JLT, TJLT, JLTC, etc.
Dewitte A. Baisch (dbaisch@DATASYS.NET)
Tue, 8 Dec 1998 23:31:08 -0500
Howdy, Scouts-L Gang!
I have been very interested in the posts concerning Junior Leadership
Training and the, apparent, many manifestations this type of training
can be found in around the country. This is going to be one of those
"FWIW" kind of post from me so be kind! [FWIW = For What Its Worth]
Yes indeed, the Scoutmaster's main purpose in life is to train his troop
youth leadership. He can try to do this one on one (make that "two" on
one [remembering Youth Protection guidelines]) with each new leader
elected in the troop but such an approach would only be effective in
what we locally refer to "patrol" size troops (ten or less registered
Scouts). Many troops prefer to train their new leaders using the Troop
Junior Leader Training video, the accompanying literature, and whatever
local requirements they have determined to be important. (Please don't
ask me what the BSA catalog numbers for these are because, stupid me, I
forgot to bring them with me!) This is important folks, so pay
attention: This training is supposed to be conducted by the Scoutmaster
(or his designated representative) to teach the new leaders their DUTIES
and RESPONSIBILITIES (no "shouting" intented!) and to build TRUST and
CONFIDENCE in these guys. According to the program, this training is
accomplished in a single day.
Now that you know what Troop JLT is, let's talk about JLTC. The Junior
Leader Training Conference is a Council-level training program using the
syllabus provided by national (BSA Literature Catalog #34533). In really
large councils, this training could, and probably should, be conducted
at the district level. Whether its called Brownsea 22 or Swampfire (our
local name for JLTC because we have a lot of the Okeffenokee Swamp in
our area), this level of training is not designed to replace the troop
level training but to improve the skills of the already trained leaders
in a troop, usually the Senior Patrol Leader or Scouts who might or have
the potential to become the SPL. JLTC complements TJLT.
If you obtained a copy of the JLTC syllabus (published and revised in
1995) and read it, you would quickly see that this course couldn't
possibly be conducted on a troop level, unless your troop has several
dozen patrol leaders and lots of ASPLs. According to this manual, only
around 66 percent of the councils in BSA conduct this training program
(whether done as a weeklong session or split over three weekends). JLTC
is meant to be conducted by Scout instructors (usually alumni of
previous JLTCs) with a minimum of adult involvement (the Staff
Organization guide for a typical JLTC shows 3 Scoutmaster positions and
11 youth leader positions). I've heard JLTC described as the Scout
equivalent of Wood Badge, when actually it is the other way around.
TJLT teaches the new leaders their duties and responsibilities. District
or council-level JLTC teaches and improves the skills of the new
leaders. And someone mentioned the National Junior Leader Instructor
Camp (I think that's right!?!), which is designed to train the youth
staff, particularly the Senior Patrol Leader, of a local JLTC.
If your council or district offers JLTC, and I hope it is based on the
BSA syllabus and not some local version that gets re-invented year after
year, please get your eligible Scouts to this training. It is a great
"fun" experience as well as a terrific leadership teaching tool. If
your council is one of the "34%" of councils that does not have JLTC,
then it is on the shoulders of concerned Scouters in such an
organization to get this program implemented. And Scoutmasters, train
the youth leaders in your troop that you are SUPPOSED to train, then let
those leaders train the other leaders in the troop on their duties and
responsibilities.
Well, folks, with Swampfire VIII only 3 months away, I need to get back
to work! Thanks for letting me bend your ear for a while.
Yours in Scouting,
Dewitte A. Baisch (Sandy)
Scoutmaster, Troop 411, Circle 7 District, Alapaha Area Council,
Valdosta, Georgia
"...if it ain't raining, we ain't camping!"
