*Thanks Beavertooth for sharing this letter with us.. it has
blessed me. I won't reply in any way to alter what was said,
but try to be fair from my perspective as a trained Scouter
and Ranger leader.. My reason is simply to improve on what
already exists and give insight to many who have not traveled
this path...
> 28 April 97
>
> Fellow Rangers,
>
> I have been asked to express my reflections of both the Royal Ranger
> Program and the Boy Scout Program. I earned both my Gold Medal of
> Achievement with a Gold Buffalo and my Eagle Scout with a Bronze Palm.
> I have spent over ten years in both programs. During that time, I made
> some observations about both programs which have allowed me to compare
> them. I cannot say one is better than the other. I can only compare my
> own personal experiences in BSA Troop 1 of Somers, N.Y. and Royal
> Ranger Outpost 118 of Yorktown, N.Y. I think both programs offer a
> wealth of knowledge and experiences.
I agree as well, with this excellent Ranger. My son and I did not join
in Scouts
to prefer it but rather to research and learn more about the patrol
system following NTC.
What we quickly had to come to terms with is the meaning of the term
*joining..
One critical word separates us from much success!
The boys may *come... but for success, they must *join-in!
When we join... we pledge to raise the MORALE by our individual actions.
>
> Before I begin, I would like to say that being an active member in
> both programs, playing sports, and keeping up with your grades in
> school is possible. I did it, but I will not deceive you, it will take
> a lot of work and even more dedication on your part. However, it is
> worth the work and time you spend. My experiences in both programs has
> prepared me for my future. Presently, I attend the United States Air
> Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I am working towards an
> officer commission in the United States Air Force. Those days as a
> Royal Ranger seem so far in the past, but there are certain things
> that I will always remember. Some of my favorite memories are of the
> campfires on Pow Wows, the friends that I made though Royal Rangers
> and Boy Scouts and, of course, the special GMA and Eagle Scout
> ceremonies.
*For young men, Youth is remembered by significant rights of passage
and ceremony is key to positive embracement of the "values" presented.
Few details pass on to adulthood beyond memories of good times, friends
and adventure! What we can do as Leaders is shape the content and the
character
of events to accent the positive and build a core value of playing
fair..
*Play is a boys work!
>
> The Boy Scouts is set up so the older Scouts can take charge of the
> Troop and teach the younger boys the skills and knowledge they need to
> advance. There are no age divisions in a Troop to cause problems,
> especially in a large Troop like mine. Too many boys with no guidance
> causes mass confusion and chaos. There was very little guidance or
> supervision on the part of the parents.
(*Scouting differs from RR by working with your boy through other boys
and holding in reserve the Adults as "merit councilors" and support
persons
to the troop. He is right that the Scout see's little hands-on
involvement
from his parents outside of the parent who becomes a
scoutmaster/assistant)
We were left to do want we
> wanted to and the parents assisted us in planning trips and whatever
> else we asked of them. There was very limited adult involvement. In
> fact, most parents did not take any role in the Troop at all.
Each troop has a "Parent Committee" as well as a troop advisory group
to facilitate fund raising and fill the boards of review required for
advancement. The planning and conduct of each meeting is the domain of
the Senior patrol leader and his staff of patrol leaders.. *They are
to be trained, and empowered to plan each meeting and invite as needed
adult personas to participate, but *teaching skills is Boy power!)
As a
> result, our Troop played games most of the night or just fooled around
> and talked. You did not learn anything unless you took your own
> initiative and did it yourself. The Troop was not very focused and, as
> a result, we were there just to be there and have fun.
(*This can happen.. Scoutmaster was not happy, but the success of the
meeting
laid with the boy leaders. *In our troop, he held a "out of sight"
closed
meeting to encourage the Sr.Staff to do what they had pledged to do.
Scoutmasters
work as "one minute managers" to encourage leadership at all levels by
playing to the honor/Duty and good intentions of a youth.)
>
> The Royal Rangers is a similar program for boys. It is divided into
> different age groups and a few adults are active in each group. The
> young Rangers still have a lot of responsibilities and are the
> fundamental piece of the program. However, the Ranger Leaders guide
> the boys and young men and teach them important skills. Rangers hone
> their camping skills. They learn the requirements for advancement.
> Most importantly, they learn about Jesus Christ and grow in their
> relationship with Him. The Leaders and the boys build a team, and
> together strengthen their walk with Jesus Christ. The adult
> involvement is a key difference between the two programs. The young
> Rangers have direct contact with someone that cares about them. A boy
> will notice that and will respond to the dedication of their leaders.
> The dedication of the boys and, more importantly, the leader in the
> small groups of Rangers is what makes the it successful in teaching
> young men about God.
This I agree is a core difference and the subject of many of my
questions
here on Rangernet. *Shall we as adults embrace the moment to *TEACH at
the expense of our boy leaders learning to work with peers?
What is superior in RR to BSA is the quality of ADULT FELLOWSHIP!
Royal Ranger MEN are the best friends you will ever make, in this life!
*But here we need to pray hard as to the impact of our fellowship with
clear reason and foresight into the lives of Boys...
Boys dream of becoming leaders! They don't know much, but they do
desire, want, and will accept an organized system to make that happen
if it is 100% FAIR! *I won't preach here, but I'm tempted...
There are still games and fun activities, and
> through those activities and lessons a boy begins to understand who
> Jesus Christ is and how to live for him. God is the focus of Rangers.
Amen!
>
> The Boy Scout Code and the Ranger Motto are similar to each other in
> text but very different in application. The Boy Scout Code is: A Scout
> is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient,
> Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent. These concepts are
> difficult for most adults to understand. It is even more difficult for
> teenage boys. Without good role models to teach the boys what each
> part of that code means, the words are meaningless. In the Rangers,
> the adults that are working with the boys exemplify the Ranger Motto.
Here is where I think we could do better, by remembering that the Ranger
Code starts with "A Royal Ranger is:" rather than preaching the boys a
"understanding" but not a practical application of the Code. IN BSA the
term used is "Scout LAW" and we have watered down the application in our
lives of the high standard by missing the intent of the *Pledge to "do
our
best with Gods help"
I suggest the intent is that we DO OUR BEST! rather than a doctrine of
'forgiveness for failure. God has high standards. He will help us to
rise
to the challenge!
> The Ranger Motto is: A Royal Ranger is Alert, Clean, Honest,
> Courteous, Loyal, Courageous, Obedient, Spiritual. The boys not only
> memorize the words, but they learn what these concepts mean by seeing
> them displayed and followed. The concepts are still hard to grasp, but
> it is easier when there is someone there to explain them.
>
I love my Dad for explaining "things" but 'mo bettah was when...
*I knocked the baseball out of the park for a home run!
-------------------------------------------------------
Likewise...the Ranger CODE and the SCOUT LAW come alive *not by
explanation
but by living it individually as God has us encounter challenge. It is
a Living Gospel we seek, one of the heart and not just the head.
We desire that in leaders, yes! BUT more so we want that to be our
legacy to the boys!That in their young heart a change will take place to
maturely seek virtue and justice.
> Both the Eagle Scout Ceremony and the Gold Medal of Achievement
> Ceremony are very special events that I still hold dear in my heart.
> Behind the Eagle Scout Rank is a lot of hard work, organization, and
> paperwork. It is memorable in my mind because I had completed the Boy
> Scouting program. Some of my fellow Scouts that achieved their Eagle
> before I did had a joint ceremony. I would discourage this. I think
> that when a young man has put forth the amount of work that is
> necessary to obtain such a high honor, he should receive his own
> ceremony. It makes that achievement even more special in his mind.
Agree... good point.
>
> When I got my Gold Medal of Achievement, I thought about all of the
> friends that I had made in Rangers. I also remembered the support from
> not only my parents and my Ranger Leaders but the church body as well.
> It marked the completion of the Royal Ranger program. At my ceremony,
> political figures among others were invited. I think this was
> important because it increased the awareness of the Ranger program in
> the political arena. It allowed the politicians to realize that even
> in today�s society people still uphold Christian values and morals. I
> would encourage the leaders of both programs to go to each other�s
> ceremonies if possible. I think you will understand more about the
> other program and what it is all about.
>
> As I close, I would like to offer encouragement. To the Young
> Rangers�you can do it! It takes dedication, hard work and time but it
> is worth it in the end. I guarantee it. To the Trailblazers and
> Air/Sea and Trail Rangers�stick with it. High School is going to offer
> you a lot of opportunities. Prioritize your life and put God first. He
> will show you the way to go. Help the younger boys. They look up to
> you even though you don�t think so. To the Leaders�you hold in your
> hands the future. Trust in God and seek him with your boys. He will
> show you what is right. They are a part of your family. They look to
> you for guidance. Some of them look to you for a paternal role model.
> It is a long road and the impact you have on them will be great. You
> will be rewarded accordingly.
What good advise! BRAVO!
Thanks Lt. Dan!
-=A=-
>
> If you would like to talk to me about anything, feel free to. My E
> mail address from 2 August 97 until 20 May 99 is:
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> Or my Mailing address is: Cadet Donald Landgrebe
>
> Box 3409
>
> USAFA, CO. 80841 USA
>
> May God Bless You-
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