Communications Specialist

[cdenison]

My son wants a leadership position of Ham Radio Operator, I think an award as a Communications Specialist would be better than just the position. After discussing it with him we came up with the following requirements.

1. Earn the Radio, Communications, Computers, Electricity, Electronics and Emergency Preparedness merit Badges.
2. Obtain an amateur radio operator license from the FCC. (Personally I think it should be a General Class)
3. Help a cub scout den, boy scout troop or venturing crew participate in Jamboree on the Air.
4. Do 1 of the following:
a. Provide communications assistance to a community event such as a parade.
b. Earn the Weather merit badge and become trained as a "Storm Spotter".

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[mt_goodrich]

How about adding a requirement for Jamboree on the Air (JOTA)?

[smtroop168]

My son wants a leadership position of Ham Radio Operator, I think an award as a Communications Specialist would be better than just the position. After discussing it with him we came up with the following requirements.

1. Earn the Radio, Communications, Computers, Electricity, Electronics and Emergency Preparedness merit Badges.
2. Obtain an amateur radio operator license from the FCC. (Personally I think it should be a General Class)
3. Help a cub scout den, boy scout troop or venturing crew participate in Jamboree on the Air.
4. Do 1 of the following:
a. Provide communications assistance to a community event such as a parade.
b. Earn the Weather merit badge and become trained as a "Storm Spotter".

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Welcome to the Forum. IMHO...Your proposal is never gonna happen. You're asking a scout to Earn 7 MBs to get this award. That's almost as many as the Hornaday Silver Medal Award requires. Why not add Journalism and Public Speaking?

As far as a Ham Radio Operator Leadership Position, what troops would need a HRO in their troops? Maybe an Explorer unit that is specializing in this?

How about adding a requirement for Jamboree on the Air (JOTA)?

I think that's his #3.

[Quailman]

Welcome to the forum.

For starters, maybe require Radio and two of the others. An award is definitely a better approach than a POR.

Sometimes a special interest has to remain just that. A lot of scouts have particular hobbies or outside activities that do not qualify for an award or MB (fencing or marching band). This sounds like a worthwhile endeavor, though.

[cdenison]

Okay, how about the following

1. Earn the Radio, Communications and Emergency Preparedness merit Badges.
2. Earn 2 of the following merit badges: Public Speaking, Journalism, Computers, Electricity or Electronics.
3. Obtain an amateur radio operator license from the FCC. (Personally I think it should be a General Class)
4. Help a cub scout den, boy scout troop or venturing crew participate in Jamboree on the Air.
5. Do 1 of the following:
a. Provide communications assistance to a community event such as a parade.
b. Earn the Weather merit badge and become trained as a "Storm Spotter".

[smtroop168]

Okay, how about the following

1. Earn the Radio, Communications and Emergency Preparedness merit Badges.
2. Earn 2 of the following merit badges: Public Speaking, Journalism, Computers, Electricity or Electronics.
3. Obtain an amateur radio operator license from the FCC. (Personally I think it should be a General Class)
4. Help a cub scout den, boy scout troop or venturing crew participate in Jamboree on the Air.
5. Do 1 of the following:
a. Provide communications assistance to a community event such as a parade.
b. Earn the Weather merit badge and become trained as a "Storm Spotter".

Down to 6!

Here's my suggestion...write up your proposal and send it through your council. The main point you will have to make is how much interest you feel there will be for this time of award since National will most certainly put it to a rigorous evaluation process since the cost involved in maintaining any program must show benefits to the scouts.