Len Over 21 wrote:

In article , Dwight Stewart
writes:

"N2EY" wrote:

(snip) And amateur radio does not exist to
serve other services. (snip)

Our public service is often service to other agencies (Red Cross, MARS,
and so on).

The "pool of trained operators" thing in 97.1 is
really about the idea of the ARS being a service
where the licensees (hams) are skilled both
operationally and technically, able to do a lot
of different things well. This distinguishes it
from other services, (snip)

The pool of trained operators concept relates to our ability to do the
other things outlined in 97.1 (public service, international goodwill, and
so on). At one time, code was a necessary part of at least some of that.
That is much less so today, hence the move to change the code testing
requirement.

Dwight, that statement in 97.1 is an OLD thing going back decades.

It was put in there to rationalize the existance of amateur radio among
all the other very commercial radio services.

Three to four decades ago there MIGHT have been a "need" for "trained
operators" for the military draft. [the USA still had a draft and the Cold
War was very warm indeed] Never mind that the military already HAD
ways of training in the "radio arts."

I obtained enough knowledge through amateur radio that I was able to
take a "Bypassed Specialist" exam in basic training. The Air Force gave
me the "3" or apprentice skill level and allowed me to bypass tech
school. I was sent to my first assignment and obtained my "5" or
journeyman level skill code through OJT and correspondence classes. The
military, at least back then, recognized when an individual had enough
knowledge to skip military training in the "radio arts". Do you know
when the U.S. might need trained operators or when another draft will be
instituted?

Does national defense or the various aid agencies NEED amateurs who
are "trained" in DX contesting and sitting around telling old war stories
about when Kode Vas King? I don't think so.

Are you miffed because you don't have any war stories relating to code?
Do you know anything about the operating skills of any contest types?

Morse code use will keep out the eveavsdropers and bad people from
the content of communications, thus not letting them know the deep
dark, very secret ways of the ham. Secure.

So I've been told.

It is a cinch that you don't have first hand knowledge of anything to do
with morse code. Whoever told you was wrong. shrug :-)

Dave K8MN