KoreaScouter

Non-scientific only: Scouts with hydration systems drink more water, and stay "effective" longer than Scouts with bottles/canteens. They also make a field expedient shower if you need one. I'd recommend putting nothing in them except water, though. The flavor can leach into the plastic, and you'll be tasting it for months. My son uses one too, and one of our first routines after coming back from outings is draining, rinsing, and hanging upside down to dry (the hydration system, not the boy). Frozen drink tube? Blow back into the tube after each drink so there's nothing but air in there. I've got the neoprene sleeve on my CamelBak Mule, and just used it on a January mountain hike up to 6,000 feet. Cold, windy, snowy, no hydration system problems, but saw frozen bottles. Embrace technology when it serves you... KS

I don't know if they could stand alone or not, but I do know there's some angst over the fact that we were ever needed here in the first place -- that whole dependency/"big brother, little brother" thing. Everybody wants reunification, but like Germany did it, not like Saddam Hussein tried to do with Kuwait in '90. Moreover, the Koreans have never understood why their country, a non-aggressor, was divided like Germany after WWII, and some blame us for it even though the 38th parallel was intended as a surrender coordination line for the Japanese, not an international boundary. There are tens of thousands of north Koreans in hiding in China, using an arrangement similar to our Underground Railroad in the 19th century to get slaves to freedom. They're trying to get these refugees into friendly embassies so they can emigrate to the South. The Chinese have been making this more difficult all the time, raising walls and fences around embassies and consulates, increasing guards, and cracking down on the "stations" the refugees are staying in. Missionaries who play a key role in organizing and sustaining the underground are being rooted out and expelled by Chinese authorities. We see the documentaries regularly here. Millions have starved to death up there in the last ten years; it's a humanitarian crisis that doesn't get a lot of press because north Korea is the most closed society in the world. I pray every day it gets resolved without Scud missiles and multiple-launch rocket systems. KS

In my experience, the success of a "boy run" troop is a direct result of the motivation and talent of elected boy leadership, if you have a boy-run troop. I've seen it ebb and flow, depending on who is in these critical positions. Sometimes it's effective, sometimes not. My role as SM then shifts back and forth on a continuum between directing, coaching, delegating, etc., depending on the synergy of the PLC and the issue at hand. It's episodic, too...I may be delegating one minute, directing the next. I believe in "controlled failure" only to a very limited point. And, that point is where the delivery of the program may be affected. A talented, motivated PLC is a blessing; the opposite turns the SM job into a full-time one. Your Scouts, most of whom should be, demographically, younger boys, elect their leaders; have they elected sub-par leaders? I'm not sure I agree that the Troop Committee should, or even can, "approve" the PLC's monthly program, or determine standards. I see the SM as the "traffic cop" in this area, and that role is best applied at the monthly PLC meeting, at which program decisions are made. Afterward, the SM should present the committee with requirements to carry out the program, such as permits, transportation, equipment, and so on. KS

For the same reason a bridge freezes before a roadway -- you have cold air moving over, under, and around you, instead of just over you. Even if you put a pad between you and the cot, it's still working in a way it wasn't designed, with air moving under it...it's working harder than it was supposed to, and will not be as efficient. The main advantage of cots isn't comfort, it's the storage space under the cot. KS

Ed; You make a point I usually do at some point in all the uniform threads I participate in...why the fuss if a uniform's not required? Or, if National wanted full uniforming, make it mandatory and give us a hammer instead of making us "strongly encourage"... KS

ASM7: Thanks for your concern...we're okay! The protest activity ebbs and flows. Most Americans consider demonstrations and protests to be serious social unrest, but over here they're more or less a normal means to petition for change. During my first tour here, in 1987, there was a real grass-roots effort to get a democratically-elected government, and everybody seemed to be protesting...you couldn't go to Seoul, anywhere, without smelling tear gas. This isn't that widespread, but then, we weren't the target of the protests then, either. The whole theme, this time, stems from the accidental roadside death of those two schoolgirls. Tragic, but an accident nonetheless. The protestors are upset that the two soldiers were acquitted at their courts-martial, and are demanding changes to our Status of Forces Agreement to shift jurisdiction to a Korean civil court when on-duty accidents like this happen. What they don't, or won't understand is that if the tank had been driven by Korean soldiers instead of American, they too would be under military jurisdiction, not civil. And, in every country where Korea has similar agreements, they too reserve jurisdiction over their troops for on-duty incidents. There's a rather vocal minority here that blame us for everything from the division of the 2 Koreas to the price of rice. In my experience, it'll settle down after a while, then another incident like a fuel leak or something will be the next protest catalyst. For what it's worth, I just got back from taking the troop to Cheju Island, about 60 miles off the coast, for winter break. All the way down, while we were there, and all the way back, no incidents of anti-Americanism -- and we were up to our eyeballs in Koreans for a week straight. I'm not sure what you're seeing on the news there, but it's probably sensationalized...or maybe I'm de-sensitized! KS

Frankly, I don't see any "endorsement" effect or scandal in a BSA unit attending an international event, given that other countries' delegations may include gays or females (not just as Venturers, but also as Boy Scout-age members). Many of the Korean Scouts at the airport on the 27th were female... BSA offers an international activity patch. To earn it, one must attend an event involving Scouts from another country. Inherent in this is the understanding that these Scouts may not only be from a different country, but also have a different culture, different customs, etc. In a larger sense, we as a country trade with, support, and ally ourselves with countries whose national policies we don't agree with 100%, and we do so for good reason. Yet, we don't compromise our beliefs and principles in doing so. I see BSA involvement in international events the same way. KS

Absolutely right, LittleBillie; I lived in the Netherlands for 3 years -- European attitudes, for example, are much different than ours, and those attitudes are reflected in their Scouting programs and policies. I think what you mentioned underscores my point... the Thai government having a condom-issue program for large international gatherings such as WJ should not lead one to automatically assume that BSA Scouts are going to WJ for an orgy, or as evidence that BSA national policies are somehow inherently flawed. KS

I have both a large and a medium ALICE, in addition to the next-generation internal frame military backpack, and several commercial internal frame systems. The ALICE is very sturdy, and the external frame really lets you load on the weight. It's what I call a horizontal pack, though, in that the pack tends to fill out from side to side. That has caused me some balance problems on uneven surfaces, and has sometimes gotten in the way when using trekking poles or traveling on narrow trails. I've made my ALICE more comfortable with cut up sections of sleeping pad on the shoulder straps, and an internal waist belt cushion...both make it easier to carry The newer internal frame military backpack gets a bad rap with some who accuse it of being flimsy. I haven't found that to be the case. The thing has a huge internal volume (I'd guess 6,000 CI easy), but it's not usually filled by a GI with the ultra light-weight backpacking stuff; it's got radios, batteries, ammo cans, claymore mines, and other junk with a very high weight-to-volume ratio...then the frames pop out. I'd say, get whatever's comfortable and will carry your stuff. KS

So, we pulled out at 5:30 this morning, got to the airport outside Seoul two hours later, and as we pulled up to the Thai Airlines departure area, our five Scouts were bursting with pride and accomplishment. All wearing their distinctive BSA/Western Region jackets, just for WJ, and the moment they worked and planned for for a year was finally here. Next big eye-opener: walking into the cavernous terminal at Incheon International, and seeing hundreds of other Scouts, mostly Korean but a few other nationalities mixed in, going to the same place they were, for the same thing. The Korean Scouts, as they always do when we're camping, tried out their English on us while we were waiting in line for them to check their bags, and we checked out each others regalia. A Korean Scoutmaster struck up a conversation with us, and told us how long they'd saved and planned to make the trip, and how excited they were, and how they were looking forward to it. Any differences we may have had melted away in an instant in that check-in line, and the Scouts got a small sample of what was in store for them in Thailand. Before I left, I told them how proud I was of them, how they set a goal and reached it. I also told them to have fun, meet as many Scouts from other countries as they could, take lots of pictures, and get ready to tell the rest of the troop what it was like, after they get back. I didn't mention anything about condoms, because I wasn't thinking about them. I have a hunch they won't be either... KS

Our best wishes to all of you! Our Christmas is almost over (other side of the date line). We, too woke up to snow, and the kids slid down hills on cardboard. One day off then back in action. As I mention in another thread, I'm sending 5 Scouts to World Jamboree in Thailand... picking up the vans tomorrow, to the airport on Friday, then turning around Saturday with other Scouts for a week-long trip to an island 60 miles off the south coast...be back after the new year! Thanks to all of you for this virtual cracker barrel...I've learned a lot! KS

I live in Asia, and my troop is sending five Scouts to the 20th World Jamboree -- I'm driving them to the airport in less than 48 hours. A SM from a brother troop in our District is going as a leader/staffer. I've been watching Thailand for months, mainly for security reasons, but every background document I've studied at least mentions that STDs are a public health epidemic in Thailand. Common knowledge among us over here. So, does it surprise me that the Thai government has a condom-issue policy? Not at all, in fact, considering their sex industry, how they promote it, and the consequences, their policy is probably prudent. Let's not be too quick to infer a cause/effect here, where there may not be one. That doesn't mean I endorse pre-marital teenage sex. I took Anthrax shots, too, but I don't endorse chemical warfare, either. Remember, there are Scouts from all over the world going to this thing, from countries that have very different public health policies, and social mores. For example, when I lived in the Netherlands, hands-on condom education begins in the sixth grade, for boys and girls...btw, the Netherlands has one of the lowest teenage pregnancy rates in the world. Abstinence is simply not pushed as an option in many parts of the world, and it would be unreasonable to expect that Scouts from country "X" would have collective values any different than their society as a whole...where they come from, not where we come from. NJ: cheap shot, big time. Does every issue have to be related to the BSA gay ban for you? Lighten up a little bit, Atlas, set the world down off your shoulders for a few minutes, and enjoy life. You don't know me, my Scouts, or my brother SM who's going, or the values we model. I do know my Scouts, and they're not going on a sex tour. Neither is my brother SM, who's a loyal husband, dedicated father, excellent middle school teacher, a swimming coach, and a heckuva guitar player too. Please don't paint us with your broad brush. So, I'm not giving them directions to Pattaya, but I'm not sticking my head in the sand, either. I think they should abstain until marriage, but if they don't, I sure hope they take some precautions. On the plus side, I've used condoms to blouse my pants over my boots in tick country, and they also have a place in an emergency kit as a water carrier. KS

I'm not going to get into the "born vs. made" argument that all threads even remotely related to homsexuality seem to get bogged down in. But, I will make an observation. Right now, how many judges and attorneys considering becoming a judge AND are Scouters (I have no idea how many people we're talking about here) are contemplating leaving Scouting as a pre-emptive move to inoculate themselves from criticism later on? Isn't it unfortunate that in at least this context, being a Scouter is seen as a character flaw? From "freedom of association" to "guilt by association". I'm an MBA, not a JD, but I do know that judges excuse themselves from cases all the time because of potential conflicts of interest. Let's face it, judges are humans who live lives and have professional and personal interests that may sometimes run up against a case coming before their court. I guess California doesn't trust their judges to do the right thing. KS

Every troop should have a copy of the Insignia Guide...answers all these and includes language from the Congressional Charter that addresses the "Why can't we wear military BDUs" complaint... They're about $5 at your Scout Store... KS

Yaworski; I'm not a dermatologist, so I don't have a solution to your problem...but for the 99.9% of us who CAN wear convertible pants, they oughta be an option! I'm sure you're pulling my leg about "technical" clothing, but in case you're not, here's an example: - Gore-tex parka shell, with removable polartec liner, taped seams, armpit vents, multiple pockets, detachable hood, sewn-in Scotchlite panels, shock-corded waist and bottom: Technical. - Wool jac-shirt: not Technical. I've said it before: A uniform isn't required in order to be a BSA member; unless/until it is, full uniforming will be a utopian dream, no matter how nice a dream it is. I don't know what BSA's afraid of...using the same sports league analogy we all like to use, the lads will wear a full baseball uniform even if they have to buy it, because the league REQUIRES it in order to play. If BSA required a uniform, they'd get one, too...or they'd quit. KS

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think BSA changes requrirements in between the annual Requirements book publication. And, I've always been told to refer to the Requirements book for the current requirements. After all, there are several versions of the current edition of the BS Handbook out there. Some have the old F9C, some the new F9C. And, the latest version actually has an enhancement...the rank requirements pages are actually referenced to the handbook pages they apply to. KS

I'm next...check will be in the mail as soon as I can get to the post office. As an aside, there's no pirate copies coming from Asia, 'cuz I've checked everywhere with no luck! The obvious demand for FMB, and the prices people are willing to pay on E-Bay makes me wonder what the Disney marketing people are thinking by not releasing it. After all, the production costs to re-release a movie are negligible, and materials cost about a quarter. Could it be that Scouting is so non-PC among the Hollywood elite that releasing FMB would appear to be a corporate endoresement of what we stand for? Just wondering... KS

My WB course also announced separate sleeping areas for men/women, and they did. It was one of those moveable wall things, that looks like an accordion and you drag it across the room and snap it into the other wall. No problems. When we camped, each patrol (all had at least one female) tented all patrol members in the patrol campsite. If a patrol had 2 women, they tented together. If just one, she tented alone. That, too, is separate sleeping areas. Again, no problems. KS

I did something similar, but not with a MB, it was on the 2nd class "using a map and compass, take a five mile hike" requirement. Summer camp, First Class Trail, there wasn't a topographical map of the area to be found in camp the whole week we were there, but all my FY Scouts were signed off on it...hello? So I showed them the requirement again in their HBs, explained we'd have to do it for real, and they all understood... KS

There's a website called "songofthesouth.com" that is offering copies of FMB for $25 + $5 shipping... KS

"A Scout is Reverent" means in part that we respect the beliefs of others. This is a two-way street. I've been at Council/District level events with LDS units there, and they do pull out Saturday night. I'd never hold it against them, and would resonably expect the same consideration from District if my Webelos den wanted to camp in accordance with BSA policy. By the same token, if there were a Hindu troop in an adjoining campsite, that shouldn't prevent us from cooking hamburgers in ours. On MB leniency, in my opinion the whole MB counselor registration/council approval, training, adherence to standards, and SM selectivity is perhaps the biggest thing that needs tightening up across the board...and it's not particular to any category of Chartered Organization, either. There are countless unregistered counselors out there, and there's no check/balance since blue cards don't go to District. Counselors basically work for units, invisible to the council, but the unit doesn't approve them, the council does. How many counselor applications are turned down by council? I've never seen one. One of my biggest headaches at summer camp is running down counselors who screwed up the blue cards -- not trained. Or finding out after the fact that requirements were skipped or exceeded. FrankJ, on your MB day experience, your district/council is to blame for that. It's easy to second guess, but if the real counselor couldn't show, the badge should have been dropped rather than shove an unregistered amateur in there. I recently organized our district's annual MB roundup, and spent weeks beforehand getting counselors registered, trained, familiar with the requirements, and so on. Ditto with the units and their Scouts. It went well, and nothing was fudged. There's only two ways a SM can fix this at his level. One, don't assign Scouts to a MB counselor you know is not following standards. Two, communicate your dissatisfaction with a MB counselor to your district/council, since that's where they're registered. I understand your frustration knowing that requirements weren't met, but I don't think you can legally make them do it again if the counselor signed them off. I tried to do it for a summer camp MB a couple years ago that I know they couldn't have met the requirements for, but my hands were tied. If you cajoled the Scouts into re-doing the work, good on 'ya, but a savvy parent could call you out on it, I think. KS

I can't imagine how I'd react if my CC tried to influence patrol menus -- has yours read the Troop Committee Guidebook? Mine has told me repeatedly: "You take care of the program; all we do is help you make it happen". I think all the other advice is great; I'd underscore talking to him one-on-one. There's almost always 2 sides to a story, with the truth in between somewhere... KS

Hilarious, from Dave Barry, and so many apply to us, especially the last one! KS_____________________________________________ NINETEEN THINGS THAT IT TOOK ME FIFTY YEARS TO LEARN by Dave Barry 1. Never under any circumstances take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night. 2. If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings." 3. There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." 4. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them. 5. And when God, who created the entire universe with all of its glories, decides to deliver a message to humanity, He will NOT use, as His messenger, a person on cable TV with a bad hairstyle. 6. You should not confuse your career with your life. 7. No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously. 8. When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command. Very often, that individual is crazy. 9. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. 10. Never lick a steak knife. 11. Take out the fortune before you eat the cookie. 12. The most powerful force in the universe is gossip. 13. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time. 14. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment. 15. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. The time is age eleven. 16. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background,is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers. 17. The main accomplishment of almost all organized protests is to annoy people who are not in them. 18. A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. 19. Your friends love you anyway. Thought for the day: Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic.

The way I see it, much about our uniform is inspired by or a continuation of our traditions and history. That's okay, but it can be "limiting". Take the neckerchief. Now, for the record, our Scouts don't consider ours "dorky" -- they custom-designed them and they are distinctive. That said, the main argument given in favor of the neckerchief is that it can be used as a sling, bandage, or to secure a splint or tourniquet. However, the situations during which those incidents are most likely to occur are the situations in which we're wearing activity shirts, not class As. How about the wool jac-shirt? Expensive and mainly decorative (but adopted by the OA as their official jacket, so it'll be around forever). The only catalog alternative is the windbreaker. For purposes of comparison, I recently got a Polartec fleece jacket, nylon lined, 2-way zipper, 2 external zipper pockets, 2 internal mesh pockets, with zipper armpit vents, velcro cuff closures, etc., etc. Not cheap at $70, but for that design, those features, and the performance in the field, it's worth it, especially compared with a jac-shirt. Our catalog is full or examples like this. Why does BSA still sell that crappy plastic flashlight they know won't survive the first campout? My impression is that Scouters and Scouts don't object to spending money for gear, if they're getting their money's worth (A Scout is thrifty, after all). I took the poll at the Scoutstuff.org site, and it suffers from the same design problem many polls do -- you can only answer the questions they ask you, with just the answer choices they provide. BTW, I firmly believe the long sleeved shirt isn't even intended for unit level Scouters -- it's for District-and-above critters who spend most of their time indoors... I'll tell you, if it wasn't for the boys, this would be pretty aggravating. This minor uniform stuff is offset for me by things like our COH at last night's troop meeting...11 rank advancements, 25 merit badges, training certificates, appointment certificates, a pot luck, and a gift exchange...smiles and fun all around...makes the cut of the pants seem less significant. KS

BSA's new policy is "criminal only"; not financial, divorce, or other factors. Real volunteers aren't driven away because of a background check; they're driven away because they get burned out or are unappreciated. Being a Scout leader, like driving a car, is a privilege, not a right. You have to pass a test to get a driver's license, and you'll have to pass a criminal background check to be a Scout leader. I don't care how qualified or experienced somebody is...unwillingness to follow rules is a character flaw in my opinion. I think some are unnecessary and overly restrictive (such as not traveling in convoys), but I follow them nonetheless. The main reason I do is because if an accident happened as a result of my not doing so, I'd probably be removed and my troop would be minus one good SM (also my opinion). This seems like a silly reason to stage a "Boston Tea Party"... KS