CTFs://RuSEC 2026 – OSINT/Scouts Honor 2.0

The challenge

Here’s the challenge description :

I recently remembered a childhood magazine. I am a forgetful person, and I cannot remember the name of the magazine. This company is a historic civic organization. There is another specific issue of this magazine that is one of my favorites. I remember saying it something about the Olympics, a funny mail burro who loves alfalfa, and something about a “Cheetah Hunt”, whatever that means…Can you please find the ISSN number of this specific magazine issue? This is the first part of the flag.

I was also reading this very old newspaper, and it mentioned something related to a historic boy-led organization. The newspaper is from one of the three locations where Rutgers currently has their campuses. It mentions some sort of general, named McAlpin, and was published during World War I. He was said to be the President of this organization. Can you give me the name of the newspaper? This is the second part of the flag.

FLAG FORMAT: RUSEC{ISSN-1234-5678_NAME-OF-NEWSPAPER}

For example, say you found an ISSN (6767-4201) and the name of the newspaper was Skibidi Toilet.

The flag would be RUSEC{ISSN-6767-4201_SKIBIDI-TOILET}

Step 1 – Identifying the “historic boy-led organization”

The challenge mentions a “historic boy-led organization” led by a General named McAlpin.
Using a simple keyword search combining “McAlpin”, “President”, and “Boy Scouts”, we quickly find references to the American Boy Scouts, a short-lived scouting organization that existed in the early 20th century and was separate from the Boy Scouts of America.
Multiple historical sources confirm that General Edwin A. McAlpin served as President (also referred to as “Chief Scout”) of the American Boy Scouts.

Google search about McAlpin

Step 2 – Confirming McAlpin’s presidency date

To validate the timeline, we look for the date when McAlpin became president.
A historical newspaper announcement confirms that General Edwin A. McAlpin was elected National President and Chief Scout of the American Boy Scouts on August 12, 1911.
This is important because the challenge specifies that the newspaper article was published during World War I (1914–1918). Since McAlpin became president before WWI, it is reasonable that a WWI-era newspaper would still refer to him as “President” of the organization.

Wikipedia article about the “American Boy Scouts”

Step 3 – Narrowing down the newspaper location using Rutgers campuses

The challenge states that the newspaper is from one of the three locations where Rutgers currently has campuses:

  • New Brunswick
  • Newark
  • Camden

Instead of guessing randomly, we consult Rutgers-affiliated or New Jersey historical newspaper archives.
Among the newspapers published during WWI in these cities, Camden stands out due to the availability of digitized labor and civic newspapers from that period.

Archives from the Rutgers libraries

Step 4 – Identifying a WWI-era Camden newspaper

Next, we search for Camden newspapers published between 1914 and 1918.
One prominent result is The Voice of Labor, a Camden-based newspaper actively published during World War I.
This newspaper appears in New Jersey digital newspaper collections and is indexed as being published during the correct timeframe.

Step 5 – Verifying the mention of McAlpin in the newspaper

Finally, we verify that The Voice of Labor actually mentions General McAlpin in the context described by the challenge.
Using the digitized PDF or OCR text of the newspaper, searching for the keyword “McAlpin” reveals an article referencing him as President in connection with the American Boy Scouts.
This satisfies all constraints given in the challenge:

  • Historic boy-led organization
  • General McAlpin
  • President
  • WWI period
  • Newspaper from a Rutgers campus city (Camden)
The Voice of Labor – 1916

Final Answer

With all clues verified:

  • ISSN (Part 1): 0006-8608 (Boys’ Life / Scout Life)
  • Newspaper name (Part 2): The Voice of Labor

Final Flag

RUSEC{ISSN-0006-8608_THE-VOICE-OF-LABOR}