An affiliate of the Boy Scouts of America is training young people to confront terrorism

[Are_grits_groceries]

In a training exercise run by Border Patrol agents, Explorer scouts from Visalia, Calif., prepare to storm a “hijacked” bus.

Here is a slideshow that shows what other exercises used to train scouts:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/05/13/us/0000EXPLORERS_index.html

Ten minutes into arrant mayhem in this town near the Mexican border, and the gunman, a disgruntled Iraq war veteran, has already taken out two people, one slumped in his desk, the other covered in blood on the floor.

The responding officers — eight teenage boys and girls, the youngest 14 — face tripwire, a thin cloud of poisonous gas and loud shots — BAM! BAM! — fired from behind a flimsy wall. They move quickly, pellet guns drawn and masks affixed.

“United States Border Patrol! Put your hands up!” screams one in a voice cracking with adolescent determination as the suspect is subdued.
<snip>
“This is about being a true-blooded American guy and girl,” said A. J. Lowenthal, a sheriff’s deputy here in Imperial County, whose life clock, he says, is set around the Explorers events he helps run. “It fits right in with the honor and bravery of the Boy Scouts.”

The training, which leaders say is not intended to be applied outside the simulated Explorer setting, can involve chasing down illegal border crossers as well as more dangerous situations that include facing down terrorists and taking out “active shooters,” like those who bring gunfire and death to college campuses. In a simulation here of a raid on a marijuana field, several Explorers were instructed on how to quiet an obstreperous lookout.

“Put him on his face and put a knee in his back,” a Border Patrol agent explained. “I guarantee that he’ll shut up.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/us/14explorers.html?hp

This is just wrong. I have no doubts that if there was a real crisis that some of these "trained" scouts would get in the middle of it. I also bet they are learning some very bad habits.

[RandomThoughts]

1. Lets also train the boy scouts on

Civic courage and service, economic theories from many perspectives.

And most importantly lets train them on how to think, how to evaluate information, and how to make decisions based on what they believe is right. Based on both their moral convictions, and thoughts on what it is to be the type of person they want to be.

I would say, before they are trained to storm a bus with guns, they should first be tested on the history of actions taken through out American and world history. Why they were done, the ramifications they had, and how they either hurt, or helped society as a whole.

Without that knowledge first, they are not thinking people, they are only extensions of those that tell them what to do.

[ixion]

2. As a former boy scout from back in the 70's, this makes me very sad

from what I recall, we focused on outdoorsmanship skills -- camping, canoeing... knot tying.

I don't remember ever being trained to storm a bus.

[FLAprogressive]

3. the boy scouts are a GOP militia brainwashing organization.....

Future Neocons of America

[moez]

4. Uh......

wrong.

[zipplewrath]

6. Complicated

The boys scouts (and really the original story is about explorers) is whatever the local leaders make it out to be. And by local leaders I really just mean the parents of the kids in the troops. No troop lasts long without a few specific parents running it on a regular basis. I've seen "good" troops and really bad ones over the years. It all comes down to the parents (doesn't it always).

That said, the Boy Scouts have gone through several cycles and it often includes cycles of increasing "militarism". That's not surprising if you look into its history, much of the early foundation was laid by folks with strong military backgrounds. Beyond that, this country has passed through several periods of hightened militarism. Really, to some extent going all the way back to its founding, and pre-constitutional history. The end result is that virtually everything from our national anthem to our definitions of patriotism are practically grounded in the concept of service to war. Heck, when I took a Red Cross swimming certification, they were still teaching the "silent swim" (a relic of WW II).

This is a long subject, and someone else already wrote the book. I'd suggest reading "A Country Made by War" some time. It covers alot of this topic, and isn't really about war at all. But in the end, what you see in the Boy Scouts is merely a reflection of how we raise our children, and ourselves. Because in the end that's what scouting ends up being about. It's about how we raise our children. And ultimately, about how we think of ourselves.

[moez]

19. I can't speak to other troops in other areas

but, my son's troop has, among other things: built a habitat for humanity house, worked a soup kitchen three times a year, led re-cycling drives, and too many other community service projects to remember. Along the way, they go on campouts where they can learn life skills. This is all in a time when most kids are buried up to their necks in their own self-centered worlds.

I have to ask... what the hell is wrong with teaching kids to be civic minded? How the hell is that a "GOP brainwashing organization"?

I get so sick of stupid, ill-informed morons spouting off about this shit and they don't know the first thing about it. What the hell are their kids doing for the betterment of their communities?

[zipplewrath]

20. Among other things

That, unfortunately, is the key phrase here. I agree the characterization of the Scouts is way outta line. However, I can describe both the strengths and weaknesses of scouting, and it will involve some of those "other things". As I say, in the end, it all comes down to the parents and what they choose to do with scouting. I would agree with you in this extent however, if they aren't in scouting, how are they learning those skills to which you reference? Too many avoid teaching their kids those skills, by avoiding scouting altogether. One doesn't have to join the scouts to learn those lessons, but one should learn those lessons.

[moez]

22. Zipple, I think we're fairly close to being on the same page here -

but, I assure you, the "other things" don't include eating babies, cross-burning or slaughtering kitties... I am hard pressed to think of any of those "other things" that could be considered a major weakness or negative in any way.

I agree completely that the value of the scouts comes down to the individual troop leaders and parents - in exactly the same way that the value of a school comes down to the teachers and parent involvement.

I am really fascinated by the knee-jerk reaction against scouting by most on these boards. I would venture to guess that the most interaction or knowledge of scouts that any of these people have is when they see the boys schlepping popcorn around.

[zipplewrath]

23. Some of those other things

Some of the knee jerk reaction will be because of some of those other things. Some people were involved with scouting and didn't have good experiences. And yes, they do not involve eating kittens or anything. It is things like hazings, psuedo militarism, gay bashing, and to some extent the sexual objectification of women. You know, the basic things that 14 year old boys do anyway. Except that the Scouts give them an organized, structured, environment in which to do these things, often with the tacit approval of adult leaders.

My personal experience with scouting was, overall, a postive thing. And some of those "life skills" to which you refer have empowered me my whole life. But I also remember other troop members for whom it wasn't so good. Woe be the child who showed any kind of weakness, effeminant leanings, or just severe social awkwardness. Leaders had tendencies to allow and condone the behavior as a perceived form of positive peer pressure to effect change. But yes, every troop is different to some extent.

[razorman]

5. Well, I guess no one will hijack the next bus to the annual Boy Scout Jamboree.

[Echo In Light]

7. Let's put on military costumes and pretend we're BAD ASS!!!

[mmonk]

8. Our country is very sick right now with the truth being denied.

[pnutbutr]

9. Explorer scouts do all kinds of things

It's to introduce kids to future career opportunities and give them some experience in the field. Everything from park rangers to pilots. This group apparently is focused on law enforcement. I wouldn't have joined that particular group but if kids want to go into law enforcement this is a great way for them to receive years of extra training prior to starting their career. Who wouldn't want an officer with years of extra experience instead of the shaky handed rookie who went through a few weeks of police training and was handed a gun and a badge?

[Are_grits_groceries]

11. I have real doubts about the

people doing the training. There is no telling what they are learning and what habits they will pick up. They are in the middle of crisis training. If they were to learn anything, it should be the basics about the police and the military. Gun safety comes to mind. I don't want my kids trained by whoever about something as dangerous as this.

[pnutbutr]

13. Scouts teach

gun safety training very well. At least I was taught very well even though I learned it from my father anyways. The explorer scouts is about doing, not just learning about. They actually go out and do the things they learn about. I almost joined a CAP(civil air patrol) explorer post when I was younger. They actually allow the scouts to fly planes and do live search and resuce.

[KharmaTrain]

10. It's What Baden-Powell Had In Mind...

Ya take young children...you put them in uniforms with ranks, enforce a "strict" code of "ethics" and a tightly organized "top down" power structure...oh, and did I forget to mention the "salute"??? Now what do you think the intentions of this organization was about from the get go?

In the 60's I recall hearing a family friend who was a troop leader who would joke that it was the Boy Scouts that were creating the soldiers of tomorrow...along with a healthy dose of "god" to go with it. In the 90's, I attended a couple of BSA meetings with my son. The local troop leader was a fundie who didn't hide his bible at the troop meetings. This wasn't something I wanted my son any part of.

I know there are those whose experiences are different, but these are mine and always reinforced the belief that the Boy Scouts were designed as a shadow military prep operation.

[Statistical]

12. First this isn't the Boy Scouts it is the explorer program (which has been around for 2 decades)

Explorer program has had teenagers train with:
local police
SWAT team
firefighters
paramedics
airline pilots

it is a program where kids have a chance to see day to day aspects of jobs like that.

The idea that they add Border Patrol agent is neither shocking nor news worthy.

Where was the outrage in the 1980s when kids went on "ride alongs" with local police?

Many kids join these programs because it is a career they are interested in.
They find out if it is something they really are interested in or is it like most kids wanting to be a cowboy at least once in their childhood.

[Are_grits_groceries]

15. These aren't "ride alongs."

These are "learn alongs." They are being specific training about highly dangerous situations. And again, I have my doubts about the quality of the instructors and the habits they are learning.

[Statistical]

16. Well you are about 20 years too late...

My best friend joined the explorer program in late 1980s.

I use term ride along but they learn a lot more than that.
They learn booking procedures, how to look up law, shooting range, how to put on handcuffs, etc.

Basically everyday "cop stuff".

When he graduated high school he...... became police officer.

The only "new thing" is that Border Patrol now participates in the explorer program.

Explorer Program has nothing to do with Boy Scouts (except the have some joint events)
Explorer Program has been around for 2 decades.

[Are_grits_groceries]

18. Those are basics.

Did you read what these kids are doing? If Sheriff Joe and his acolytes are near the program, we are in trouble.

[Mari333]

14. there may have been a time once

when the boy scouts were different. but they have morphed into a gay hating organization run by thugs. I will never contribute to them, especially since they deny gay scouts and non religious scouts access to their group.
the girl scouts, on the other hand, are okay.
training young boys to be militarists is bullshit.

[baldguy]

17. Instead of playing soldier, they should be serving meals in a homeless shelter.

Deputy Lowenthal should be fired, as should the genius at the Border Patrol who authorized this.

[Aristus]

21. ...