Junior Assistant Scoutmaster

[c_m_pratt]

Hi everyone, I need some expertise. I wanted to try to be JASM for my troop, and my scoutmaster wants to sit down with me and discuss what my responsibilities would be in the troop. Are there any official responsibilities or recommendations to get a start?? Thanks!!

[Eagledad]

I believe the JASM should have responsibilities that you would give to an adult, but not necessarily a scout. For example the JASM could help the Advancment Chairman keep up the records, plan the list for scouts going in the BOR. Maybe introduce the Scout to the BOR. He could make sure the SPL get the patches and who they belong too. The JASM could help Grubmasters find recipes, set up monthly cooking themes, train them in proper food health. You could help Life Scouts plan toward Eagle. I trust many of our older scouts more than some of the adults for planning Eagle projects. What ever your responsibilities, they should be challenging for your age, rewarding and a big help to the Troop.

 

Just sitting down with the SM should be fun and what you start will go on to other scouts after you. Good luck on your new job.

 

Barry

[red feather]

Congrats!!! Maybe ask to be the mentor of the troop guides? The older scouts might respond well to you and it would be good experience. Or work with the first years, since you are not that far away in years. Opportunities abound, enthusiasm always.

 

yis

[Sparkie]

Congrats! I'm not sure of any official responsibilites. However, my suggestion to you is don't hold back in making recommendations to the committee. Venture back to your own experiences, and pull ideas and thoughts of what you have done, or what would have liked to do. I think you'll find alot of answers there on how to make your troop better. I also like Eagledad's suggestion of helping/mentoring Life scouts on their way to Eagle (without interferring with THEIR project of course!), your experience will be invaluable to them.

 

Sparkie

[Zahnada]

I think the JASM should act as a sort of liason between the youth and the adults. It's a great position to be in (not to mention very difficult). You're more experienced, but you're also still on the same level with many boys. This is kind of an unofficial duty in my opinion, but very important. I often see the JASM as the person who defends the SPL to the adults and makes sure that boys lead. You're the behind the scenes kind of guy.

 

Also, I like the suggestions about mentoring Life scouts. It's a wonderful position because it's so loosely defined. I've seen JASMs serve as a recruiter and mentor figure for new scouts. I've seen them as mentors for SPLs and PLs. I've seen them as mentors for SMs. I see them as a Program Staff where they set up activities for the troop to make sure that the other leaders are interacting with the boys. I've seen JASMs as the Head Instructors for classes where they demonstrate a model class and teach other scouts how to teach.

 

I've also seen JASMs become useless and sit in the back and become too "cool" for troop meetings. I've seen them walk around as "enforcers" where they look for boys to yell at. I've seen them become the screw-offs in classes. I've seen them be the ones to bring pornography and tobacco on outings.

 

I don't know what their official job is, but as long as the JASM is enthusiastic, they can serve as a fundamental piece of a troop. Take initiative. Good luck.