Leadership Selection

I don't know that it takes a village to run a Boy Scout troop or a Venture crew, but I do know that no one can do it alone. Nowhere is the leadership training so apparent as when you are in attendance at a National Eagle Court of Honor. You see before you young boys who have grown into responsible, confident and reliable young men of the community. No one doubts that they will be tomorrow's leaders.

How did this happen? It has been happening for nearly 100 years! Week after week our Scouts gather and open their meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. Leadership is the answer, as Scoutmasters, in the Committee and amongst the youth. How do we select our leaders? Scout Leaders are the role models who are the living example of the Scout Oath and Law.

Leadership begins with the registration application. Fundamentally, Scouting provides an exciting, safe, nurturing environment in which our youth will flourish. There is a need to know all we can about the men and women who are chosen to impart Scouting values to our young Scouts. Background information and references attesting to one's moral and ethical character need to be confirmed. The process is usually easy but the obligation for a thorough application review is imperative. The Troop Committee and the Chartering Organization have a particular responsibility to assure the quality of the unit leaders.

Few Scout leaders come ready-made with all of the natural skills necessary to lead a group of enthusiastic boys on a 50-miler 6 months after assuming the job. In fact, good leaders really do acquire their skills over a respectable period of time. Let's start with first things first - Fast Start Training. This is indeed a fast start, a quick introduction to basic information that will help new leaders to carry out their responsibilities. This start up program is available online and on video for convenient, easy viewing. Every registered adult should be promptly introduced to Fast Start. Then there is "This is Scouting", a compact overview of Scouting programs. When you are ready we have Position Specific Training. Of course there are also training programs for leaders with special interests - HAT programs, Safety programs etc. The ultimate training program in leadership skills is Wood Badge, which is offered annually for leaders of all Scouting program levels. Early in the orientation to Scouting registered adults should also receive Youth Protection training - learning how to recognize and report child abuse situations and learning how to prevent such situations from occurring. Recruiting leaders can be a challenge. Not just anyone will do!

Established leaders, too, need to renew their training and be confident that their skills are current and up-to-date. Physical fitness is essential to lead and enjoy Scout outings. Leadership is by example. Whether one is hiking in the High Sierra, providing merit badge counseling or simply driving on a Scout outing, example is part of the experience of any Boy Scout in your care. After all, our leaders are there for the safety and security of the Scouts. Remember the Sandwich Principle; Discipline the bottom layer of the sandwich, Qualified Supervision the top layer of the sandwich and the "stuff' of the sandwich: Scouting Safety.

This is a trickle-down world and when all of our Scouts benefit from leadership like this, it is little wonder that our Eagle Scouts are such outstanding young men.

By Dr. Tom Long