Re: Jr. Asst. Scoutmaster
Settummanque, ("MAJ)
Sat, 26 Oct 1996 19:18:26 -0500
Rick may have already received his answer, but I wanted to clarify some
items for the newer Scouters here:
>Can a scout, age 16, after being appointed as Jr. Asst. Scoutmaster
>still earn merit badges for Palms?
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster is a YOUTH position within a Troop for
16 and 17 year old Scouts. It was originally designed as a bridge between
senior Scouts and adult leadership and designed to give the Scoutmaster
additional leadership for patrol overnight events and other events which
does not (should not, my opinion only) entail having the Scoutmaster or
Assistant Scoutmasters to "come along".
Under the BSA's Youth Protection Plan, Junior Assistant Scoutmasters
(or JASMs) ARE NOT CONSIDERED ADULT LEADERS and therefore
CANNOT SERVE AS SUPERVISORS under the BSA's "two-deep"
policies. They are still considered youth members of their Troop; however,
many Councils allow JASMs to attend and complete Scoutmaster Fundamentals
and other training less Wood Badge as part of their leadership development
program which is coordinated by the Scoutmaster and each JASM.
As youth members, they are permitted to continue to work toward Eagle
if they are not Eagle Scouts; if so, they are permitted to continue to work
toward earning Eagle Palms until their 18th birthday. The Boy Scout
advancement plan ends at age 18.
Hope that clarifies how a kid can be called "assistant Scoutmaster" yet
have little or no supervision capabilities LEGALLY. Bad news gang....it
is my understanding that the position is being considered to be renamed and
removed as a youth position for that very same reason; too much confusion
between the adult Assistant Scoutmasters and the youth Junior Assistant.
(Personally, I saw the writing on the wall when they just about took all of
the "ummph" from this position and relegated it to some kind of caretaker
for Den Chiefs...don't get me wrong, the role is needed, but it doesn't take
a 17 year old kid to do it...that 17 year old needs to be learning how to be
an Scoutmaster and given some responsibility for doing so...)
Thanks for asking, Rick...as you can read, this is one area that I sorely
disagree with National on...I had great JASMs and used them as ASMs...
and they performed as such....I couldn't do it today and it's a shame!
Settummanque!
-----
(MAJ) Mike L. Walton (Settummanque, the blackeagle)
http://www.vhm.com/~uscardnl/
(Brigade) Signal Officer, TF 21, 21st Theater Army Area Command
Kaiserslautern, Federal Republic of Germany
"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 waltonm%po2.hq@taacom.kaiserslautern.army.mil
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