desertrat77

Txbobber, I'm in your corner. Our scouts and scouters deserve better.

After the OP, the first arrow was aimed at the trekkers, a patronizing note about washing hands.

FScouter, Touche', point well taken. Expired food from one camp, bought and issued at another. Good clarification. Still, your rush to accuse the trekkers of being unsanitary vulgarians, and then declare the meals to be wholesome and delicious, without you yourself being there, is wagon circling nonetheless.

Fscouter, Is Philmont part of the BSA? Are they serving expired food? Are you rushing to Philmont's defense? Did you state that the food was okay, and then accuse the trekkers of being unsanitary? With my only show of emotion resulting in a giant yawn, I rest my case. You'll be presented the highly coveted Wagon Circling knot at the next awards dinner. Guess what's on the menu? "Philmont Surprise." Be sure to wash your hands.(This message has been edited by desertrat77)

Rick, welcome! Thanks for your leadership, and look forward to your thoughts. Thanks for your leadership!

C2, I'm tracking with you on the first point. Got that the first post. The second, the college admission issue, I'm still not sure what you are talking about, even after your amplification. As the original, self-admitted lazy guy who didn't want to google and then plow thru some stale academic screed in my off duty time, I was hoping you'd get to the heart of the matter in Post 1 so we'd have a good discussion. I applaud your eccentric style, but please consider brevity and clarity as friends.

Papa, I'm tracking with you. If I may add one note from a layman: While expired food is usually okay, if stored at improper temps and conditions, it can go south pretty quick. Two deployments ago, our site's entire back up stockpile of MREs had to be destroyed, because they weren't stored in suitable temps. Routine spot checks had not be done, nothing was documented, and a thorough examination showed the whole stock to be unfit to eat under any conditions. Fortunately we had a new senior master sergeant (with a touch of OCD) who figured this out before the rations were needed. For all of the promotional hoopla about Philmont being a mountain top scouting experience, and the huge of cost of just getting there, that freeze dried food should be the best vittles available. Serving expired food to people sends a signal: "Good enough for who it's for." Philmont is not a soup kitchen, and I'm disappointed management there feels that the trekkers deserve second best.(This message has been edited by desertrat77)

FScouter, I hereby award you the first-ever "Wagon Circling" knot, for exemplary adherence to the company line, for always rushing to the defense of every official BSA policy and action, no matter how inane or inappropriate or poorly executed said policy or action might be. Wear it in good health.

There is no compelling reason for a scout, or a unit, to be fully uniformed, if that's the course they choose. Yes, we can quote inspection sheets and "rules and regulations" all we want. But a crucial part of any successful policy are concrete consequences for non-compliance. BSA uniforming guidelines aren't enforceable, in any significant way that I can see. This is a volunteer organization and there isn't anything significant we can do if someone shows up wearing a scout shirt and blue jeans. This is where I see what OGE is saying: don't beat your head against the wall. On the other hand, folks will wear a uniform they are proud of, or see the value of wearing. The average new scout or scouter, or parent, takes a look at the over-priced, over-engineered, low quality circus tent of a uniform National puts out and says "what the....?" Oak Tree is right on in his observations. Scout pants should be utilitarian, and reasonably priced. The shirt too, for that matter. The day the uniform board at National embraces this is the day scouts will start wearing a full uniform every where, perhaps even to school.(This message has been edited by desertrat77)

Callooh, Very interesting essay. Gotta admit, I'm intrigued by your reference to Neili's research but darn if I'm too lazy to look it up. Could you give us an executive summary?

Tower, the troop/district/council response to this situation describes exactly what is wrong with the BSA today. You needed an extra MB, the guy/gal at the store took your word of honor as a scouter that your son earned it, and sold you the badge. Then you filled some paperwork out incorrectly. Ok, so what? And now a bunch of bureaucrats and handwringers are acting like you slipped a Medal of Honor in your pocket on the way out the door to sell at the swap meet. This is indeed the "Shiny Object Syndrome." You'd think they would focus their energies on, oh, say, declining enrollment, poor public perception of scouting, low FOS contributions, whathaveyou. No. This case is a shiny object, and it's always easier to focus on a shiny object of no consequence than tackle something of importance. And the BSA wonders why volunteers quit? If they are looking for fraudulent MB matters, they can look no further than the local MB mill weekends. That's where the real crime is being committed--signing scouts off on MBs just for sitting in a chair. I concur with nrto--wise course of action for Plan A. But I also agree with nldscout!(This message has been edited by desertrat77)

Prairie, my apologies, I should have read closer--I see what style and color you are referring to. Good choice of shirt, I think. And I agree re leaving off the wasteful shoulder straps. Though the BSA tries to avoid a military image, it sure contradicts itself with shoulder straps/loops. Why they utilize such a visible means to distinguish between organizational levels is beyond me, and smacks of parade ground vanity. The only other thought I have as I picture your shirt in minds eye: how would it look leaving the original top pockets in place? Would be very useful in the field.

Papadaddy, thanks for your observation, read it with great interest...I'm a DoD mil guy (AF), and I find TSA security checks a mixed bag. The DoD CAC helps sometimes, as does travelling in uniform. Last time I went thru Dulles, I got in the back of a long line awaiting the TSA check. So I figure this is as good a time as any to check the blackberry and get some work done. A TSA agent comes up, says get yer stuff, and takes me right to the front of the line. Very nice, didn't ask for it, but sure appreciated it as those minutes saved proved invaluable in getting a seat on my next flight. On the other hand, I've been given the deluxe security check too, even with the CAC (was in civvies). Like I said, mixed bag.

Prairie, that's interesting, wish I could see a photo. Sounds like your prototype would be very functional and tough. I've got a boxful of those desert ABUs in the garage, from various deployments. I really like them. Another thought I've heard kicked around is taking off-the-rack outdoor/hunting shirt and pants from sporting good stores and putting a few BSA patches on them.

A machete is a wonderful tool, too, for certain situations. The first scout troop I joined was in Panama (Canal Zone). Each scout had a machete, either mil issue or civilian working class model. No horseplay, no accidents. Scouts will live up to, and often exceed, the training and expectations we set. And the opposite is true too.

I agree with Calico, with one addition: - Design and field a uniform that folks actually want to wear. Amazing how many problems that solves. National hasn't put out a decent uniform since the late '60s.

Eagle92, your post brought back some powerful memories! I was a '70s era scout. First summer camp--two MBs started, zero finished. Had a great week though, swimming, shooting, and just learning to be a scout. I was a Tenderfoot at the most, probably still Scout rank. Second summer: Started 3, finished 2. Greatly relieved one finished was Environmental Science, an otherwise good learning experience marred by that devilish 500 word essay. Third summer: 2 started, 2 finished. Earned Eagle, then moved. The rest of my summers were on camp staff, and earned several MBs as time permitted. A favorite memory: my last week on staff, before I turned 18, I earned the Basketry MB. Why I never got it early is still a mystery. Or perhaps not. The fellow staffer who was the handicraft counselor said my efforts stunk but were passable.

Too many scouts spend their week at camp, sitting at a picnic table, doing homework for merit badges...this is tragic. They should be hiking, boating, shooting, swimming, or, heaven forbid, throwing a frisbee around the parade field during free time, laughing with their fellow scouts. Or lean against a tree and do absolutely nothing, except enjoy the outdoors. Scout camp should offer only the MBs that may be tough logistically to earn in town--the boating series, nature, shooting, pioneering, etc. The other MBs, the good and the baloney, can be plowed thru in town during dreary winter evenings. I agree with BadenP's observations. Lots of unfit scouts and scouters. Not a good image. They sure aren't going to get fit sitting around the mess hall eating, or sitting at the picnic table for hours on end, doing homework, or sitting on the stoop of the trading post having a root beer float. Or three. Yet the CSE downplays traditional outdoor scouting adventure. By the way, I'm not anti-root beer float. Nothing tastes better after open swim, or a long hike. But you gotta earn it!

Yes I really believe it, particularly as it applies to uniforms. I've seen work time and again. I don't buy the slippery slope theory, particularly when comparing uniform wear with advancement or with software design. Some rules are hard and fast, others are guidelines.

Rusti, thanks for sharing this and kudos for creativity. Two thoughts.... Though well written and thoughtful, the game seems a little too complex. The rules and scoring may stifle the participants' on-the-spot strategic planning and other creative elements that are traditionally required both games. I may be showing my age, but the phone/walkie talkie clause jumped out at me. I realize it's 2011, but part of the excitement of capture the flag is the "decentralized execution" that must take place...the leader has to trust the team members to follow a plan they all agreed upon. And then wonder and wait to see if the plan comes together. Those can be thrilling moments when the plan changes on the fly, a time hack made an hour ago results in the plan working like a charm, etc. Individual initative--what the heck do I do now?--is one of the great things about capture the flag. Having a leader call you every 30 secs demanding a report or telling you what to do--doesn't seem so much fun. Maybe that's just me. These minor points aside, it's obvious alot of work went into the game. Though complex, it's clearly written. Please keep us posted on your research...highest regards.

Eagle92, I'm tracking with you, and my apologies for not phrasing my opening sentence better...it was directed more to the discussion in general. Though I never was a sea scout, I remember those splices from the small boat sailing MB very well, and you are spot on--I sure could have used a marlinspike! Stosh, those BSA Kit Carson kits are sublime...good to know one is still in use! I used to drool over those in the scout catalog many moons ago. Though not as cool, my sheath knife from my scout days was a Buck 102 that I got for my birthday after we moved to Alaska. Wore it backpacking, camping, day hikes, camp staff, you name it. The four inch blade seemed just right--it wasn't cumbersome for small projects, and not too small for tougher stuff. So I was surprised to hear, when going thru scoutmaster fundamentals in '85, that sheath knives were dangerous, users were Not Good Scouters, and sheath knives definitely attracted Evil Spirits. And please take it off your belt immediately. (Pulled out of the group along with a Viet Nam vet, another Misguided Scouter and Sheath Knife Scofflaw, and lectured by a donkey on staff.)(This message has been edited by desertrat77)

Yes...bureaucrats rule the day.

Any real evidence that sheath knives are more dangerous than folders? This issue has been rehashed for years, and usually it boils down to personal opinion. I carried a sheath knife as a scout, and found it extremely useful and not the least bit dangerous. Not till I was a scouter in the mid '80s did I hear rumblings of The Evils of Sheath Knives. This, frankly, was news to me. Still is. Any tool is dangerous in the hands of an immature or untrained user.

The scouts are far more astute than most scouters allow them to be. Given the chance, the scouts will display astounding good judgment. Treat a pre-teen or teen like a Tiger Cub, he'll either quit or start acting like a Tiger Cub.

Thanks baschram, and blessings to you too.