Photo By Sgt. William White | Army Pfc. Reggie Miller, a cavalry scout with A Troop, 1st of the 150th Armored...... read more read more
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FREEDOM FIELD, W. Va. - The 2013 National Scout Jamboree is in full swing, and swimming through the sea of 40,000 Boy Scouts are a few hundred service members who want to leave an impression.
For the past two weeks, the military has been supporting the jamboree in a number of operational elements, respectively introducing the Boy Scouts of America to military leaders and giving them a chance to experience what a military future can offer.
“Our presence here allows the Boy Scouts exposure to the Army and to the U.S. military,” said 1st Lt. Joseph Williams, 157th Military Police Company, 151st Military Police Battalion, W. Va. National Guard. “It’s a great place for them to become more familiar with [the armed forces].”
Among the military’s operational and support roles is a mission to influence and recruit the next generation, and each service has set up displays and activities to ensure they leave the best impression possible.
While at the jamboree, each scout will visit Freedom Field where they will meet service members, learn about the roles and missions of the military, explore military vehicles and handle equipment.
“This field, without the military, would just be an empty hole in the jamboree and it would be an empty hole in the scouts development,” said Kevin Palush, deputy director of military displays for the jamboree and retired Army veteran of 34 years.
Palush, a scout leader and former Soldier, said that he knows that scouts’ exposure to military members and equipment will help them appreciate the armed forces, because it did the same for him.
“The guys you see here, maybe its only one or two out of 10, are the future leaders of our military forces. Exposing them to your equipment, your organization, your training gives them that insight and plants that seed of desire for them to say ‘That’s what I want to do’.”
Scouts who explore the displays and participate in fitness challenges earn themselves patches from each branch as well as digitally camouflaged gear and attire, which they often don immediately.
“We’re not just here for fluff,” said Coast Guard Lt. Jonathan Schafler. “We’re here to educate scouts about the missions of the Coast Guard and to instill our core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty to scouts.”
Schafler said the Boy Scouts core values near parallel those of the armed services.
“In 2010, 68,000 people came through the Coast Guard exhibit,” said Schafler. “This year we’re hoping to meet that challenge again.”
Palush believes that scouting helps young men and women pursue positive and impactful roles in society.
“Part of the scouting’s role is to open up doors and horizons for young men and women through the ventures program and show them as many possibilities as we can,” Palush said. “Its critical of us as leaders to train them to be leaders of every facet of U.S. life, to include the military.”
“The Boy Scouts seems to be a great organization, and we’re here to help out and do what we can to assist them,” Williams said.
According to Palush, the military exposure will have a lasting impact on the Boy Scouts.
“If you walk amongst these boys now, they’re enamored of the military because of the great representation here,” said Palush. “But also they’re sponges and what your Soldiers and Sailors and Airmen and Coastguardsmen give them, I guarantee you they go home and that stuff is locked in there.”
| Date Taken: | 07.17.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 07.21.2013 16:19 |
| Story ID: | 110564 |
| Location: | WEST VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 462 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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