Re: Further questions on the marching thing
Kip Keil (kip@VSNET.COM)
Fri, 30 Jul 1999 15:43:36 -0600
[on the topic of drill and BSA non-military policy]
Allen Maddox wrote:
[rehearses how at one camp, a "drill competition" in the form of a pass in review
is held, and how boys are really enjoying do some "collegiate style" drill.]
My 3.56 cents worth (I think that's what it amounts, after inflation). . . . .
I spent ~1.5 years at a boarding school while my parents (military) were
stationed out of the country (step-father stationed on an unaccompanied tour as a
Marine E7, mother on a civilian DoD tour in the same country as he). I was 8yo,
att. The school sponsored BSA units for all age groups. Our Cub den was taught
drill by a Vietnam Vet. Even performed on stage at the school once. We got a
kick out of it.
Later, in high school, I was in AFJROTC. Had to do some drill there, too. It
wasn't quite so exciting, but I liked AFJROTC.
Still later, I enlisted in the USMC. Now _that_ required some drilling. I was
even a member of a Silent Drill Team (there's more than one, but only the one at
HQMC gets national tours and recognition). Ours was really unique in that we
were stationed on an Army base in a Joint Service environment.
With all that, _my_ personal pov (uh, that's 'p'oint 'o'f 'v'iew, 'p'rivately
'o'wned 'v'ehicle, for you military types -- especially you Navy YN/PN-types
;-) ) about drill:
Drill is implemented to instill discipline and confidence. It comes from the
military, where 'discipline' includes, among other things, the principle of being
able to send people into situations where it is highly likely that a significant
number of them will be severely injured or killed, even maimed, or captured
(which could well lead to torture, starvation, etc. -- those who've been to SERE
training know about that) -- and that when such an occasion arises and the order
is given, it is obeyed (essentially) without hesitation.
It has long been an established observation that those who learn this skill, gain
significant corollary skills as a direct result. The discipline instilled leads
to better acquisition and retention of skills and knowledge, as well as attention
to detail and completion of task, self motivation and self confidence. Gee,
don't these seem like they're maybe a tad bit related to Citizenship, Character,
Fitness?
I think so. It can be a tough line to draw. But there are some things which,
impo, are pretty clear. Saluting, in BSA, and in consideration of the Aims,
should be reserved for the flag. There is not a reason, afaik, for Scouts to be
saluting each other or leaders. This is because BSA doesn't have ranks in the
sense the military does. We have advancement awards that we commonly call
"ranks." A Star has no policy-defined superiority or control over FC, SC, TF,
and Scout-badge Scouts. Likewise, he does not report to or owe any form of
fealty to Life and Eagle Scouts (or adult leaders) on the basis of "rank."
Drill is not a Method. It is not a part of any Method. It is not needed as an
end goal. It is not requisite as means to one of the Methods or Aims -- although
it does tend to offer at least some support to these. (It _may_ be helpful for
some people while hiking.) So, drill should not be a part of any competition.
Even tho' it can make for a more efficient parade, it is inappropriate to
practice it to the point that it can lead to comparing the drill skills of one
unit with those of another. There are other things that are more important to
Citizenship, Character, Fitness such that drill should simply not take up enough
time to become an acknowledged skill of the individual Scout or unit.
A Scout who takes a liking to drill because of some exposure to it in his Scout
experience should seek to explore it further in some other venue. That is akin
to a Scout who takes a liking to wood work while working on the Wood Working MB.
Get the MB in Scouts, but don't expect the whole unit to become accomplished
woodworkers. (There is a BSA program that can be implemented, if a number of
people take an interest in a specific field and want more experience than is
afforded in Scouting.).
Final Caveat: This is my personal opinion, based on my framework and schemata
(technical terms from the field of communication . . . . anyone wanna talk Kant
or Sartre? ;-) )
YiS
Kip
--
Kip Keil, Sr. Programmer, V i s i o n N e t
http://www.vsnet.com | http://kip.vsnet.com
MC, Ad Hoc P-3055; MC, Advancement T-1022; MC, Ad Hoc T-175
AA, Ceremonies Tsah Dibe Chapter, El-Ku-Ta 520,
Great Salt Lake Council, BSA . . . . . "I used to be a bear . . . "
--We all learn from history . . .
...either by study, or by repetition.
-- Kip Keil, 1998
