NPR and others are reporting that the relationship between the organization that was formerly known as Boy Scouts of America and is now known as Scouting America may be coming to an end.
“U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is planning for the military to sever all ties with Scouting America, saying the group once known as the Boy Scouts is no longer a meritocracy and has become an organization designed to ‘attack boy-friendly spaces,’ according to documents reviewed by NPR.”
“In a draft memo to Congress, which sources shared with NPR but which has not yet been sent, Hegseth criticizes Scouting for being “genderless” and for promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.”
Ultimately it’s not clear if this is going to happen or what the actual impact will be. However, Scouting of America did respond:
“We are surprised and deeply saddened by this news. The Scouting movement has had a strong relationship with our nation’s military going back more than a century. From the tremendous support of the West Virginia National Guard at our National Jamborees to Scout troops that provide stability for the children of military families deployed around the globe, our nation’s military has walked side-by-side with Scouts for generations. An enormous percentage of those in our military academies are Scouts and Eagle Scouts. Our Scouts and leaders admire and are inspired by our military heroes. Many of our Scouts trade their Scouting uniforms for the uniforms of our nation’s armed forces.”
“According to the story, the draft memo purports that the Scouting organization is “no longer a meritocracy” and does not hold members to high standards. This view is clearly uninformed. Badges and ranks are not given, they are earned. Just ask any Eagle Scout. Young men and young women alike thrive in Scouting. Scouts wear an American flag on their sleeves and swear a duty to God and country.”
Why Scouting is Important
There are two primary reasons that Scouting is still important in the twenty-first century.
First, scouting provides real opportunities for kids to learn how to become leaders. They make decisions regularly that have consequences. And mistakes made in these settings allow kids to grow and mature. It is this aspect of scouting that the military always liked. They liked the idea that someone before them was there to work on leadership with young people.
Second, scouting provides young people — often young people without the means — to engage with adventure, wild spaces and wilderness. The reality is that if people don’t visit these places, they don’t have any reason to protect these spaces. As we continue to live in a more and more modernized and digital world, the protection of these spaces will become more and more critical over time.
Scouts has a long history of problems. But they’ve worked hard to eliminate those issues and make amends. That’s not to say that we should ignore those that were impacted by abuse in the organization. They are an important part of the story too. And ultimately, the part these victims have played has allowed the organization to look inward and decrease the likelihood of these issues in the future.
What we don’t want is to “throw the baby out with the bathwater.” In the twenty-first century there is still a lot of value to this organization and those like it. And it’s really too bad that the military doesn’t see that anymore…
–Jason D. Martin