Scouting Impact: Forks in the Road. Scouting is the Better Choice.

Scouting Impact: Forks in the Road. Scouting is the Better Choice.

As a young teenager living the Panama Canal Zone, I’d reached the first big fork in the road of my life: a few of my “friends” wanted me to join a gang of thugs. You see, I grew up in an American Military Family living in countries around the world. My father was a Special Forces soldier often deployed on far-away missions. My mother was a French-Italian WWII war bride still learning to speak English. It was an amazing life, but one without stability, always worried that my dad would not come home.

That fateful day, another friend invited me to join what he called a “good gang”–the Boy Scouts of America. He picked me up to attend my first meeting that Thursday, and I was hooked! Suddenly I belonged to a whole new world of adventures. One that offered a taste of home away from home; an American Scouting experience for Americans living overseas. There was a plan, a structure, fun and fellowship, guided discoveries, and standards that were completely up to me to meet. And there were many unselfish leaders who became my role models. I will never forget some of them who died in Vietnam.

For the next 50+ years, Scouting became the one constant in my life no matter where I lived around the world. It was like an extended family with cousins everywhere. What I learned in Scouting about myself, about other people and other cultures is more valuable than all the degrees, titles, and accolades I have since earned.

The self-confidence I gained as an Eagle Scout is what every young person needs to be successful in life. The skills learned helped me to be a better leader; but more importantly, how to be a good follower so that we can all achieve and enjoy success. Because of Scouting, I’ve been blessed to and to work with many famous leaders, Kings and Queens and Astronauts; senior cabinet level officials, service secretaries, Supreme Allied Commanders, most were Scouts and some were Eagle Scouts. Rest assured I’ve done my best to repay my debt to Scouting through volunteer service as an adult.

Because I know first hand, that if we want our youth to become good citizens, we must offer them good choices and opportunities when they reach their own forks in the road. Because Scouting helps build better people. Thank God that Scouting offered me a choice that day, and every day, when I reach a fork in the road. It could have been a much different story!