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<\/a> MILITARY OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER SERVICE MEDAL<\/p>\nDescription: A Bronze medal, 1-3\/8 inches in diameter bearing on the obverse, five annulets interlaced enfiled by a star and environed by a wreath of laurel. On the reverse is a sprig of oak between the inscription “OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER SERVICE” at the top and “UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES” at the bottom.\u00a0 The ribbon is 1-3\/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 1\/8 inch Bluebird 67117; 1\/8 inch Goldenlight 67107; 3\/16 inch Bluebird; 1\/16 inch Green 67129; 5\/32 inch Goldenlight; center 1\/16 inch Green; 5\/32 inch Goldenlight; 1\/16 inch Green; 3\/16 inch Bluebird; 1\/8 inch Goldenlight; and 1\/8 inch Bluebird.<\/p>\n
Criteria: Awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, subsequent to December 31, 1992, performed outstanding volunteer community service of a sustained, direct and consequential nature. To be eligible, an individual\u2019s service must (1) be to the civilian community, to include the military family community; (2) be significant in nature and produce tangible results; (3) reflect favorably on the Military Service and the Department of Defense; and (4) be of a sustained and direct nature. While there is no specific time threshold to qualify for the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, approval authorities shall ensure the service to be honored merits the special recognition afforded by this medal. The MOVSM is intended to recognize exceptional community support over time and not a single act or achievement. Further, it is intended to honor direct support of community activities.<\/p>\n
Background: The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal was established by Executive Order 12830, dated January 9, 1993. A proposed design, prepared by The Institute of Heraldry, was submitted to the Office of the Secretary of Defense on April 12, 1993, and the design was approved by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Manpower and Personnel Policy on June 15, 1993. The interlaced annulets emphasize the interaction of the military services with the civilian community and symbolize continuity and cooperation. The star commemorates outstanding service; the wreath of laurel denotes honor and achievement. Oak is symbolic of strength and potential. Medium blue is the color traditionally associated with the Department of Defense. Gold is for excellence and green alludes to the nurturing of life and growth.<\/p>\n
From a purely technical point of view, this medal is probably not supposed to be worn on a Scouter\u2019s uniform.\u00a0 According to the BSA UNIFORM GUIDE, \u201c\u2026badges awarded by organizations other than the BSA may not be worn on an official uniform. This includes military medals\u2026\u201d However, the same GUIDE goes on to say, \u201cThere are, however, notable exceptions\u2026 religious emblems\u2026 historic trails medals\u2026\u201d\u00a0 So, although this book was published for 2003-2005, and makes reference to the square knot (No. 152316) for the Community Organization Award (which category this falls into), it is silent on the medals themselves.\u00a0 That said, since the medal was earned in the acknowledged performance of service to the Scouting movement, and since the GUIDE does indicate that there may be \u201cnotable exceptions,\u201d it\u2019s my personal belief that no one would be frowning if your Scouters were to occasionally wear their medals on their uniforms at appropriate recognition events \u2013 but, remember, that\u2019s just me!<\/p>\n
Hey Andy,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nJust curious to know if there\u2019s a format for placement of merit badges?\u00a0 My son just earned three “Eagle” badges, for a total of 13.\u00a0 Ideas?\u00a0 Your thoughts are appreciated. (Jim Edmonson)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nCongratulations to your son!\u00a0 With 13, he’s sure well on his way to Eagle. How to place them on a merit badge sash?\u00a0 Hey, any way he likes!\u00a0 Most Scouts I’ve seen simply start at about shoulder height on the sash and continue in rows of three downward, usually in the order earned.\u00a0 But, there’s nothing says it has to be that way!\u00a0 Maybe he wants to put all the “required” badges together and the others below, or some other arrangement.\u00a0 If so, that’s fine, too!\u00a0 Some Scouts have the badges sewn in rows perpendicular to the sash edges; some have them sewn in rows that are about 45\u00b0 relative to the edges, so that they are horizontal when the sash is worn over the right shoulder.\u00a0 Actually, the hardest part isn’t in how to arrange them, but just getting them sown on in time for the next court of honor!\u00a0 And, whoever sews them, be absolutely sure that they\u2019re placed so that they\u2019re seen when the sash is over the RIGHT shoulder!\u00a0 (Yes, I\u2019ve occasionally seen a sad-looking \u201creverse-shouldered\u201d sash that has to be entirely changed for an Eagle court of honor \u2013 and that\u2019s one nasty job when there\u2019s 21 or more of \u2018em!)<\/p>\n
Dear Andy,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nAre registered Assistant Webelo Den Leaders eligible for the Webelo Den<\/strong><\/em>
\n Leader Award? (Guy Kirby)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nThe Webelos Den Leader Award is available to Webelos Den Leaders who have served in this capacity for a minimum of one year.\u00a0 There is nothing on the progress record for this recognition that indicates that an Assistant WDL qualifies.\u00a0 Time to step up!\u00a0 (Note: You absolutely can use your tenure as AWDL toward the two years required for the Cub Scouter Award!)<\/p>\n
Oh, yeah\u2026Both the singular and the plural of Webelos is… Webelos!\u00a0 There’s no such thing as a Webelo, Weblo, or any other spelling.\u00a0 Why? Because Webelos means WE’ll BE LOyal Scouts!<\/p>\n
Hi Andy,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nI’m a new Unit commissioner. In my fieldbook, it says that a Commissioner must not be registered as a unit leader. Does this apply to the District Commissioner, too? And does this mean Assistant Scoutmaster, Assistant Cubmaster, and Pack Committee? The person I’m asking about is all of these. The trouble is, he\u2019s causing lots of problems within the Troop I serve. He\u2019s always telling parents what the Scoutmaster is doing wrong, what he sees is wrong.\u00a0 He says he\u2019s trained, and uses this so no one will counter him. It\u2019s getting to the point where the Troop\u2019s two Assistant Scoutmasters are getting upset, too.\u00a0 The other night, at a Cub Pack committee meeting, he told them that the Troop is secretive about their funds (they aren\u2019t). I’m afraid this Troop is about to have three good leaders quit!\u00a0 I can’t really talk this over with my District Commissioner because it’s him. If you could give me some insight on how I might handle this, I\u2019d really be thankful. (UC-name withheld)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nFirst, let’s answer that question about multiple positions for Commissioners. Yes, the policy that a Commissioner cannot hold a unit leadership position applies to ALL Commissioners\u2014DCs, CCs, ADCs, ACCs, UCs, and even Roundtable Commissioners (there, I think that’s all of ’em!)\u2014and the positions one can\u2019t hold while registered as a Commissioner are: Cubmaster, Den Leader, Webelos Den Leader, and Scoutmaster, or the assistants to any of these.\u00a0 Unit committee positions are OK.\u00a0 So are district positions.\u00a0 The easy way to remember this is: If there\u2019s “master” or “leader” in the title of the other position held, then it’s verboten.\u00a0 However, this is arguably one of most violated policies in all of the BSA, so don’t expect to “win” by trying to insist on anyone adhering to it!<\/p>\n
The problem your unit is having (that you’re trying to make go away by invoking a policy that will be ignored\u2014I promise you!) is that you’ve got a Commissioner with only the dimmest understanding of his Scouting job, and what light there might be is shining in the wrong direction!\u00a0 In the first place, District Commissioners are specifically not supposed to have any unit-level responsibilities, so your DC’s involvement with the unit is totally inappropriate.\u00a0 More importantly, the Commissioner is supposed to be working with the unit leader and committee; not chastising them or blabbing about them!\u00a0 And, the Commissioner is directed to always take a positive point of view; not be “the unit’s best critic”\u2014That’s simply not how Scouting is supposed to work!<\/p>\n
The two people you and the unit’s leaders should immediately talk to are the District Chair and the District Executive.\u00a0 Do this together\u2014several voices are always louder than one!\u00a0 Tell them that you don’t want this guy coming around anymore, and tell them why, in no uncertain terms.\u00a0 Do this in-person; don’t make it an “email war.” If they don’t take action immediately, the unit has the right to tell this guy, when he shows up, that he wasn’t invited and he should kindly leave immediately.\u00a0 If he refuses, or delays, pull out a cellphone\u2014Yes, you can do this!\u00a0 Make sure you, the Scoutmaster and assistants, and the entire unit committee are all on the same page.\u00a0 And remember this: He doesn’t “out-rank” the Scoutmaster or anyone else in the Troop; the role of Commissioner is purely service, and has no authority over any unit or unit leader.<\/p>\n
Dear Andy,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nWe like to make sure that the adults in our Troop are recognized for their efforts to serve the boys in our Troop and District by periodically nominating them for various national, council, and district awards. Each time we do this though, collecting the necessary information about their Scouting history, training taken, other awards received, and so on, gets tough. Tracking the information down without the candidate becoming aware of what we\u2019re doing is very difficult. Do you know of any “Scouter’s Resume” type of form that we could use and simply have all volunteers fill out, and then get it updated as we move along? (Craig Cairns, SM, Troop 120 , Indianapolis, IN)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nI think what you’re doing is terrific!\u00a0 Unfortunately, I don’t know of any form that does what you’re looking for.\u00a0 I’m sure they’re “out there,” and my best suggestion is this: Simply design one and start using it!\u00a0 It’s not that hard, and it would sure make things easier for you all.<\/p>\n
Dear Andy,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nYou don’t earn the Training Award as a Scoutmaster or a Commissioner; you earn the Scouter’s Key\u2014a different award with a different knot and different medal. You may wear one of each knot that you\u2019ve earned, with the device for the area you earned it in. The only time you wouldn\u2019t wear the device is if you earned the Scouter’s Key only as a Scoutmaster, and you\u2019re in a uniform with a Scoutmaster’s position patch. If you\u2019re a Commissioner, uniformed as a Commissioner, and you earned it as a Scoutmaster, you should wear the Boy Scout device, and then when you earn it as a Commissioner, then you can wear both devices. It\u2019s the same for the youth religious award knot\u2014a Boy Scout wearing the device for earning the Cub award wears the Cub device; if he then earns the Boy Scout level, he adds the Boy Scout device, and if he didn’t earn the Cub one, then he doesn’t wear any device. (Curt Eidem, Everett, WA)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nYou’re pretty darned close to having it right!\u00a0 There used to be awards called “Scoutmaster’s Training Award,” etc., but there’s been a change and now there’s one award, called the Boy Scout Leader’s Training Award (solid green “knot”) and an “A” with the universal Scout emblem pin-on ribbon medal. This award can be earned by any adult registered in the Boy Scout program with two years of tenure\u2014Scoutmaster, Commissioner, ASM, committee chair or member.\u00a0 As for the “Key,” this can be earned, just as you point out, in a number of positions, each with a “device” to be worn on the square knot insignia.\u00a0 (Personally, I’ve always considered these devices “optional”\u2014If worn, they should be worn correctly, of course; but, if one chooses not to wear them, that’s OK, so long as this doesn’t devolve into wearing multiple knots for the same award, but different positions.)<\/p>\n
Dear Andy,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nI’m an Assistant Scoutmaster, and I\u2019m curious to know if I\u2019m eligible to receive the Scoutmaster’s Key once I meet the tenure requirements. (Ron Shake, ASM, Troop 462, Cascade Pacific Council, Vancouver, WA)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nYou’d certainly be eligible for the Boy Scout Leader’s Training Award, but the Scoutmaster’s Key is for…you guessed it!…Scoutmasters! (Check the progress record for this recognition, and you can verify this for yourself.)<\/p>\n
Dear Andy,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nIs there a BSA policy regarding multiple unit memberships?\u00a0 Is it a conflict of interest to hold a committee-level position with both a Troop and a Pack at the same time?\u00a0 We have a member of our Pack\u2019s committee who is also a member of the committee for a Troop in town.\u00a0 We\u2019re noticing that she seems to be “blurring” the lines of unit propriety in instances of fundraisers, camp reservations, etc.\u00a0 For instance, some ideas our Pack committee has explored are suddenly put into motion over at the Troop, and she\u2019s the only one of us who\u2019s \u201cconnected\u201d to both units!\u00a0 (Name withheld)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nAccording to my legal dictionaries, a “conflict of interest” occurs when someone represents or has loyalties to two entities that are in opposition to one another, or when one is clearly dependent upon another.\u00a0 Two examples of the first might be an attorney who tries to represent both employer and employee in a labor dispute, or tries to represent both a buyer and seller of the same property.\u00a0 An example of the second might be a corporate purchasing agent who is the owner of a business that provides products or services to the corporation he or she works for.\u00a0 So, on the face of things, there doesn\u2019t appear to be this sort of situation here, although I absolutely agree that you have a problem!\u00a0 So, let\u2019s deal with two areas: BSA policy and good sense.<\/p>\n
The BSA policy part’s easy\u2014There\u2019s no “rule” to stop any otherwise acceptable adult from being multiple-registered on the committees of different Scouting units, so no one can ask this perhaps well-meaning lady to give one up in favor of the other.<\/p>\n
Now, let’s talk about good sense.\u00a0 It seems like you’re dealing with someone who doesn’t understand BOUNDARIES.\u00a0 Have you seen the TV commercials for Las Vegas (the city; not the show): “What happens here STAYS here”?\u00a0 It’s pretty obvious the lady hasn’t!\u00a0 In your unit, the same principle prevails \u2014what’s the unit’s business stays in the unit.\u00a0 To start blabbing to other unit committees is tantamount to gossip, and needs to be stopped.\u00a0 You have two choices: direct or indirect.\u00a0 Direct would be to speak with her personally, explain the problem when she “gives away” ideas, and ask her to please stop.\u00a0 Indirect would be to move your committee meetings to a night when you absolutely know she can’t be there, because of other commitments.<\/p>\n
Andy,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nAren\u2019t boards of review nothing more than rubber stamps?\u00a0 If the dates are on the Eagle application, and the signatures are there, short of a felony conviction, the candidate WILL be an Eagle Scout. So why all the bother? I\u2019m running district training soon, and teaching Eagle stuff at our University of Scouting and I want to do it right.\u00a0 (Bruce Stohlman)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nBoards of Review are hardly “rubber stamps,” and definitely have “teeth.” This is particularly true of Eagle boards, so let’s concentrate on that level\u2026<\/p>\n
But, before we begin, let’s see if we agree on a few things first:<\/p>\n
\u2022Leadership “tenure” (req. 4) can be any single period or combination of periods that adds up to six months during which time the Scout was Life rank.<\/p>\n
\u2022Merit badges, once earned, cannot be “challenged” so long as the counselor is approved by the council (on the council’s counselor list, or a “vetted” member of a BSA summer camp staff).<\/p>\n
\u2022The Eagle project plan (req. 6), once approved to proceed by the receiving entity, the Troop’s leaders, and a representative of the district or council, requires no further signature except that of the receiving entity, to signify that it has been completed, on a specific date, to that entity’s satisfaction.<\/p>\n
\u2022If the Eagle rank application is complete, with dates, merit badges, signatures, etc., and has been verified by the council service center, then it’s a legitimate application for proceeding into an Eagle B-O-R, and will be accompanied by the Eagle Project Workbook, the statement of life purpose (req. 6), and\u2014arriving from a different source\u2014the letters of reference (up to six letters) in sealed envelopes.<\/p>\n
\u2022This particular board of review is the only one that does not require\u2014except for the representative of the district\/council\u2014any registered adult Scout volunteers.<\/p>\n
\u2022The final vote to approve must be unanimous.<\/p>\n
Now, let’s get down to it…<\/p>\n
The Eagle board has the right and responsibility to:<\/p>\n
\u2022Determine the merits of the Scout, based on the letters of reference (or their absence!).<\/p>\n
\u2022Determine whether or not the Eagle Project Workbook, as written, is of sufficient quality and quantity for the rank of Eagle.<\/p>\n
\u2022Determine whether or not the project itself, as described, is (a) the project that was originally approved and (b) one that clearly demonstrated that the Scout used leadership skills to accomplish it (for instance, building birdhouses when the project plan called for building observation blinds in a wilderness area is not the project that was initially approved; and a “one-man show” is not an Eagle project, because no leadership of others took place).<\/p>\n
\u2022Determine the extend to which the candidate understands what Scout Spirit means, and can demonstrate to the board’s satisfaction how he lives the Scout Oath and Law in his daily life.<\/p>\n
\u2022Determine the candidate’s understanding of the meaning of “duty to God and country,” and how he sees himself as living up to these obligations.<\/p>\n
Notice that none of these areas has been previously “signed off” on the rank application itself, and it is up to the members of the board to determine the answers and the extent to which these answers are acceptable to all members of the board for final approval of the candidate’s application.<\/p>\n
If any of these or any other aspects appear wanting in quantity or quality, the board has the obligation to suspend itself until specific corrective actions can be taken (this is described in specific detail in the BSA publication “Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures”).<\/p>\n
Based on these alone, I’m hoping you can see the value of boards of review, and the immense power they ultimately have.\u00a0 Along with that power comes enormous responsibility, for, once approved, that approval cannot be rescinded; and if not approved, the board is obliged to state in absolutely specific and concrete terms how and why they reached that decision, and provide the opportunity for a response to their action and thinking.<\/p>\n
Hi Andy,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nWhich sign do junior Webelos use\u2026two-finger or three-finger? (Heather Osborne, Dahlgren, VA)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nI first have to tell you that there’s no such thing as “junior” Webelos.\u00a0 There are there are first-year Webelos and second-year Webelos.<\/p>\n
Now, to your question…Because Webelos Scouts are still a part of the Cub Scout program, they would typically use the two-finger, hand raised with arm straight up, sign.\u00a0 But, as we know, they ultimately learn the Boy Scout sign of three fingers with upper arm horizontal and lower arm and hand vertical and perpendicular to the upper arm.\u00a0 However, in the typical Pack meeting, which they’ll continue to attend until graduation, they’d more than likely use the regular Cub Scout sign, just like everyone else in that meeting.<\/p>\n
Happy Scouting!!<\/p>\n
Andy<\/p>\n
Got a question? Send it to me atAskAndyBSA@yahoo.com-be sure to let me know your Scouting position, town, state, and council!<\/p>\n
(Mid-October 2004 \u2013 Copyright \u00a9 2004 Andy McCommish)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Many books and workshops on management, personal development, and so forth, talk hard about the idea of personal best.\u201d They often recommend \u201dvisualizing\u201d \u2013 \u201cIf I were the best (you fill in the blank), how would I look, what would I be doing\u2026?\u201d\u00a0 I think this can apply to our volunteer lives in Scouting, but […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-12"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=171"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":176,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171\/revisions\/176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=171"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=171"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}