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\nLast week (Issue 516) District Training Chair Chris Way asked if being Wood Badge-trained supersedes the need to also get Scoutmaster-Specific and IOLS (Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills) training. In Chris\u2019s council, these two aren\u2019t mandatory for Scoutmasters, and I offered that while it’s certainly true that this training isn’t mandatory, it’s certainly valuable. But I also identified my own Wood Badge course, which was\u2014egad!\u2014nearly three decades ago!<\/p>\n
While I\u2019m pretty good at keeping current, I\u2019m sure not \u201cperfect\u201d and this one proves that point. The other thing I know for sure is that just being right doesn\u2019t mean you can be righteous about it and if you\u2019re not right you\u2019d better open your eyes and ears wide and pay attention! So, here\u2019s more on this subject, thanks to two fine Scouters whose experience in this arena easily trumps mine\u2026<\/p>\n
Hi Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019ve been an IOLS instructor for five years, and I\u2019ve also completed 21st Century Wood Badge. These two courses have distinctly different purposes: Wood Badge focuses on leadership skills; IOLS is teaches Scouting skills for Tenderfoot through First Class.<\/strong><\/p>\n IOLS participants learn the fundamental skills all Scouts need to know so that they can use them, teach them, and evaluate them in the field. How do you assess whether or not a Scout’s pack has the right equipment for the conditions and is well-packed? Try cooking a hot meal that can feed a patrol. What are your state\u2019s laws and the BSA guidelines for open campfires and cooking stove safety? How do you camp so that you\u2019re safe and rested, and able to observe Scouts\u2019 activities?<\/strong><\/p>\n Even people with extensive outdoor experience will typically learn something new over their IOLS weekend. I\u2019ve had course participants who do winter mountaineering in the Sierras, but were glad to learn what\u2019s appropriate and safe for young Scouts. I learned new things when I took IOLS (and I\u2019ve been backpacking since the 1960\u2019s!). So don\u2019t short-change IOLS\u2014it\u2019s truly \u201ca Scoutmaster\u2019s best friend\u201d! (Walter Underwood)<\/strong><\/p>\n Hi Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n About adult training\u2026 While it\u2019s true that there\u2019s no required adult training to be a Scoutmaster, the troop itself is prohibited from chartering (or rechartering) unless the Scoutmaster has completed both Scoutmaster-Specific and IOLS courses. Here\u2019s the statement from the BSA Form: 524-420 “UNIT RENEWAL APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS”\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n “Requirements for Adult Leadership Registration: Youth Protection training is required for all BSA registered volunteers. New leaders are required to take Youth Protection training within 30 days of registering. In addition, the applicant must complete a Disclosure\/Authorization form. (Cub Scout) Packs\u2014Cubmaster is the top leader and must complete C40\u2014Cubmaster and Assistant Position-Specific Training. (Boy Scout) Troops\u2014Scoutmaster is the top leader and must complete S11\u2014Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills and S24\u2014Scoutmaster-Specific Training.”<\/strong><\/p>\n Now whether or not this requirement is enforced is another question. In our district, two units were delayed in rechartering last year until their “top unit leaders” were trained. (Tom Linton)<\/strong><\/p>\n So, now that my memory and experiences have been jogged significantly, I\u2019ll add this about Scoutmaster-specific training: Wood Badge doesn\u2019t \u201cteach\u201d us how a troop\u2019s organized, or why there are patrols and how critical patrols are to the whole Scouting experience, why Patrol Leaders and the Senior Patrol Leader are elected (instead of being selected by a Scoutmaster with infinite wisdom), or who is and isn\u2019t a member of the Patrol Leaders Council\u2014and why! Moreover, new Scoutmasters who were Scouts are often, unfortunately for themselves and the Scouts of the troop they\u2019re about to serve, had Scoutmasters who thought their job was to \u201crule\u201d the troop. Scoutmaster-specific, when done right, spends more time on the WHY than the HOW (the How is \u201cin the book\u201d\u2014the WHY is what happens in the course)! Our troop has a nine-month election cycle for youth leadership, mostly because we have a small troop and feel it takes that long to work with the Scouts to give them the leadership skills and the experiences they need to learn for their positions. But as it turns out, our current Senior Patrol Leader will turn 18 three months before his term ends. This leads to the question, Who fills what will be a vacated position?<\/strong><\/p>\n My opinion is that the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader steps into this slot, based on the statement in the SCOUTMASTER HANDBOOK that “With the approval of the Scoutmaster, the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader\u2026takes his place when the Senior Patrol leader is absent.\u201d This is the only place I could find any relevant information that fits this situation. What would be your guidance on this? Where else might I find information on this subject? (Randy Lusky, SM, Laurel Highlands Council, PA)<\/strong><\/p>\n There isn’t a lot in “official” print on your situation, so let’s start here: Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders aren’t elected, and they’re not the runners-up when your troop holds its Senior Patrol Leader election; the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader is appointed by the Senior Patrol Leader (with the guidance of the Scoutmaster). So it seems to me that your best bet is to hold a new election, perhaps even right now, but stage it this way: The newly-elected Senior Patrol Leader\u2019s term will begin on the exit of the current Senior Patrol Leader, but his training\u2014led by the current Senior Patrol Leader (with you in the background, of course)\u2014begins immediately and continues for the next three months, so that he can step in immediately when the current Senior ages out. This way, you have continuity, and an election. To solve one “wrinkle,” if the current Assistant Senior Patrol Leader wants to run for this position, that should be absolutely okay. If a troop has multiple Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders, but they\u2019re different ranks, which one is in charge in the absence of the Senior Patrol Leader? (Skip Brumme)<\/strong><\/p>\n The BSA envisions a single Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, who\u2019s responsible for the Scouts appointed to positions of responsibility, including Quartermaster, Scribe, Historian, etc. The classic (and standard) troop organization chart reflects this, even for “large” troops (see SCOUTMASTER HANDBOOK). Despite this specific protocol, it’s not unusual to find troops with multiple Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders. One of the responsibilities of the (single) Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (who is appointed by the Senior Patrol Leader, by the way\u2014the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader isn\u2019t the “runner-up” in a troop’s Senior Patrol Leader election) is to “take the Senior Patrol Leader’s place when he is absent.”<\/p>\n For a troop with multiple Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders, it seems obvious to me that the Senior Patrol Leader would select the one Assistant Senior Patrol Leader who will fill in for him in his absence. There is, of course, no BSA guideline on rank or age, because the BSA specifies a single Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. So, on balance, I’d have to say it’s still the Senior Patrol Leader’s decision, and his decision alone. The Senior Patrol Leader is, after all, the top dog in the troop. Can adult leaders earn the 50-Miler Award, provided they\u2019ve hiked the miles and performed the required conservation work? (Lee Murray, Nevada Area Council)<\/strong><\/p>\n Yup, sure can! Just be sure the patches go on your equipment (e.g., your favorite backpack) and not on your uniform. We have two Second Class Scouts in our troop; both are great Scouts and have racked up a bunch of merit badges, but they\u2019re stuck at Second Class because they can\u2019t swim. They\u2019ve tried and they\u2019ve taken lessons\u2014one of them for a full year\u2014but they just can’t seem to pass the Swim Test for First Class rank. What are their options? How do Scouts advance if they can\u2019t swim? (Ron Myers, CC, Transatlantic Council, Wiesbaden, Germany)<\/strong><\/p>\n The flat answer is: They don’t.<\/p>\n But I\u2019m sort of confused here\u2026 If they\u2019ve indeed made it to Second Class, this means that they\u2019ve both passed the BSA \u201cbeginner\u201d test by jumping feet-first into water over their heads (same as First Class), leveling off (same), and swimming 50 feet (First Class is 300 feet in a strong manner and without stops using a specific set of strokes), with a stop-and-turn (same) (First Class includes rest-floating). So, it strikes me that this isn\u2019t so much a case of \u201ccan\u2019t swim\u201d as it\u2019s a question of endurance while underway in the water. So, if this is accurate, what to do\u2026<\/p>\n Well, making it through the First Class requirements includes one that might help these Scouts: Req. 8a: \u201cBe physically active at least 30 minutes each day for five days a week for four weeks.\u201d If this became lap-swimming, that\u2019s a minimum of ten hours of strength- and endurance-building swimming, and if they swam for an hour each day\u2026well, you can do the math!<\/p>\n Unless a qualified physician classifies these Scouts as permanently disabled, mentally or physically, thereby opening the door for an \u201calternative\u201d requirement, this is something they\u2019ll need to accomplish or they\u2019ll indeed be stalled permanently at Second Class.<\/p>\n My final suggestion here is that they need to learn how a severely near-sighted, horribly asthmatic boy became a sharpshooter, buffalo hunter, \u201cThe Hero of San Juan Hill,\u201d and the youngest President of the United States, and then find their own way through this challenge with Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s \u201cstrenuous life\u201d as their guide.<\/p>\n Happy Scouting!<\/strong><\/p>\n Andy<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Have a question? Facing a dilemma? Wondering where to find a BSA policy or guideline? Write to askandybsa@yahoo.com. Please include your name and council. (If you\u2019d prefer to be anonymous, if published, let me know and that\u2019s what we\u2019ll do.)<\/strong><\/p>\n [No. 517 \u2013 2\/7\/2017 \u2013 Copyright \u00a9 Andy McCommish 2017]<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ________________________________________ Last week (Issue 516) District Training Chair Chris Way asked if being Wood Badge-trained supersedes the need to also get Scoutmaster-Specific and IOLS (Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills) training. In Chris\u2019s council, these two aren\u2019t mandatory for Scoutmasters, and I offered that while it’s certainly true that this training isn’t mandatory, it’s certainly valuable. 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\nDear Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n
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\nDear Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n
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\nHi Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n
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\nDear Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n