SEA SCOUTING AND THE COMMISSIONER DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS AND ITS HISTORY IN THE SCOUTING PROGRAM? Salvatore P. Ciampo Theodore Roosevelt Council SPCiampo@aol.com November 14, 2015
2 Thesis Review Committee for Salvatore P. Ciampo's Doctorate of Commissioner Science Eric Anderson Robert M. Koch Keith Christopher Noel E. Guzman Charles Corso Jan Rose Council Commissioner - Theodore Roosevelt Council Past Council Commissioner - Suffolk County Council National Director, Sea Scouts BSA Commodore - Sea Scouts BSA Northeast Region Skipper Ship 12 - Theodore Roosevelt Council Skipper Ship 460 - Suffolk County Council
3 Purpose and Benefits The purpose for selecting this topic is to create an awareness for the Commissioner about Sea Scouting. To be a kind of short primer on Sea Scouting To highlights the similarities and differences between Boy/Venturing and Sea Scouting
4 A Commissioner s Function in Sea Scouting To assist in maintaining the standards and values of the Boy Scouts of America Be aware of each phase of the Sea Scouting program Provide support, share opportunities and training that will benefit the youth and the ship To see ships succeed and grow
5 Sea Scout History Baden-Powell s belief that Sea Scouts would combine the best attributes of seamanship with training in character was shared by the Boy Scouts of America. Two years after the Boy Scouts of America was born, Sea Scouts was organized in the United States with the aid of the Secretary of the Navy in 1912. (Sea Scout Manual Ed.11 Pg. 3)
6 Sea Scouts are not a military group or Navy, just like Land Scouts are not an army. The Double Salute Example: On all formal and official occasions, whenever Sea Scouts come aboard a Sea Scout ship or landship, they perform two salutes. As they do this, they continue to carry out a custom of the sea that began centuries ago. In the early days of Christianity, it was the custom to place a statue of the Blessed Virgin or a crucifix on the mainmast of the vessel. Every seaman, upon coming aboard the ship, took off his hat or made the sign of the cross as a form of salute in the direction of the mainmast. National flags became prominent in the 14th and 15th centuries. Ships of maritime nations soon began to fly their national ensign and requested that it be recognized also by the seamen. So the double salute became a universal rule as each seaman saluted both the mainmast and his national ensign when coming aboard. Honoring these traditions, Sea Scouts, immediately upon stepping aboard, salute first the center of the ship which is the traditional salute to God. They then turn toward the flagstaff at the stern of the ship and perform the traditional salute to the ensign of our nation. Note: This is the reverse of the Navy tradition of saluting the ensign first and then the officer of the deck. When going ashore or leaving a landship, each person gives the double salute in reverse, first to the national ensign and then to the mainmast. (SSM Pg.40)
7 Scout Oath and Law THE SCOUT OATH OR PROMISE On my honor I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; and To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. THE SCOUT LAW A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. THE SEA PROMISE As a Sea Scout I promise to do my best: To guard against water accidents To know the location and proper use of the lifesaving devices on every boat I board To be prepared to render aid to those in need To seek to preserve the motto of the sea: Women and Children First (Sea Scout Manual Ed.11 Inside Back Cover)
8 One important component of Scouting is Sea Scouting As a Commissioner, you may not be aware of the role Sea Scouting plays in the enrollment (membership) and fulfillment of the BSA program. BSA Mission Statement To prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law Sea Scout Mission To develop, enhance, and expand the Sea Scouts, BSA program in a manner that emphasizes the purposes and achieves the objectives of the Boy Scouts of America, working to help local councils improve their membership and programs
9 Program Differences between Boy and Sea Scouting Below are some of the differences and similarities we will explore in the presentation Boy Scouts (Joining Ages: 11-18) Scout Oath Scout Law None Troop Scoutmaster Court of Honor Scout Uniform Activities Insignia Rank (Highest Rank Eagle Scout) Training Sea Scouts (Joining Ages: 14-21) Scout Oath Scout Law The Sea Promise Ship Committee Skipper Bridge of Honor Sea Scout Uniform Activities Insignia Rank (Highest Rank Quartermaster) Training
10 Key Differences Leadership Uniforming Activities and Super-Activities Advancement and Ranks Training Basic and Specialized
(Sea Scout Manual Ed.11 Pg. 12) 11
12 (Like Troop/Crew Committee) (SSM Pg.14)
(SSM Pg.12) 13
14 (Like Scoutmaster) Or Crew Advisor (Like Asst Scoutmaster) Or Crew Associate Advisor (SSM Pg.15)
15 Process to get to Bridge of Honor Your Skipper will hold a Skipper s conference. Then application will be forwarded to your ship s bridge of review. This group includes members from both the ship s quarterdeck and the ship committee. (Youth and Adults) Bridge of Honor As soon as possible after an application has been reviewed and approved, it should be forwarded through the proper channels. The badge is secured and then presented at an impressive ceremony soon after it has been earned. A bridge of honor is the ideal occasion for presenting awards. Traditionally, a bridge of honor is held in connection with a social affair. Although this is a good idea, it does not always have to be done this way. It is important that each Sea Scout get his or her award as soon as possible. Sometimes there is an unavoidable delay between the date of approval and the bridge of honor. If this is the case, the award may be presented informally at a ship meeting and then presented again formally at your next bridge of honor. (Like Court of Honor) (SSM Pg.48)
16 SEA SCOUT UNIFORM (SSM Pg.19)
17 SEA SCOUT UNIFORM (SSM Pg.21)
18 SEA SCOUT UNIFORM (SSM Pg.21)
19 New Century Universal Uniform This was introduced to help celebrate the 100 th anniversary of Sea Scouting and because the Navy changed the uniform for enlisted personnel and it is more difficult to obtain traditional navy uniforms.
20 POSITION INSIGNIA (Like Senior Patrol Leader and Venturing President) (SSM Pg.13)
21 POSITION INSIGNIA Or Crew VP of Administration Or Crew VP of Program (SSM Pg.13)
22 POSITION INSIGNIA Or Crew VP of Communication Or Crew VP of Program (Like Scribe) (SSM Pg.13+14)
23 POSITION INSIGNIA Or Crew Quartermaster as well (Like Quartermaster) (Like Instructor) Or Crew Guide Welcoming new members (SSM Pg.14)
24 ACTIVITIES (Like Troop Meeting) Or Crew Meeting (SSM Pg.27)
ACTIVITIES 25 (Like Patrol Leaders Council or Venturing Crew Venturing Officers Association) (SSM Pg.32)
26 ACTIVITIES (Similar to Venturing Tier 3 Activities which used to be known as super Activities) (SSM Pg.35+36)
ACTIVITIES 27
ACTIVITIES 28
29 ACTIVITIES Sea Scout Regatta Bi-annual William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup
30 Sea Scout Ranks Apprentice Ordinary Able Quartermaster
31 SEA SCOUT ADVANCEMENT RANK The first rank of Apprentice shows basic marlinspike seamanship skills and water knowledge. (SSM Pg.49)
32 SEA SCOUT ADVANCEMENT RANK To earn Ordinary, the Sea Scout must know how to box a compass, must demonstrate leadership qualities, complete requirements relating to drill, sailing, and engines and complete a tenure of one year in Sea Scouting. (SSM Pg.50)
33 SEA SCOUT ADVANCEMENT RANK For the Able rank, the Sea Scout must demonstrate a complete knowledge of the water, meet the requirements of the Lifesaving merit badge and must and be able to command fellow Sea Scouts. (SSM Pg.53)
34 SEA SCOUT ADVANCEMENT RANK The Quartermaster Award is the highest rank attainable by a Sea Scout and is equivalent to Eagle Scout. The Sea Scout must attend at least two thirds of all ship meetings over eighteen months, demonstrate marlinspike seamanship and leadership skills, demonstrate the ability to teach Sea Scouting, complete a community service project and pass a council level board of review or bridge of review. The Quartermaster emblem is a medal consisting of the Sea Scout emblem on a ship's wheel that is suspended from a solid dark blue ribbon that is in turn suspended from a bar bearing the design of a double carrick bend knot. (SSM Pg.56)
35 Training comparisons BOY SCOUT TRAINING SEA SCOUT TRAINING Youth Youth Protection National Youth Leader Training (NYLT) National Advanced Youth Leader Experience (NAYLE) Youth Youth Protection (Venturing) Introduction to Leadership for Sea Scout Ships (ILSS) Small Boat Handling The Qualified Seamanship Course Long Cruise Badge Sea Scout Experience Advanced Leadership Training (SEAL) National Youth Leader Training (NYLT) National Advanced Youth Leader Experience (NAYLE) Adult Youth Protection Scoutmaster and Asst. Scoutmaster Position-Specific Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills Powder Horn Wood Badge Adult Youth Protection (Venturing) Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) Sea Scout Adult Leader Basic Sea Badge Sea Badge Underway
(SSM Pg.62) 36
(SSM Pg.62) 37
38 TRAINING Section One Aids to Navigation and Rules of the Road Section Two Boating Safety (SSM Pg.63)
39 TRAINING Section One Aids to Navigation Section Two Rules of the Road Section Three Seamanship Section Four Safety Section Five Piloting Section Six Charts Section Seven Safe Boating Section Eight Operating a Boat (SSM Pg.64+65)
40 TRAINING (SSM Pg.65)
41 TRAINING Sea Badge Adult Training Sea Badge Pin (Like Wood Badge)
42 Developing Opportunities for Sea Scouting Potential Partners The new unit process adapting it to Sea Scouts Recruiting a new unit commissioner for Sea Scouts Prepare a council-wide opportunities plan Train ACC for Sea Scouts & Unit Commissioners in each District For more detailed information refer to: Unit Performance Guide Starting and Sustaining High-Performing Quality Units SKU 522025
43 Theodore Roosevelt Council Sea Scout Strategic Plan Proposal 1. Stabilize membership and operation of existing ship. Sea Scout Ship 12 Skipper Charles Corso Email: Chazmg@gmail.com Ship meets at the Sagamore Yacht Club (SYC) Meetings are on Thursday Also they sail aboard the Oak Cliff Classics in Oyster Bay in the summer.
44 Theodore Roosevelt Council Sea Scout Strategic Plan Proposal 2. Start ship on south shore of Council perhaps in Freeport.
45 Theodore Roosevelt Council Sea Scout Strategic Plan Proposal 3. Have a ship in each district, all with different specialties. ie. sailing, rowing, power and paddle sports, etc.
46 Summation By using the information in this PowerPoint presentation, the commissioner will become more knowledgeable about the Sea Scout program and therefore be able to assist a Sea Scout ship successfully deliver the promise of our movement. What I have learned along the way is that most people don t know much about Sea Scouting but are very interested in knowing more if it were easy to do and presented in a simple way.
47 Glossary of Additional Terms Galley Kitchen aboard a boat Marlinspike Rope handling Ship Unit Council Squadron Area or Region - Flotilla