RememberSchiff

Arggh. Thanks for the title correction.

Braving a life-threatening storm to rescue stranded scouts, Naval Academy Midshipman 3rd Class Jonathan Dennler, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal — the two services’ highest award for non-combat bravery. The award ceremony was held Jan. 10 at the Naval Academy in front of fellow Midshipman. In July, Dennler was on a camping trip with Boy Scouts from Texas at Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada. The troop under came a life-threatening storm with 80 mph wind gusts and lightning strikes. A young scout, 3-year-old Christian James Sanchez, and adult leader, 39-year-old Rorth Lac, were killed when hurricane-like winds brought down two trees into their campsite near Basswood Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Unable to call for help, Dennler selflessly put the lives others before his own — canoeing more than 1.5 miles in 60 mph winds to a ranger station to call for help and to retrieve medical supplies. "It was an incredibly humbling and unexpected experience," said Dennler. "I'm very thankful to everyone who helped to make that happen and for the support of my family and friends." The award wasn't a surprise to his parents, who also attended the award presentation. Dennler's mother, Monica Dennler, described her son as "persistent and tenacious." "He knows how to persevere, and has a kind heart," she said. "He was the only one who knew what to do back in high school when a classmate broke their leg at a basketball game, because he was an Eagle Scout." Dennler is a political science major and member of 20th Company. He completed two years of college at George Washington University before transferring to the Naval Academy. "USNA has taught me how to work and think in environments where many things are out of my control, and I think the academy helps to create mindsets that put others first," said Dennler. "I am incredibly thankful for those lessons." An active member of the academy's Semper Fi Society, he hopes to serve in the Marine Corps after graduating from the academy in 2019. In attendance at the award ceremony were the proud parents of Dennler, though not surprised by their son’s actions. The Navy and Marine Corps Medal falls in order of precedence just below the Distinguished Flying Cross and above the Bronze Star. It was first bestowed during World War II, to then Lt. j.g. John F. Kennedy. Only about 3,000 have received the award since. To win this award, there must be evidence the act of heroism involved very specific life-threatening risk to the award Scout salute, http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=98373 http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/midshipman-awarded-navy-and-marine-corps-medal-for-heroism http://www.fox9.com/weather/177885712-story

FYI, Tico Perez wrote an op-ed "Rex Tillerson: The Scout will need at the State Department". http://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-ed-rex-tillerson-the-scout-we-need-at-state-department-011017-20170110-story.html

IMHO, we should be allowed to reference Scouting and its values in a discussion without any implication of BSA endorsement. Isn't this standard broadcast disclaimer now implied - The views and opinions expressed on any program are those of the producers and/or the persons appearing on the program and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ...? Perhaps it will become politically correct to speak of Scouting and its value outside of Scouting. My $0.02,

There were some references to Scouting at the Secretary of State hearing yesterday. Here is a quote from Mr. Tillerson regarding the need for leadership and accountability. In recent decades, we have cast American leadership into doubt. In some instances, we have withdrawn from the world. In others, we have intervened with good intentions but did not achieve the stability and global security we sought. Instead, we triggered a host of unintended consequences and created a void of uncertainty. Today, our friends still want to help us, but they don't know how. Meanwhile, our adversaries have been emboldened to take advantage of this absence of American leadership. In this campaign, President-elect Trump proposed a bold new commitment to advancing American interests in our foreign policy. I hope to explain what this approach means and how I would implement that policy if confirmed as Secretary of State. Americans welcome this rededication to American security, liberty, and prosperity. But new leadership is incomplete without accountability. If accountability does not start with ourselves, we cannot credibly extend it to our friends or our adversaries. We must hold ourselves accountable to upholding the promises we make to others. An America that can be trusted in good faith is essential to supporting our partners, achieving our goals, and assuring our security. We must hold our allies accountable to commitments they make. We cannot look the other way at allies who do not meet their obligations; this is an injustice not only to us, but to longstanding friends who honor their promises and bolster our own national security. And we must hold those who are not our friends accountable to the agreements they make. Our failure to do this over recent decades has diminished our standing and encouraged bad actors around the world to break their word. We cannot afford to ignore violations of international accords, as we have done with Iran. We cannot continue to accept empty promises like the ones China has made to pressure North Korea to reform, only to shy away from enforcement. Looking the other way when trust is broken only encourages more bad behavior. And it must end. We cannot be accountable if we are not truthful and honest in our dealings. Some of you are aware of my longstanding involvement with the Boy Scouts of America. One of our bedrock ideals is honesty. Indeed, the phrase "on my honor" begins the Boy Scout Oath, and it must undergird our foreign policy.

Back in that day, I did note my Swimming and Lifesaving MB's for town and private club lifeguard jobs, It helped me get those jobs over 3 summers. A friend in another troop cited his Chemistry MB in applying for a summer chem lab tech job with a paint company. He is now a retired chemist.

Too often Fingerprinting Merit Badge gets little respect but consider this story. In 1971, Ed R. German had completed his studies at MacArthur High School in just three years, when a crime was committed where his father worked. An investigating FBI agent had a conversation with Mr. Wilmer German who inquired how someone like his son might get hired with the agency. “The agent told him, 'We're always looking for fingerprint clerks. They have to be 16 years old, have a high school diploma, pass a spelling test and a background check,' †Ed German said. “My dad told him, 'Send my son an application because he took the Fingerprinting Merit Badge in Boy Scouts. He might like that.'†Young Ed German received a job offer to work for the FBI and flew went out to Washington, D.C. by himself, with the caveat that he would have to repay the airfare to the FBI if he didn't last through his first year of employment. “In June of 1971, I went to work for the FBI as a GS-2 fingerprint clerk, making $82 a week after taxes,†said German, now 63, a congenial, down-to-earth man who likes to compare himself to Forest Gump, the movie character who stumbled into numerous historical adventures. “My parents drove me to the airport. I cried myself to sleep in the hotel the first night. I thought: What have I got myself into?†This was beyond the wildest dreams for a boy who had not imagined himself working in law enforcement, let alone joining the most storied agency in the nation, then still under the directorship of its legendary founder, J. Edgar Hoover. Young Ed had excelled in math and science, sound foundations for his career, but his ambition at the time was more in the line of Christian ministry. From his start as one of 8,000 employees sorting through fingerprint cards in the massive FBI headquarters, German went on to distinguish himself as a groundbreaking forensic scientist. He is credited with creating new evidentiary techniques and helping to establish crime labs, including the Illinois State Police lab, the first to receive national accreditation. He has served as chief of intelligence for U.S. Army law enforcement worldwide, worked on high-profile serial murder cases, including the Chicago area Tylenol and California Nightstalker cases, and served as senior forensic scientist for the Army in Baghdad during the Iraq War. He has testified in more than 100 cases, including a five-day trial in which the validity of the science of fingerprint identification was being challenged. The other experts were the senior fingerprint experts for the FBI and Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He cleared a Scottish detective of a perjury charge after similar fingerprints to hers were found at a murder scene. ...more here http://herald-review.com/news/local/sheriff-s-office-hires-world-class-fingerprint-expert/article_38980a8c-86ab-554b-b702-56e6ab7b2e7f.html

Update: Camp Anderson to stay open under new ownership! http://www.wearecentralpa.com/news/camp-anderson-to-stay-open/637919578 The Camp Anderson Corporation bought the site for $215,000 Friday from the Laurel Highlands Council of the Boy Scouts of America allowing for the campground to remain around for thousands of children and people in the community. The camp's board of trustees has raised about $112,000 and will spend the next months and years fundraising to reach their original $500,000 goal. The board members hope to use that money to keep the camp going and make some improvements. Hurray!

So much for "alleged" Russian hacking of American websites. Still I might PILEMASTER instead of Troopmaster.

Like Jeff Bridges said at the end Hell or High Water, "..the things we do for our kids, huh."

FREDERICKSBURG, Texas, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- An iron-stomached Boy Scout leader in Texas downed 23 ghost peppers in a bid to raise scholarship money for the troop. Troop 137, based in Fredericksburg, posted a video that opened with the troop's scoutmaster, Gayne Young, explaining that Assistant Scoutmaster Johnny was about to eat 23 ghost peppers. Young says Johnny's attempt took place 20 hours earlier and the man was in bed with "really, really bad stomach pains" after being "sick at both ends." "Do not try this at home," the scoutmaster says. More here http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2017/01/04/Boy-Scout-leader-downs-23-ghost-peppers-to-raise-funds-for-troop/6101483563094/ Youtube video

Given recent events, I wonder if Putin will extend an invitation to Tillerson for "some of his scouts" to visit the Kremlin? Say akin to Nixon's ping-pong diplomacy with China back when. Another $0.02

It will probably take a famous Eagle Scout to come out as transgender to convince some people. Others will see local examples.

Googling, I found the Trading Post at the William Hillcourt Scout Museum sells a patch. Have not been there myself. http://www.orgsites.com/ny/greenbarbill/

Yes around Dec 25, 1941 by FDR. Pearl Harbor had been attacked weeks before; the west coast was preparing for a second wave. Our nation at war, a dark and fearful time, and yet our Commander-in-Chief took time to recognize and thank the Boy Scouts for their valued service to the Nation.

“Once again I send sincerest Christmas greetings to the Boy Scouts of America; bespeaking also the appreciation of the nation for the contribution which Scouts and scouting make to our national strength and morale by helping to keep alive the manly virtues of truthfulness, loyalty, courage and helpfulness. Now, as always, the nation needs to keep themselves physically fit, mentally alert and morally straight.†When? Whom?

Here is the opposite. The BSA officially will not, yet "Not one of the kids said, 'You don’t belong here,’†Maldonado (Joe's Mom) said of the Scouts in the pack." IMO, never turn away a kid who wants to be scout and NEVER prevent a unit from welcoming that kid. My $0.02

Patrol Method is also about teamwork - working together more can be learned, accomplished, and enjoyed. IMO the "working together", i.e. 80-100% attendance in patrol activities , is a metric for JTE. Using the National Honor Patrol Award as a start, say 2 patrol meetings a month with 100% attendance is Silver. Maybe Bronze would be 2 patrol meetings a month with at least 3 scouts. Ditto with other patrol activities. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/boyscouts/pdf/512-021_WB.pdf Just $0.01 as there was something in my eggnog.

Good points. I would clarify that the term "independent" means patrol-planned. This would solve program planning for older scouts/Venture patrols as they would already be doing it themselves. Hmmm, what if, annual patrol planning took root? Troop planning would focus on membership, fundraising, summer camp, adult leader training,.. Agree with qwazse regarding Bronze-Gold-Silver order. Another $0.02

We have not used to JTE for years. Of it's faults, IMO the most glaring was the SPL signature is not required as scouts are out of the loop. No doubt TAHAWK could do this, but to his point, a group of SPL's from scout-run troops should draft the replacement metrics. My $0.02

They sort of work like Scout Bucks, you accumulate them here but you can't spend them outside of this forum.

Meanwhile scoutingmagazine.org reports the renewal the National Park Service/BSA agreement. http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2016/12/21/bsa-renews-alliance-national-park-service/ To summarize, same old same old - the NPS will continue to do with the BSA what it does with everyone else and the BSA will advertise the agreement. That said, IMO a deeper examination of the resources and needs of both the NPS and BSA should be done. - The NPS "Scout Ranger Resource Stewardship" is geared towards grade school youth; they need not be scouts. And that seems fine for that age group. Here the BSA should approach NPS, "we have this Hornaday Award and this merit badge and... that might be just the thing to incorporate with your NPS Youth Conservation Corps for teens. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/youthprograms/ycc.htm - Why not allow NPS Rangers to sign-off on related environmental/citizenship merit badges? They have had federal background checks. Save them from the becoming a MBC song and dance. The BSA should do this with other professions - medical, teachers, Fire/EMT, police that have the knowledge and existing background checks in place. KISS and get the community more involved in Scouting. - Entrance fees. Scouts working with NPS, should get the Educational Fee Waiver instead of the Non-Commercial Group Fee. - Realize NPS internships are mostly for undergrad and grad students. Hopefully the incoming Secretary of Interior, an Eagle Scout, will help step up the NPS/BSA relationship. Another $0.02,

TripAdvisor ranks the National Scout Museum #2 of 31 things to do in Irving https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g56032-d264982-Reviews-National_Scouting_Museum-Irving_Texas.html

One cannot rate his own posts,hence no up/down arrows appear as you view your own post.

I dunno, I am not sure there is enough room for half of the IT consultants.