Training
The Boy Scouts of America (Scouts) holds as its mission the teaching and enhancing the Citizenship, Physical Fitness and Leadership capabilities of young men across the Country in order for them to be capable of making ethical and moral decisions. Currently, Scouts reaches only about 11 of every hundred young men between the ages of 7 and 21. Of those that do, only about 3%, nationally, finish the program and earn the rank of Eagle. Seventeen percent (17%) of Scouts will, someday, rejoin the ranks as adult leaders; which brings us to YOU.
Maybe you are following your son who has joined, or is about to join Scouts as a Cub, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout or maybe even as a Venturer. Or maybe, you are joining to give back that which you were given as a youth.
Why get involved and take more of your valuable time? Here are some very good reasons:
| 85% of student council presidents were Scouts | 89% of senior class presidents were Scouts |
| 80% of junior class presidents were Scouts | 75% of school publication editors were Scouts |
| 71% of football captains were Scouts | 64% of Air Force Academy graduates were Scouts |
| 68% of West Point graduates were Scouts | 70% of Annapolis graduates were Scouts |
| 72% of Rhodes Scholars were Scouts | 85% of FBI agents were Scouts |
| 26 of the first 29 astronauts are/were Eagle Scouts | |
Your involvement, as a registered and TRAINED adult leader, will benefit the scouts you serve, whether it is your son or the sons of friends and acquaintances. As a TRAINED adult leader, your responsibility is to the group.
The Boy Scouts of America has developed a training program for adults that is second only to the training the scouts receive as part of the youth scouting program. It is a training curriculum that includes leadership training which is far superior to many programs offered to business professionals at significant costs.
Leader Training is a continuum. It begins with basic a introduction and continues through specific and specialty training seminars. Much of the training is required by the BSA. All of it is informative and valuable. Leaders MUST continue to train as they advance through the program, just like the scouts they lead.
Are You Ready? Then Read On!
Training begins with Youth Protection. Youth Protection Is BSA’s #1 Priority!. Next is an introduction to the Boy Scouts of America called FASTSTART. There are versions for each branch of scouting. Beyond this, a more detailed preamble called “This is Scouting” provides the first in-depth component of being an adult leader in the Boy Scouts of America and working with young men from age 7-21. “This is Scouting” is followed by the Leader Specific Training for the position in which you are registered. With most, this completes the required BSA training continuum; for some, however, there is one additional step; Outdoor Leader Skills Training for Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmasters and Varsity Team Coaches. Beyond these required training classes, there are a host of advanced and supplemental training opportunities. These range from additional advanced leadership training to specific training in areas like First Aid, Climbing, Trekking, Counseling and Aquatics.