Flip608

It's hard to tell if dad 'needs' son or son 'needs' dad. Try to ascertain what SPL etc, thinks of son and son's interaction with other scouts, confirming all appears balanced. See if scout his doing his fair share, participating on team building exercises. A bias of involvement from this direction could coax the appropriate separation of son and dad. " there is no way the scout would advance in rank if not for dad's involvement" (scoutndad)- the young leaders could fix this, but most moms and dads help with the homework.

Hey Cal, No. I was introduced to scouting when I came to this country and was too old then. Like to think I would have enjoyed and stayed with it. Just a student of it, observing my son who is well immersed, having fun with friends from school who have stayed together in pack and troop. Committee member, summer camp next week etc. What's your take on the susbstance of this thread?

Hi Missingarrow - it is sending various messages positive and negative (stealing has negative connotations)including that the Eagle Scout rank has been reserved for those who show respect for its standards. This is not about mistakes. Hi Packsaddle - 3780 posts, congratulations. I liked your basic resistance to awarding Eagle rank to the scout. Also that Eagle Scout rank itself is far less significant than the hoped for behavior self-adjustment he makes for his protection at 18+. The scouting advancement process would have truly helped prepare him for life if he knows he missed this honor by not living all its values for the most recent 4 years of his life. I'm sorry you read 'head games' into my comments. Paraphrasing scoutldr in this thread as follows. Do not let him add Eagle Scout to his resume, instead allow him to earn equivalent merits when job seeking and the interview board member, seeing scout references, questions him about whether he achieved Eagle rank, and the young man answers honestly and forthrightly, with the minimum of squirming, because he remembers the implicit training at his Eagle Scout BOR, winning over the employer. That moment was a manifestation of all your years of scouting contributions.

Of course a 4 yr ago incident makes a difference but what if this is the first time any BOR or advancement personnel have been presented with the dilemma, ie no other advancement decisions included this information. After all it appears to have been hushed. The apology is the admission. The young man has been able to escape scouting consequences and thus is not benefiting from the scouting cause, life lessons. At minimum he should be made to squirm in the BOR by asking him to speak to the incident, by asking him whether it came up in any other BOR and by asking whether he has ever stolen anything since. If there is any doubt, then Eagle rank has not been earned and the appeal process would provide the required time. If a denial turned out truly to be misplaced then an overturn will follow with no further requirements.