The Boy Scouts of America’s National Awards and Recognition Committee has officially recognized the ARRL “Amateur Radio Service to Scouting Award” as part of its family of Community Organization awards. The ARRL award recognizes actively involved Scouting leaders who make a significant contribution to providing Scouts with a memorable and valuable Amateur Radio experience. This program allows Scouting leaders to wear the Community Organization Award square knot on their uniform, in recognition of their service within their community organization.

“This is yet another step in ARRL-BSA cooperation, one that will recognize the Scouting leaders who have worked tirelessly to introduce the science, technology, fun, and excitement of Amateur Radio to the youth involved in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing,” the Boy Scouts organization said in announcing its formal recognition of the League award.

This award was officially established through a resolution adopted by the ARRL Board at its 2013 Annual Meeting. It builds on the long relationship between the BSA and ARRL that began with the development of the Wireless Merit Badge in 1918 — now the Radio Merit Badge. This relationship was formally recognized through a 2011 Memorandum of Understanding (view a video of the signing.

Nominations for the Amateur Radio Service to Scouting Award are made through the appropriate ARRL Section Manager. A nominee must meet five of 10 requirements. The requirements range from teaching the Radio Merit Badge to participating in the Jamboree On The Air (JOTA), to providing communications support for Scouting events. Scout leaders cannot nominate themselves.

Currently 18 other organizations are included within the BSA’s Community Organization Award program.