Bugles, Bugles and more Bugles!

If you spend any amount of time on Forest Hill Station, regardless of the time of the year, you will hear bugle calls...LOTS of bugle calls.

Bugles are the traditional means to inform troops of the events of the day. Secondarily, at least here in Millersburg, the community tends to set their clocks based on the series of daily bugle calls.

Despite a long history of the use of bugle calls on military installations, as well even as in the field of combat, there are many folks - even those with a long career in uniform - who can't recite what each call means.  In time, as the bugles play throughout the day, folks tend to just "tune them out," not always knowing the significance of each bugle call.

Bugle calls ensure consistency throughout our day and are an important and traditional communications tool within a military environment.  Therefore, here are the most common bugle calls heard both on Forest Hill Station and on Army installations worldwide:

0600   Reveille
0700   Mess Call
0750   Assembly
0800   To the Color and then National Anthem
0830   Drill Call
1150   Assembly
1200   Mess Call
1300   Drill Call
1645   Recall
1700   Retreat and then To the Color
1705   Mess Call
1830   Drill Call
1900   Mail Call
2000   Sick Call
2145   Tattoo
2150   Call to Quarters
2200   Taps

Meaning of the Bugle Calls

First Call - Sounded as a warning for Soldiers begin assembling for a formation.

Reveille - Signals the Soldiers to awaken for morning roll call and accompanies the raising of the National Colors.

Recall - Signals that the present period of physical training, duties, or drill is over.

Mess Call - Signals breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Assembly - Signals Soldiers to assemble at a designated place.

Retreat - Signals the end of the official duty day.

To The Color - The bugle call used to render honors to the nation when no band is available or in ceremonies requiring honors to the nation more than once.  It requires the same courtesies as the National Anthem. It is used to accompany lowering the National Flag.

Call To Quarters - Symbolically signals all Soldiers not authorized to be absent to return to their quarters for the night.

Tattoo - Signals that all lights in squad rooms be extinguished and that all loud talking and other disturbances be discontinued within 15 minutes.

Taps - Signals that unauthorized lights are to be extinguished. This is the last call of the day. It is also sounded at the completion of a military funeral.