The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
In the early 1980s, I was introduced to the Cub Scouting Program. My brother was already a Boy Scout, but at the time I had not been old enough. Initially, I thought it was just some little club in which Scouts got to wear blue uniforms to school every once in a while. I soon realized how significant being a Scout would be for me. I wanted to earn the skill badges for activities such as swimming, knots, camping, and first aid. I would work hard on a topic, achieve a level of success, earn a badge, and then be publicly acknowledged and celebrated by receiving my award in front of my parents and peers.
I liked the fact that it was structured and had specific rules and benchmarks for success. I found comfort and a place in the Boy Scouts. I learned and achieved the rank of Bobcat before advancing to the ranks of Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos. Webelos is the last rank before “crossing over” to the Boy Scouts!
I coveted the position of Boy Scout for many reasons: First, I thought that the scouts had cool uniforms (to my surprise, not everybody thought the same)— not the boyish blue and gold, but the military-looking khaki shirts with dark green pants; Second, my older brother Jay and the big kids were there; Third, and most importantly, the steps or ranks were better defined, and they had really exciting badges and awards for topics like personal finance, sailing, cooking, citizenship, as well as God and country.
They were skills that, once you learned the basic technique and knowledge, you could apply to many different situations to accomplish something much greater. I was able to move through the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, and Life. Then, ultimately, with the help of the troop and the unwavering support of my parents, at the age of seventeen, I achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
The various ranks were great for me, but there was an additional X-factor— leadership. In addition to the specific tasks and merit badges that were required, one had to show growth in his leadership skills by holding leadership positions, starting with Assistant Patrol leader and then Patrol leader. This was a group of 8–12 scouts of various ages and ranks. As my leadership skills grew and developed, I was chosen to be the Senior Patrol Leader, second in command of the troop under the Scoutmaster (who was a gracious father). These leadership positions helped me understand how to relate to people in a positive, successful manner, a skill I believe everybody should have.
There are three promises of the Scout Oath: the Duty to God and country, the Duty to other people, and the Duty to self.
If you look around you are sure to notice a former/ current boy scout acting on one of these principles in everyday life. Once a boy scout, always a boy scout.
There is integrity in being a Boy Scout. They are honest, trustworthy, and loyal. Boy Scouts have self-respect and respect for others. These are all characteristics of the men that are listed in the LinkedIn article “10 Boy Scouts Who Have Shaped the World”. To continue the long list of qualities a Boy Scout possesses, they support others and take care of the world in which we live. Lastly, they explore our faiths, beliefs, and attitudes.
