Learning for Life - United States Army Explorers (USAE)

[RememberSchiff]

Can't say that I have ever heard of a documented Learning for LIfe program in my area until now and this program is news to me too - the Army Explorer program. Looks interesting, seems more active in Southwest, parts of the South and Northeast. Anyone familiar with this program?

http://www.armyexplorers.us/current

 

The United States Army Explorers (USAE) is a registered not for profit youth career exploration program for teens both Males, and females ages 13-20. It is also the Cadet side of the United States Service Corps, a military organization that is training personnel to serve the US States in Emergency Management, Disaster Relief, and other services that states may need. Our Program exposes cadets to what career opportunities in the military are like, and provide them first hand knowledge and experience in the many military occupational skills. We are the fastest growing army cadet program in the country

 

Our program is a part of the Learning for Life Explorer program with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), with strong links to the US Army, Army Reserve, Army National Guard, and State Guard Forces. However, our adults and explorers are not members of the armed forces by virtue of their membership in the United States Army Explorers. All of our staff members are non-paid professionals who bring a rich and varied background to the program.

 

Army Explorer cadets receive similar training to that which regular soldiers receive. Army Explorers participate in the regular Army Physical Fitness training and testing, Drill & Ceremony, Military Customs and Courtesies, CPR and First Aid, Land Navigation, Radio Communications, Aviation, Leadership, Marksmanship (handguns included! ), Search and Rescue, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, Field Exercises, and much more!

 

The Explorers National Headquarters is an approving authority for the Military Emergency Management Specialist(MEMS) Badge. The United State Army Explorers is the only Program that allows teenagers to earn the MEMS Badge outside of them having enlisted in the State Military Reserves/ State Guards/State Defense Forces. The MEMS Badge is a military badge authorized at the State Military level and utilized by the State Military Reserves/ State Guards/ State Defense Forces and their Parent Organization: the State Guard Association of the United States (SGAUS).

[Eagle94-A1]

I fi've heard of the program, but not details.

[RememberSchiff]

It's parent organization, United States Service Corps (USSC), is also short on details. Wonder how much money the BSA sends their way?.

http://www.usservicecorps.us/

 

http://www.usservicecorps.us/missions-and-goals

Finance. The USSC is a volunteer military type organization. There is no general requirement for a budget to cover such costs as salaries, facilities, equipment, training, travel, and general and administrative expenses. While states are not required to budget for SDF type activities there are ways in which the USSC can obtain support funds or equipment:

• Establish a chapter supporting the State Guard Association of the United States. Approximately one-half of the SDFs have such a chapter. Since these chapters are IRS 501©(3)-certified, they can seek donations and grants to provide a variety of support for the USSC
  

Maryland has such a chapter, as well as its own dedicated 501©(3) foundation, which has proved immensely useful. We can also Petition the National Guard for access to surplus equipment, training material, and training facilities. We can Prepare grant requests for special purposes, such as medical supplies and equipment, training material and audio-visual equipment, communication equipment, youth Drug Demand reduction, or a trailer to house a disaster mobile communication center. We can also establish a working relationship with selected state agencies requiring technical support that the USSC can provide. Under these conditions the USSC can use the agency’s material and equipment for itself for the duration of their working relationship. We should also consider an associate with a local Medical Reserve Corps, or first responder group receiving visibility, recognition, and temporary additional medical staff and needed medical resources.

 

???

[Stosh]

Fort McCoy in Wisconsin has a program similar to this.

 

Stosh

[scoutldr]

I thought the BSA strove to distance themselves from lookng like a paramilitary organization? Sounds hoky to me. We already have programs for military-inclined youth such as JROTC, Young Marines, Sea Cadets, Civil Air Patrol, etc.

[Stosh]

The Ft. McCoy program is also referred to as the Challenge Academy which takes at-risk youth and attempts to turn them around with a boot-camp experience. Seems to be quite successful in that they have been around for quite some time now.

 

Stosh

[LeCastor]

The Ft. McCoy program is also referred to as the Challenge Academy which takes at-risk youth and attempts to turn them around with a boot-camp experience. Seems to be quite successful in that they have been around for quite some time now.

 

Stosh

 

 

Hi, scoutldr, I had the same thought when I read the subject line. However, Learning For Life seems to be so much removed from our traditional units that it wouldn't do much "harm" to our image in the community.

 

If Boy Scout Troops were suddenly doing all of the military drills, etc. then that'd be whole different kettle of fish or ball of wax or whatever...

 

LeCastor

[RememberSchiff]

Hoky may be appropriate.

 

Explorer posts can pick their own uniforms.

 

As I understand, Explorer posts specialize in a civilian careers field - fire, ems, medical, aviation, engineering...and not military as scoutldr mentioned. For example, I have heard of CAP units also being Explorer Posts but only for those cadets who wanted dual membership. The Explorer Post was focused on aviation and CAP military.

 

Is the "parent organization" of an Explorer Post the BSA or the hosting entity - the fire department, hospital, CAP, USSC,...?

 

 

 

[Scouter99]

I thought the BSA strove to distance themselves from lookng like a paramilitary organization? Sounds hoky to me. We already have programs for military-inclined youth such as JROTC' date=' Young Marines, Sea Cadets, Civil Air Patrol, etc.[/quote']

 

Exploring has not been "scouting" for decades. It is administered by Learning for Life, which is a separate subsidiary of BSA. Explorer posts focus on a specific career, mostly police and fire departments, but at one point William and Mary had an archaeology Explorer post, airports have them, etc. No reason not to have them on an Army base. Some posts focused on high adventure type activities.

 

A factor (maybe The Factor, but I can't say with certainty or authority) was the ACLU's lawsuit against Chicago Schools, the Pentagon, and Housing and Urban Development over their chartering BSA units. Once they all settled, government agencies were forbidden to charter BSA units because the oath's line "do my duty to God" would mean that the government is forcing Little Johnny to make a religious oath. So, Explorers were spun off and are not scouts. That allowed Police, Fire, Army, schools, and other gov't institutions to continue reaching the youth they were reaching through Exploring.

 

Venturing was created to replace Exploring within Scouting, and its focus is solely high adventure.

 

 

It's a good thing the ACLU is around to save everyone from themselves.

[LeCastor]

 

It's a good thing the ACLU is around to save everyone from themselves.

 

Wee-ooh, wee-ooh, wee-ooh...

 

Where's Merlyn?!

[Stosh]

I was around when Exploring went co-ed career back in the early 1970's. Did a stint working with a council setting them up. There were career posts and then general interest posts (i.e. high adventure). Back in the late 1990's the program changed again to split apart Exploring (Learning for Life career oriented) and Venturing (hobbies and high adventure). It's still the same old Exploring program having gone co-ed and taking on a few new names along the way to sell more merchandise to the registrants.

 

Stosh

[scoutldr]

I, too was in Exploring sponsored by a Vol fire dept and rescue squad. We took all the same training as the firefighters and squadsmen and provided first aid support with an ambulance to most Council and OA activities. The only thing we couldn't do was drive the equipment until we were 21. The Post went co-ed and the girls who joined went to high school with us and most were also Senior Girl Scouts. I made Eagle in 1970 ... the first Post member to do so. I fully understand the LforL program (I think). It's the USSC and Army Explorer program I find "hoky"....reading the Commander's bio...from a Navy enlisted man to a 2-star General...without a whole lot of detail provided in between. I don't want to unfairly accuse someone, but there are those who like to put on uniforms and "pretend". In my state, we have the Virginia Defense Force...similarly hoky.