEILLE],
or to
> start a meeting or activity [ASSEMBLY]?
>
> To The Colors
> First Call
> Assembly
> Call to Quarters
> Church
> Drill
> Fatigue
> FIRE!
> Mess
> Officers
> Recall
> Retreat
> Reveille
> Swimming
> Taps
>From the Music and Bugling merit badge pamphlet:
ASSEMBLY signals that everyone should gather at a designated place. Some
refer to this as "Fall In."
CALL TO QUARTERS signals that everyone should return to the place they will
be sleeping. It will later be followed by TAPS, at which time lights are
turned off for sleeping.
CHURCH announces that services are about to begin.
FATIGUE summons those who are to report for some type of work activity.
Because it is rarely heard, its message might not be recognized unless your
troop knows it well.
MESS is sounded at mealtime. This call is very popular!
DRILL is a call that originated in military days and probably is best
avoided unless your troop has agreed on what it is to signal. For example,
it could be used for camp leanup or to report for some camp activity.
FIRE is an alarm that there is danger. This call is unique and will get
almost anyone's attention.
FIRST CALL is used for getting attention and is commonly heard at horse
raises.
OFFICERS would be played for a meeting of the troop leaders. It is so
unfamiliar to most troops, you probably will not use it.
RECALL signals that something under way should end. An example would be a
game of Capture the Flag when everyone is scattered far and wide. An
alternative call might be ASSEMBLY.
TO THE COLORS is played when everyone has gathered for the raising or lower
of the flag.
RETREAT signals the end of the official day. It usually is sounded just
before the playing of TO THE COLORS or the National Anthem, which are played
during the lowering of the flag.
REVEILLE is the first call sounded in the morning and is used as a wakeup
call.
SWIMMING signals the swimming period.
TAPS signals the end of the day when everyone is to go to sleep. It also is
played at funerals.
NOTE: I am NOT a military person, but rather a (former) trumpet playing
camp staffer who was snagged by the camp director to do bugling duties for
the camp and to counsel the badge (which I never earned myself) when a
camper wanted to earn it, and whose piano-playing son has a copy of the
merit badge book handy...
Brian Nielsen
ASM - T1946
Washington, DC
