Re: Scouting and military service
Thomas H. Harbold (tharbold@NS1.WMDC.EDU)
Fri, 29 Jan 1999 13:34:41 -0500
At 7:06 AM -0800 1/29/99, Ted Burton wrote:
>>>Prior Scouting in fact is expressly recognized in most military basic
>>>training settings. The leadership skills and teamwork taught, and
>>>certain field skills, are directly relevant. On of my Scouts came back
>>>from Marine basic to report that when they 'got off the bus' they were
>>>asked if there were individuals with prior military experience in the
>>>group, and when not, whether there were any Eagle Scouts. He was
>>>appointed their leader on the spot. <<<
FWIW, my father found that his Scout training (he reached Eagle, which I
wish I had done...) helped *A LOT* during his service in World War Two. May
even have saved his life, for that matter!
His training in scouting and tracking -- which used to be stressed a lot
more than it is now, at least in most troops -- was very helpful as an
infantry scout, while his camping skills, including some that are now
frowned upon, like trenching, were a big help in keeping relatively warm
and dry in the miserable conditions of winter fighting in the
Alsace-Lorraine region. (Remember, old tents didn't usually have waterproof
floors; I'm not sure whether or not current military ones do.
Of course, LNT skills might come in quite handy if one's military service
were in special operations forces -- Army Rangers or Special Forces, Navy
SEALs, Marine Force Recon, or the like -- rather than, say, Mechanized
Infantry, Armor, or support units...
One thing we ought to keep in mind, imho, is that while the BSA is neither
paramilitary nor militaristic, neither is it, as an organization,
anti-military. The important point is that part of Scouting is teaching
boys to become active and responsible citizenship. As Ted points out, of
course,
>>>Most of my Scouts, of course, in fact do not go on into the military. <<<
In fact, for some, philosophical or religious pacificism, even
conscientious (did I spell that correctly? doesn't look right...)
objection, may be the route to active and responsible citizenship they
choose. Others, however, may end up in the military, whether by choice or
necessity, and in that case, what they learn in Scouting may be of direct
help in fulfilling their "duty to country" represented by military service.
Outdoor skills aside, Ted is quite right that the leadership and teamwork
skills learned in Scouting are highly relevant to military service. It is
significant that something like half the male cadets in the U.S. Military
Academy (West Point) have Scouting backgrounds, and approximately one in
ten cadets are Eagle Scouts.
We in the U.S. (and most of the Western world) have been fortunate in
recent years. We live in a time of relative peace; our last "big" war was
25 years ago, and the last (hopefully "final," not just "most recent")
World War was almost 50 years ago. However, that doesn't mean we can count
on that situation remaining indefinitely.
If or when there's another "big" war, many Scouts may be called up on to
serve their country in the military -- if the situation warrants compulsory
service, like WW II, that may be upgraded to "most Scouts." We should,
imho, help them "be prepared" for whatever may befall, not merely
peacetime.
We do our nations, and our boys, a disservice -- again, imho -- if we
presume, and operate on the assumption, that the skills they learn are
useful *only* for peacetime outdoor recreation.
Yours in Scouting,
Tom
"A plant severed from its roots is more likely to attract parasites
than to bear fruit. There is no substitute for direct connections
with the past." -- David Kucharsky
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Thomas H. Harbold P.O. Box 1537
tharbold@ns1.wmdc.edu Westminster, MD 21158
www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/5129 ICQ # 26466587
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