In all my ranting about my Son making Eagle and my push of my younger Son, who is now at Star, I didn't realize how many people don't understand the significance of making Eagle Scout. First, a little background noise for you. Scouting was started in Britain by Robert Baden-Powell, in 1907. Baden-Powell was a Lieutenant General in the British Army. When he returned from the Boer Wars, he saw the need to teach young boys the skills needed to survive on their own. He led a group of boys to Brownsea Island in August of 1907 and Boy Scouting was begun. Then, according to legend, William D. Boyce, an American newspaper man, was lost in the London fog. A young scout helped him find his way, when Boyce turned to tip the boy the young man refused. He said it was his duty as a Scout. Boyce came back to America and began the Boy Scouts of America in 1910. In 1912 the BSA awarded it's first Eagle Scout rank to Arthur Rose Eldred. A few years later it was decided that there should be a program for younger boys. So Cub Scouting was created based on a very popular book in 1911 called, "Jungle Book" by Rudyard Kipling.
To earn the rank of Eagle a boy must complete a long list of achievements. Most boys began their Boy Scout career at 11 or 12. Boys earning their Arrow of Light in Cub Scouting can "cross over" as early as 10 1/2. Boys are required to move up a system of Ranks. These ranks all have different requirements and challenge boys at skills. The ranks in order are; Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle. Star, Life, and Eagle require merit badges as well as skills. By the time a boy is ready to make Eagle he must have a total of 21 merit badges, 12 of which are Eagle required. Once all of these requirements are complete, a boy has to complete an Eagle service project. The project must benefit the community and the boy has to be the leader of the project. Once this is done, the boy will then face his final Scoutmaster Conference. Then his paperwork his sent off, approved, then sent back. At this point the boy must face his Eagle Board of Review. This is a review by a panel of Scout leaders. The boy must prove to this panel that not only has he done all these things mentioned above, but that he is a leader and instills the core values of Scouting. I've had the privilege of sitting on about a dozen of these boards and it is beyond intense. All of this must happen before a boy's 18th birthday. Despite the brisk overview of the requirements, make no mistake, we push these boys to their limits.It takes between 4 and 6 years to complete all these things. From endless swim tests, to countless miles hiked, to reports on environments, to physical fitness testing, and yes even a little financial and nutrition education.
These requirements are daunting. Fewer than 4 percent of Boy Scouts will make the full journey to Eagle. If you add boys that started in Cub Scouts the number falls to 2 percent. There are huge benefits to making Eagle. Most notably the Armed Forces place very high value on Eagle. Once a boy passes Boot Camp (no one is exempt from boot camp) the Military will move an Eagle up as many as two ranks. Colleges look more and more to character and community service in addition to grades. Nothing speaks character and service more than an Eagle Scout. Companies that have organized hiring departments also look for the same traits. Show me a company with a human resources department and I'll show you a company that values Eagle Scouts.
To make Eagle is to put yourself in a rare company. I can list Presidents, Congressmen, Supreme Court Justices, many Astronauts, leaders of Business and Industry, and the list would never be ending. Becoming and Eagle Scout is to take on a tried and true proving ground and complete it. In today's world the number one thing we fight is "my Mommy said I don't have to do that". An older Scout leader once told me, "'Mommy said I don't have to do that' is the leading cause of the wusification of America".You see an Eagle doesn't look for an excuse to get out of things, he looks for a way to complete the task head on. Something we desperately need in this country. Being an Eagle Scout means you hold timeless values, commitments to excellence in service to your community, country, and God. Being an Eagle Scout means you hold true to everything that is good in America.
The wonder to me of all wonders is how some teachers have neglected Nature study, this easy and unfailing means of education, and have struggled to impose Biblical instruction as the first step towards getting a restless, full-spirited boy to think of higher things.
Lord Baden-Powell
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