THE most outstanding factor in the building of a Troop is its leadership. While physical surroundings, types of boys served, types of cultural background and other outside forces may influence the Troop, its success or failure can practically always be traced directly to its leadership.

By this leadership is meant not only that provided by the Scoutmaster, but also that leadership which is provided by adult Assistants, Junior Leaders and boy leaders, besides the guidance which may be obtained from those men who stand behind the Troop, the members of the Troop Committee.

The Troop's Leaders

The Troop Leadership consists of the Scoutmaster, one or more Assistant Scoutmasters, Senior Patrol Leader, Junior Assistant Scoutmasters, Patrol Leaders, Assistant Patrol Leaders, Troop Scribe, Troop Quartermaster, Troop Bugler, and such others as the Scoutmaster may desire.

The general duties of the Troop Leaders are:

1. Planning and directing the activities of the Troop.

2. Regular attendance at all Troop activities.

3. Promptness in executing duties delegated to them.

Commissioned Troop Scouters. Scoutmaster

It has been said time and time again that the Scoutmaster is the "key man" in Scouting. Of course he is!

The influence of the personality and training of the Scoutmaster has been found to be the greatest single force affecting the life of the Troop. The By-Laws of the Boy Scouts of America (Art. XII, Sec. 2) specifically state: "The success of the Boy Scout Program is dependent upon the volunteer Scoutmaster who serves without financial compensation. His conception of the rules, spirit and purpose of Scouting and the quality of his leadership control the possibilities for practical results in the work of the boys."

As the Scoutmaster succeeds the whole Movement succeeds. His idealism, his enthusiasm and energy are the driving powers. He has the rare opportunity of leading toward better citizenship a group of eager youngsters

the essential head who directs

The Scoutmaster: The "key men" in Scouting, the essential head who directs but does not limit the various activities.

A Scoutmaster's Qualifications

The qualifications of a Scoutmaster might seem to a newcomer rather appalling. But Scoutmastership is not so complicated as it may appear at first, and there are always helping hands ready to come to his assistance.

To be successful, a Scoutmaster will not have to be a "know-it-all," a "Jack-of-all-trades." His job is not to teach the whole subject matter of Scouting- but to lead boys-which is something entirely different.

By analyzing Scoutmastership in terms of the objectives of our Movement, its simple fundamentals come to light.

The objectives set before us are character building and citizenship training. Well, then, how does a Scoutmaster promote these objectives?

First, by his own example. Next, by helping each boy to help himself. And last, by helping all his boys to help each other, by inculcating cooperation in his group. Or, in other words:

1. He is a man with the enthusiasm of youth within him.

2. He deals with the individual.

3. He strives to promote team work, group spirit.

The Scoutmaster Gives His Best

To lead through example and encouragement-thai; then is what is expected of the Scoutmaster. And how does he react to this responsibility?

He gives thought, brainpower-prayer. In other words, he gives his best. Stradivari, the great violin builder, is supposed to have said: "If my hands slack, I would rob God, for God cannot make Stradi-varian violins without Stradivari." So a Scoutmaster gives his best, for otherwise he would rob his boys of opportunities to grow. He considers carefully all activities of his Troop. He thinks Scouting every day, conceives ways and means of improving his Troop.

He puts forth physical exertion. He hikes-he sleeps out of doors-he is physically enthusiastic with his boys and therefore he is accepted by them as one of them instead of as a "pedestaled" leader.

But first and foremost-a Scoutmaster has a burning interest in boys, in their welfare, in their future. He studies and searches out each boy's character and habits in order that he may so place that boy in the Troop that he will find the congenial associates that will help him to live at his best. He guides each boy in his Scout activities. He makes every boy feel that he has his interest at heart.

The Results

Do the results of that leadership make the effort worth while? Are there any rewards for that leadership?

There certainly are. And some of them are immediate-the friendship, respect, and trust of the boys in his Troop. Occasionally he may be discouraged-feel his efforts aren't appreciated by the boys-that the worry and work are destined to bear little or poor fruit. But who is he to judge? Old Scoutmasters long in Scouting say that the greatest thrills they ever experience are to see boys, now men, who were Scouts in their Troops many years ago, serving as Scoutmasters and Assistants-to hear, indirectly or directly, praise of young men who were once Scouts in their Troops-to see old Scouts succeeding in a big way in college, business or professional life-to hear a parent of an old Scout giving Scouting credit for his son's progress of today!

The Rewards Of Scoutmastership

Rewards? A Scoutmaster is not seeking or expecting them-and yet he is receiving them-many of them.

He reaps the rewards of health, of an added belief in his fellow men-a habit of expecting of his comrades fair play. Through association with youth he retains his youth-with all the advantages of maturity! He finds in the Game of Scouting a thrilling avocation; he has fun. And as he leads, his leadership abilities are developed with initiative, resourcefulness, perseverance as their natural by-products. And what man living the principles of the Scout Law is not himself a better citizen?

If Scouting develops the individuality of the boy, it does quite as much for the man. He gains from Scouting joy in living, a keener conception and practice of everyday religion and the satisfaction of a job well done and an incalculable service rendered.

"Who works for glory misses oft the goal; Who works for money coins his very soul; Work for the work's sake, then-and it may be These others shall be added unto thee."

Requirements For Scoutmastership

We shall not discuss further the qualifications of the good Scoutmaster. Suffice it to state the requirements for his appointment, and his duties, as specified in the By-Laws of the B. S. A. (Article XII, Sec. 2):

A Scoutmaster shall be at least twenty-one years of age and shall be chosen because of good moral character and his interest in work for boys. He need not be an expert in all of the Scout activities, but should be able to command the respect of boys in the management of his Troop. He should attend all meetings and outings of his Scout Troop, delegate as much of his duties as possible to Assistants and Patrol Leaders and make use of different experts in the various activities included in the Scout Program. He, with the cooperation of the Troop Committee, is responsible for the general program and supervision of the work of the Troop. All recommendations for commissions for men to serve as Scoutmasters shall originate with the Troop Committee.

The Scoutmaster shall further (By-Laws, Art. XII, Sec. 15) be a citizen of the United States or shall have legally declared his intention to become a citizen, and shall subscribe to the Scout Oath and Law, the Constitution and By-Laws of the Boy Scouts of America and to the following statement of religious principle: "The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no boy can grow into the best kind of citizenship without recognizing his obligation to God. In the first part of the Boy Scout's Oath or pledge the boy promises, 'On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout Law.' The recognition of God as the ruling and leading power of the universe, and the grateful acknowledgment of His favors and blessings, are necessary to the best type of citizenship, and are wholesome things in the education of the growing boy. No matter what the boy may be-Catholic or Protestant or Jew-this fundamental need of good citizenship should be kept before him. The Boy Scouts of America therefore recognizes the religious element in the training of a boy, but it is absolutely non-sectarian in its attitude toward that religious training. Its policy is that the organization or institution with which the Boy Scout is connected shall give definite attention to his religious life." (Constitution, Art. Ill, Section 1.)

A few friendly words from the Scoutmaster

A few friendly words from the Scoutmaster, end the Scout who is working out some problem goes heppily on his wey.

The Scoutmaster is commissioned by the National Council through the Local Council. The Commission is renewable annually, upon due evidence of satisfactory leadership.

Duties Of A Scoutmaster

A Scoutmaster's duties are varied.

He is first of all directly responsible for carrying out the Scout Program in his Troop by means of properly planned and conducted Troop activities. He is responsible for the conduct, morale and discipline both of his Troop and its individual members. He works in cooperation with his Troop Committee and under the general supervision of the Local Council (except in the few localities where there is no such body).

His objective is to get the boys to do things, not to do them all himself. To this end he runs his Troop squarely along the lines of the Patrol Method by continuously placing as much responsibility as possible upon his Patrol Leaders for the conduct of the Troop and Patrol work, and by training the leaders to carry such responsibility.

Ten Essentials Of Scoutmastership

A belief in boys that will make you want to invest yourself and your time on their behalf.

A zeal focused upon one point-the boy's happiness through his formative years-"A happy boy is a good boy, a good boy is a good citizen."

An immense faith in Scouting as the program that will best serve to mould our youth into fine men.

A realization that to the boys Scouting is a game- to you, a game with a purpose: Character building and Citizenship training.

A knowledge, that to your boys you are Scouting. "What you are speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say!"

A steadfastness of purpose to carry out a planned program with energy and perseverance, patience and good humor.

A willingness to submerge yourself and make boy leaders lead and grow through an effective application of the Patrol Method.

A desire to advance in Scoutmastership by making use of training offered and material available on the subject.

A readiness to work hand in hand with home, church, sponsoring institution, school, Local Council, National Council for the good of the individual boy and the community as a whole.

A love of the outdoors in all its phases and a vision of the hand that created it.

He is the immediate executive and administrative head of his Troop. As such he supervises the Troop's activities and whenever unable to be present delegates his authority to the proper officer. In cooperation with the Troop Committee, he selects and recommends his Assistants, and he directs and supervises their work, thus developing the Troop staff so that it actually will carry on the management of the Troop in its many details.

He gives attention to the individual problems of each Scout, seeing that the Scout has opportunity to develop his natural talents. He aims to inculcate in each boy an understanding of the Scout Ideals and personally meets and trains every new Scout in the Scout Oath and Law.

In an effort to know his boys better, he seeks to establish friendly relations with their parents, and he respects the parents' wishes in his relationship to the boys' intimate problems.

He confers with his Troop Committee frequently on all matters pertaining to Troop administration and enlists its help for the accomplishment of special undertakings.

He cooperates with his Local Council in making the Scout Program effective among the boys of his community.

The Scoutmaster is a LEADER in the truest sense of the word. Through his enthusiasm and his example he inspires his boys to good Scouting in spirit as well as in letter.

The Assistant Scoutmaster carries much of the Troop details

The Assistant Scoutmaster carries much of the Troop details, giving the Scoutmaster more time for individual contacts.