Amateur Radio Operations at the US Military Academies

The Service Academies Radio Group (SARG) was recently formed for alumni and amateur radio operators who are interested in the five U.S military academies.

William Curry, W5CQ, founder and net control operator for the SARG Net, said two months ago there was a new interest in forming a group and net. He noticed that only one military academy, West Point, W2KGY, was still operating a club station. At one time, every military academy had an operating club station.

“The club stations at the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and the U.S. Maritime Academy all have been off the air for some time. But we now have 50 new members, all who are interested in promoting amateur radio at all of the academies.”

— William Curry, W5CQ

The SARG net meets every Thursday at 2200 UTC on 7.280 MHz, and every Saturday at 1600 UTC on 14.338 MHz. All amateur radio operators, whether they are veterans, or just have an interest in the military or history of the academies, are invited.

Curry has been licensed since 1950 and holds an Amateur Extra-class license. He is also an ARRL Life Member.

Contact SARG Net - w5cq@arrl.net

An Award for Hams who Help Others Reach DXCC

The Southwest Ohio DX Association has launched a new program that recognizes the hams who help other radio operators achieve their first 100 confirmed DX entities. The amateur receiving the assistance must be under the age of 30. The DX association has specifically designed the award this way to target those who help younger amateurs and ensure they continue to be encouraged and active in the hobby even after receiving their ARRL run DXCC certificate.

The intent of targeting this audience of younger amateurs is to attract and retain those operators who are most likely to remain engaged in the hobby after achieving DXCC. The DX Mentor Recognition Program has the support of the Northern California DX Foundation and the International DX Association. Both groups are providing representatives on the judging committee. The award will be presented during Dayton Hamvention in May at the Southwest Ohio DX Association dinner.