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Bugling Merit Badge

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Overview Requirements Hints Resources

Bugling Merit Badge Info

The goal of this merit badge is pretty obivous and the requirements are direct and easy to understand. Completing all the requirements is not that easy. The requirements have a scout demonstrate proficiency with a bugle or similar instrument.

Scouts new to playing brass instruments will have their work cut out to learn and demonstrate all the required calls. Besides learning the calls, the most difficult requirement is fulfilling the Bugler position. This should require attending campouts and getting up early to wake the troop. The most fun requirement is composing a new call since it's open to the scout's imagination.

This is a great merit badge for any scouts that already play brass since they have a head start. But, the Bugler position requirement means it will take every scout at least three months. A bonus is that the time spent as troop Bugler can be counted for Star or Life position of responsibility advancement requirements, but not for Eagle.

Scouts often ask if other instruments can be used, but a bugle, trumpet, or coronet are the only instruments officially allowed. Trivia Bit: Bugling is typically the least often earned merit badge with under 500 given out each year - a scout earning this will have a relatively rare badge!

Revised January, 2020

Requirements for the Bugling merit badge:

Give a brief history of the bugle.

Do the following:
1. Explain and demonstrate how the bugle makes sound, and explain how the bugle is related to other brass wind instruments.
2. Compose a bugle call for your troop or patrol to signal a common group activity, such as assembling for mealtime or striking a campsite. Play the call that you have composed before your unit or patrol.

Sound 10 of the following bugle calls: 'First Call', 'Reveille', 'Assembly', 'Mess', 'Drill', 'Fatigue', 'Officers', 'Recall', 'Church', 'Swimming', 'Fire', 'Retreat', 'To the Colors', 'Call to Quarters', and 'Taps
Explain the use of each of the calls you performed.

Explain how to care for, clean, and maintain a bugle.

Serve as bugler in your troop for three months.

NOTE: A bugle, trumpet, or cornet may be used to meet these requirements.

Bugling Worksheet

Hints for Bugling Merit Badge

* The counselor needs to be musically inclined in order to determine if the calls are correct or not.
* Many troops have a troop bugle that the bugler can use and practice with.
* If positions of responsibility are difficult to get into in a troop, doing this merit badge and using the time as bugler can solve that problem.

Resources for Bugling Merit Badge

Watch this Calls Video to hear what they sound like.
Here's Another Calls Video
scoutbugle.com
Bugle Wiki has bugle history and other information.
Bugle Care is discussed here.
Brass Instruments Wiki to see those related to the bugle.

Some related merit badges include: Art, Music, and Signs, Signals, & Codes. You might check them out if you found the Bugling merit badge interesting.

All Merit Badges

Comments:

May 26, 2013 - William Earle Rettew, II, PE

I am an Eagle Scout 1963 (36 merit badges) and was a member of Troop 2 in Greenville. I was a counselor at Camp Old Indian for three years. I memorized all the bugle calls and obtained the merit badge while at camp. However, these calls are not clear in my memory and wondered if there is a CD available with the calls. Surprisingly I still have my bugle and would love to get back up to speed with it.

Jun 04, 2013 - Eli Morales

William, I am an asst. Scoutmaster and a 21 year veteran public school band director. I recently got my youngest into scouting and I will be preparing to teach the bugling merit badge. If you have an iphone and/or know about itunes, you can buy "The Columbia River Players", album name is Liberty Call: American Bugle Calls. Picture has the American Flag with a trumpet held by a hand with the words Liberty Call as the header. It has 44 bugle calls including all 15 of the required calls for the merit badge for about $5 and change. Good deal. Clear sounding calls. Shoot me an email for more info at blesn5@yahoo.com

Jul 18, 2013 - CJs Mom

I know it was a year ago that someone asked about the merit badge book (or phamphlet), but this still may be helpful. The requirements for bugling are in the back of the music merit badge book (at least the music book I purchased last week at my local Scout Store). I read somewhere they had combined the 2 merit badges for a while, then decided to keep them separate. The merit badge book I have says music and bugling on it. My Scout Store did not have a difinitive answer for me when I was looking for the separate books and I found the bugling info in the back of the music book. I have a 7th grader that will be working on both the music and bugling merit badges in the very near future so both books at one price was nice. Hope this helps someone else.

Nov 19, 2013 - Jeff S.

I've found all of the bugle calls are available to listen to on youtube.com. Just look them up by name: Bugle Call- Reveille, First Call, etc.

Mar 08, 2016 - West

Can a baritone bugle (like they use in marching bands) be used?

Mar 10, 2016 - Scouter Paul

@West - A trumpet, cornet, or bugle can be used. A baritone bugle is a bugle using lip movement to make sound like those, so it should work.

Jun 20, 2020 - Duarte Bobone

Can a tenor Sax used for the merit badge

Jun 20, 2020 - Scouter Paul

@Duarte - A trumpet, cornet, or bugle can be used.

Dec 03, 2020 - EP219

Due to the covid restrictions and funding would it be allowed to use other instruments such as a Saxophone or Trombone? Who would need to approve this and is it likely they would? Thanks in advance!

Dec 06, 2020 - Jane

@EP219 - No, because the requirements specifically state:

"A bugle, trumpet, or cornet may be used to meet these requirements."

If a Scout does not have a bugle, trumpet, or cornet, then I would have the Scout look into earning the Music merit badge, instead.

Feb 25, 2022 - Bruce McCrea

The U,S, Army Band's Bugle Calls web page at www.bands.army.mil/music/buglecalls/ is a great resource for seeing the music and listening to bugle calls.

Dec 06, 2023 - Fred

Just a head's up: Scoutbugle.com ran out of bugles during COVID, however all 4 of the G bugles are in stock.

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