Re: 2 ASPLs
(no name) ((no email))
Sun, 25 Aug 1996 12:43:08 -0500
Mark asked a "kewl question":
>Is it cool to have TWO assistant senior patrol leaders and one senior
>patol leader?
Sure it is, especially if your Troop is larger than 36 boys, Mark. There are
many Troops that find the "book structure" (the standard structure as described
in the Troop Leader Handbook which is also described in the Troop Committee
and Scoutmasters' Handbooks) too small or too limiting for their membership.
In those cases, they have larger Troops or a Troop with several small patrols
and because of many reasons, they choose not to consolidate those patrols.
As Scoutmaster, I have had two ASPLs at times: one to serve as *the* second
"in command" and the other to serve as "Patrol Leader" of the-then Leadership
Corps. The "Troop ASPL" had the responsibility for coordinating the actions
of the Troop's staff: the Quartermaster, Librarian, Scribe, and Chaplain Aide.
The "LC ASPL" had the responsibility of coordinating the actions of the
Den Chiefs, Instructors and other Troop officers (many of which were found
within the Leadership Corps's "patrol"). It worked well, and usually the LC
guy ends up being the Troop's ASPL and the reverse with the Troop's ASPL.
When they got to 16, they became Junior Assistant Scoutmasters (JASMs)
and worked closely ("mentoring" is what we call it now) with either me or
one of my Assistant Scoutmasters.
>I have too many high school scouts (Jr. Leaders corp). I have few
>positions open (3 patrol leaders, scribe, quartermaster, etc). I leave
>assistant patrol leader positions open for middle school scouts only to
>give them first taste of the leadership at the early ages.
I wouldn't leave it open "only for the middle school scouts"...I would leave
it open for whomever the Senior Patrol Leader feels that he can work with.
Remember, this person ASSUMES the role of Troop leader in the absence of
the SPL, and therefore both boys should have the chance to be "on the same
sheet of music" (since we've been talking about the ASCAP thing this week).
Settummanque!
-----
(MAJ) Mike L. Walton (Settummanque, the blackeagle)
http://www.vhm.com/~uscardnl/
Deputy Public Affairs Officer, 21st Theater Army Area Command
"everything I say is "on the record"; speaking ONLY for myself unless indicated"
personal inquiries via blkeagle@midwest.net or kyblkeagle@aol.com
professional inquiries via aerpak@taccom.kaiserslautern.army.mil
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