What is USBOTA?

United States Bunkers on the Air (USBOTA) is an amateur radio activity that celebrates two powerful instincts: the drive to communicate, and the desire to understand and preserve our shared national heritage. Across the United States, bunkers and fortifications remain as physical reminders of the conflicts, tensions and moments that shaped American history — from coastal defence batteries to Cold War installations and civil defence shelters.

USBOTA exists to highlight these sites, encourage interest in their stories, and connect amateur radio operators across the country through a shared appreciation of history and communication.

USBOTA is not a competitive programme. We do not publish rankings or league tables. Our purpose is participation, discovery and community — not contesting.

USBOTA operates through two complementary tiers. The national tier provides awards and activities tailored to the United States bunker landscape. The international tier recognises cross‑border activity and encourages operators to connect with bunker communities beyond the United States when they choose to do so. Together, these tiers create a complete ecosystem that welcomes newcomers activating their first local site and experienced operators exploring historical locations across the country.

Every activation is an act of historical engagement. We invite you to join us — and to learn something about the bunker you visit, not just its reference number.

The values below define what USBOTA stands for and the principles that guide our programme.

USBOTA: Our Shared Values

These values are foundational. They are not rules or operating procedures; they express the identity and purpose of USBOTA. Rules may evolve, but they must always remain consistent with these principles.

Any national or international partner working with USBOTA should support these values. If we cannot agree on what USBOTA stands for, we cannot meaningfully agree on how it should be governed.

Our Origins

a) USBOTA grew from the development of Bunkers on the Air within amateur radio communities.

b) The modern UKBOTA revival in 2023 demonstrated the potential of combining radio activity with historical exploration, inspiring similar interest in the United States.

c) In 2026, USBOTA emerged as a dedicated United States programme built around American bunker heritage and the enthusiasm of U.S. operators.

d) USBOTA recognises the contribution of earlier national schemes while standing as a programme with its own identity, purpose and community.

e) No national scheme governs another. USBOTA is not subordinate to any external programme.

f) Our relationship with other national schemes is one of cooperation, not hierarchy.

g) USBOTA retains full national autonomy while participating in wider international activity when appropriate.

h) USBOTA is the story of an idea that grew within amateur radio communities and found a home in the United States.

i) UKBOTA provided inspiration; USBOTA is the United States community built from that inspiration.

j) USBOTA exists to bring people together through radio while encouraging appreciation of American bunkers and fortifications.

k) USBOTA is more than an award system — it is a community built around communication, heritage and shared endeavour.

l) These values define what USBOTA stands for and guide its development.

Communication Across the United States

a) USBOTA is about bringing people together.

b) Amateur radio connects people across states, regions and communities. USBOTA uses that ability to build relationships across the United States.

c) Many bunkers were built to defend American territory. USBOTA uses those same structures to connect people across the country.

d) Communication should unite us, not divide us.

Respect for American Heritage

a) U.S. bunkers and fortifications are physical reminders of the events that shaped the nation.

b) From coastal batteries to Cold War shelters, these sites form part of America’s historical landscape.

c) USBOTA encourages participants to understand the history behind each site, not treat it merely as an activation point.

d) Every activation is an opportunity to engage with American history.

e) We encourage activators to learn something about the bunker they visit.

Cooperation and Community

a) USBOTA is a national programme that benefits from cooperation with other bunker communities worldwide.

b) The international tier exists to encourage cross‑border activity when operators choose to participate.

c) Cooperation strengthens USBOTA and enriches the experience for U.S. operators.

d) One country, one programme — connected to a wider world.

National Identity and Autonomy

a) USBOTA reflects the history, geography and bunker landscape of the United States.

b) Our programme is designed around American circumstances and American heritage. c) International activity complements USBOTA but does not define it.

d) USBOTA retains its own identity while participating in wider cooperation.

e) National identity is a strength, not a barrier.

Shared Endeavour, Not Competition

a) USBOTA is not a competitive programme.

b) We do not create rankings or league tables.

c) Numbers and awards motivate participation, but they are not the purpose of USBOTA. d) Our focus is discovery, communication and shared achievement.

e) Every activation — from local to cross‑border — contributes to the same community.

f) USBOTA is about what we achieve together.

Accessibility and Participation

a) USBOTA should be accessible to everyone.

b) Our community includes newcomers, experienced activators, hunters, historians and organisers.

c) The programme should offer opportunities for all levels of experience.

d) Participants should be able to enter through local activity and grow into wider involvement.

e) There is always a place for both newcomers and experienced operators.

Respect and Responsibility

a) Participation carries responsibility.

b) We expect all participants to act respectfully and in the interests of the community.

c) USBOTA depends on trust — between operators, organisers and participants.

d) Trust should not be replaced by unnecessary bureaucracy.

e) Responsible behaviour and honesty are essential.

Trust

USBOTA is built on trust.

a) We trust our operators unless there is evidence not to.

b) We trust participants to act with integrity.

c) We trust organisers to uphold USBOTA’s principles.

d) Trust begins with honesty, not suspicion.

e) USBOTA does not impose policing systems simply because a minority may act improperly.

f) Deliberate dishonesty harms the community and cannot be accepted.

g) A strong programme is built on people doing the right thing.

h) Trust is given, maintained and strengthened through responsible behaviour.

Protecting the Future of USBOTA

a) USBOTA belongs to the United States community that participates in it.

b) Its future should not depend on any single individual or organisation.

c) We value transparency, cooperation and good governance.

d) Decisions made today should protect the programme for tomorrow.

e) We are building something that future generations can enjoy.

Our Common Purpose

USBOTA exists to:

Connect people across the United States.

Promote interest in American bunker heritage.

Encourage amateur radio activity.

Support cooperation with other bunker communities.

Welcome participation at every level.

Celebrate shared endeavour rather than competition.

Protect and develop USBOTA for the future.

Every activation is more than a contact — it is an opportunity to communicate, discover, remember and connect.

Our Commitment

a) USBOTA is a national programme built on cooperation, trust and shared purpose.

b) We recognise the contribution of every participant and every community.

c) USBOTA protects the integrity of its programme and the values on which it was founded.

d) We develop USBOTA through cooperation, participation and shared responsibility.

Our Aim

a) To connect people, preserve interest in American heritage, encourage amateur radio activity and build a strong national community.

b) USBOTA belongs to everyone who participates.

c) One nation. One history. One community. One USBOTA.