Parents often tell their children “you don’t know how good you have
it.” Ed Moss, N0LJD, told a room full of parents the same thing
during the presentation of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL)
club charter to the WBOCAP Youth Amateur Radio Club.
The club received its charter at Offiut Air Force Base, Nebraska as
a youth oriented club, and was presented by Matt Anderson, KA0BOJ,
Nebraska Section Manager for the ARRL to LtCol Darrell McMillan,
Commander of the General Curtis E. LeMay Offutt Composite Squadron,
Civil Air Patrol.
The message to parents was clear, we all rely on technology:
telephones, cell phones, and email across the Internet. All of this
is part of our communications infrastructure, and when disaster
strikes, this infrastructure becomes stressed. Given enough time,
this stress can turn into failures, as was evident during the
hurricanes that struck the Gulf Coast this past year. Amateur Radio
plays in important role in backing up communications in our
communities, but only if we have trained operators.
“This club defiantly has a step in the right direction, and there
are few clubs in the area with a focus on youth.” stated Nebraska
Section Manager, Matt Anderson. We know that Amateur Radio needs to
bring youth into our ranks, and the club’s goal is to do just that.
But even more importantly, introduce youth to aspects of technology,
science, and math that they may not be exposed to in school, and
present it in a way that will keep their interest.
“The club also provides a unique opportunity for young adults”
stated Ed Moss, N0LJD, the club trustee and twenty-five year member
of CAP. We formed the club specifically for Civil Air Patrol cadets
as a way to educate them about amateur radio and for them to get
more experience and increase their proficiency in communications.”
At the 2005 Dayton Hamvention, the ARRL and Civil Air Patrol signed
a Memorandum of Agreement encouraging education of their respective
memberships about each other. This club is one tool that will help
accomplish that goal.
The club isn’t just for members of CAP, it is open to all youth with
an interest in communications and the club puts even more focus on
communications in the aerospace industry. We have a seen strong
interest in direction finding, telemetry from model rockets, working
with high altitude balloons and satellite communication. All of
these topics fit well with our goals of communications, technology,
aerospace and science. Along the way, we hope to bring our message
to other amateur radio clubs, local schools, and Scouting programs.
A copy of the ARRL / CAP Memorandum of Agreement can be found at:
www.arrl.org/FandES/field/mou/CAP.pdf