Re: Interesting BoR for Eagle
Milt Forsberg (miltf@UX1.CSO.UIUC.EDU)
Mon, 22 Dec 1997 09:14:37 -0600
I thought we had beat this subject to death already! Anyway, my comments
were made just to point out a possible different side of the issue. None
of us were there to see or hear, so we can't really point a finger to the
exact reasons. My experience over the past 30 years as SM shows that most
(not all, but most) who have their Eagle BOR right around their 18th
birthday are just trying to finish up and get the award to have it. I see
nothing wrong with this. In fact, I have helped many do just that. When
they wait until then, it is likely they have not been real active at that
time and may not have a uniform which fits. I have helped a few obtain a
uniform for their board in this situation. It might be borrowed, but it
will be worn and with proper insignia.
In this case we are discussing, I feel that if the boy was active at the
time of the board, he would have arranged to register as an adult. Then
he could wear the uniform without feeling like he was wearing it as an
unregistered member. However, we know he would have continued on the
charter until recharter time. He may not have known that, but his unit
should have explained this to him.
As for your example below, you managed to jump through hoops to be in some
kind of uniform. This is how I view what should have happened with the
case we are discussing. You did not just show up in civilian clothes and
say, "my uniform is in the cleaners". You at least wore some kind of
uniform!
I guess my years as SM sometimes make me suspicious. Please remember, we
were not there to hear the story and we can't really make assumptions. I
only wanted to bring up alternative possibilities. It seemed like the
discussion moved to registration policy instead of the boy and the
uniform.
Milt Forsberg
SM, Troop 7
Champaign, IL
On Sat, 20 Dec 1997, Mark wrote:
>
> But Milt, isn't that a logical assumption? Has this 18-yr-old ever
> participated in rechartering? I'd be very surprized! Most of the kids
> only know that at their 18th birthday, they turn into a pumpkin and may
> not participate in Scouts any longer, unless they register as an ASM.
>
> I'd be very pleased to have a boy give that response to me in the same
> situation, as I know exactly how he felt. When I went to flight school,
> I was scheduled for one class. Three days before the class started, I
> was told that I'd be held back for the next one. I complained and
> whined, but... Well, you know the Army. So I put my Class A uniform in
> the cleaners to ensure that it would be exactly correct. Guess what?
> The day before start day I was informed that I'd been moved *back* to
> the class starting tomarrow morning at 3:00AM. It was not possible to
> get my uniform out of the cleaners. After a lot of scrambling and
> burning the midnite oil over the uniform regs, my classmates and I
> decided that my only option was to wear Class B's with out a tie (which
> was optional, according to the reg.) I caught a great deal of grief
> from the Tac Officers, but I had the correct, logical answer ready...
> So did this scout (to the best of his knowledge.) Are we not trying to
> get these guys to think for themselves?
>
> YiS
> Mark Wright
> ASM Troop 136
> CC Pack 584
> Bonsack UMC
> Roanoke, VA
>
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