All worksheets / Bugling
Official Requirements & Fillable Workbook · 2026 Edition
Bugling is one of Scouting’s oldest traditions, giving voice to the daily rhythm of camp life from Reveille to Taps. You will learn the history and acoustic physics of the instrument, compose an original call for your unit, master and sound 10 official calls, and serve as your troop's bugler for three months.
Every requirement for the Bugling merit badge, word for word as published, with room to write under each one on the printed worksheet.
Give a brief history of the bugle.
Do the following:
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 when each of the calls in requirement 3 is used.
Explain how to care for, clean, and maintain a bugle.
Serve as bugler in your troop for three months.
Scouting America last revised the Bugling requirements in 2020. That is the badge, not this sheet — an older year does not mean the worksheet is out of date.
This worksheet was checked against https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/bugling/ in Aug 2026 and reproduces the requirements word for word. Both dates are printed on the sheet, so a copy in a binder can always be placed in time.
Requirement text is © Scouting America, reproduced verbatim. The worksheet layout and design are original to this project.
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