25 Years Ago Today ...

Today is a remembrance of a personal milestone.

25 years ago tonight I was getting grilled, hounded, and interrogated as part of my Eagle Scout District Level Review Board. No ... the experience was not that bad, just questions about what I had accomplished, my Eagle service project, and insightful questions on what I really had learned from Scouting. Yes, that was 25 years ago, and I marvel at what I learned then I still apply today. Many great memories come from that journey to achieve Scouting's highest honor; I could fill several pages of stories from campouts which would range from serious to hilarious, valuable to pointless. And I wouldn't trade any of it for anything.

Scouting set me on a path where I would learn the skills and traits needed to transition from a boy to a man. The Scout Law, which is: "A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent" (Yes, I still know it after all these years) are words to live by for every person, not just Scouts. Having the opportunities to learn responsibility, teamwork, and survival in an environment where I could make mistakes without catastrophic results taught me lessons which helped form my very character.

After High School I entered military service, where I believe the character qualities I learned as a Scout were forged like slip in a kiln. Trustworthy and Loyal evolved into what I know as integrity today, and the other points of the Scout Law took on more robust meaning as well. But Scouting's qualities aren't needed just for military men--but men of all types in all professions. All professions must exercise those qualities of the Scout Law to be successful (some more than others), whether that be point by point or in harmony. One area of successful harmony of the Scout Law is leadership.

Today I must acknowledge that Scouting developed any leadership qualities I have more than the military ever has or will. As adults, the finer points of leadership are hard to attain because of the burden of dealing with the dimension of "management." I believe leadership can be taught, but it's next to impossible with the preoccupation of ... management. To me, leadership is that quality "between the lines" of administering management. Looking out for your people through listening to them, taking up their cause, seeing their potential, giving them opportunity aren't explicit tasks in any job. Making these actions a part of your modus operandi will build rapport and loyalty with subordinates--you will be seen as a leader.

Today I'm doing what I can with those leadership qualities as I serve on my son's Troop Committee as Treasurer. It's a start to give back to the organization that played a major role in making me who I am today. I can only hope and pray my son will stick with Scouting so he can learn the same lessons I did, and reap the benefits throughout his life.