S.E.A.L., Sea scout Experience Advanced Leadership training is the Sea Scouts BSA highest leadership training for youth, which is now open for Scouts BSA as well. It is a demanding hands-on leadership experience that takes a lot of preparation. The course is designed to develop leadership skills in young adults in an “at sea” experience, but seamanship and nautical skills are merely the means, not the end. Sea Scouts need to have the rank of Ordinary (the second rank in Sea Scouts BSA, after the rank of Apprentice) or be a Venturing Pathfinder or a Scouts BSA First Class Scout by June 1st of the year of the SEAL training.
Furthermore, both Sea Scout, Venturer, and Scout need to study Chapter 4 of the most current edition of the Sea Scout Manual, have to be able to perform basic coastal navigation, and be able to tie all knots required for Apprentice and Ordinary rank (15 knots) within 3 minutes. They also need to know most basic names of all sailing vessel parts, helm commands and relative bearings, which can be found in the Sea Scout Manual. All participants must also have their State’s Boater License in order to pilot a boat or ship.
Troop 447 Life Scout and SPL Austin was accepted to attend the NY/NJ SEAL training off of Long Island NY on the 65’ motorized vessel Sea Dart II, out of Linden NJ the last week of June. Austin had only 6 weeks after he was accepted to this course to be fully prepared for this adventure. Fortunately was offered help for this by the new National Service Territory Boatswain William Kennedy, who gave Austin a crash course in Coastal Navigation, and in the use of Austin’s newly acquired Boatswain pipe, the high pitched device with which commands are given on a ship.
Austin also studied the required Chapter 4 of the Sea Scout Manual and earned his MD Boater License, all while earning his PADI open water certification (not required, but scheduled 2 weeks before the SEAL course). He also got a full Sea Scout uniform, which was a requirement for this course. Fortunately, the uniform can be found at any local Walmart, the dark navy shirt, and shorts or cargo pants from Dickies (a higher end, but more expensive option can be found at any 5.11 store).
We dropped Austin off on the dock in Linden New Jersey on Saturday, June 25 and received sporadic messages during the week, as cell phone use is restricted on board during most of the day, so the candidates can focus on the rigorous training. Fortunately we were able to follow the vessel in real time through on online maritime locator system. From Linden, they visited Port Jefferson on Long Island NY, through the Long Island Sound to New London CT for the U.S.C.G. Academy, to Bridgeport CT, to Throgs Neck NY for the State University of NY Maritime College and back to home port of Linden NJ. During the trip Austin and his fellow candidates practiced and performed the twelve areas of leadership management of the SEAL course and experienced life on board of a vessel, including cooking, cleaning and preparing for the journey of the next day.
When we picked Austin up a week later, he was exhausted, but he was happy to report that he had successfully completed the SEAL training, and that he was now the proud owner of the coveted SEAL Award pin, the Silver Dolphin pin and SEAL certificate! In the 5 hour journey home it was a non-stop waterfall of stories from his adventure. In the end he shared with us that it was an exhausting trip, but more than worth it.
From April 8-10, 2022, 10 Scouts from Troop 160 (along with their families and siblings from Pack 1540, Lab 314, and Troop 7) arrived at the beaches of Normandy, France to witness about the historic deeds and sacrifices made during World War II and to experience the BSA Transatlantic Council’s 10th Normandy Camporee.
The Normandy Camporee is held every three years and brings together many of the BSA’s youth who are abroad, with parents in military or diplomatic posts across the European theater. Over 2,700 attendees packed a section of Omaha Beach bringing together French Scouts and BSA delegations from France, UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland. A handful of US units made the flight including a few families from fellow NCAC Troop 2012 in Aldie, Virginia.
Though the Scouts themselves had some language barriers, with the help of the Scoutmaster and the Mousses Leaders, they soon found that they had a lot in common. A quick game of “Have you ever?” detailed sibling rivalry is international and no one likes to clean their room. Though the Scouts might agree that the highlight of the twinning was sharing in the tradition of roasting marshmallows and eating s’mores around a campfire.
Outside the planned camporee events, Troop 160 spent a number of hours touring the local museums cataloguing the land invasion of Operation Overload and the airborne deployments. They were able to get up close and personal with the remnants of artillery bunkers along the coast, walk into the ruins of the artificial harbors at Gold Beach, climb in the bomb craters at Point du Hoc, and see the preserved Pegasus Bridge which was the first engagement of D-Day. Troop Assistant Senior Patrol Leader Yusuf S., reflected, “I can’t imagine what it felt to invade that beach, standing in the frigid water, wearing a standard army uniform, and carrying hundreds of pounds of gear!”
An adventurous crew of nine scouts and three adults from Troop 58 in Ashburn, VA spent a year eagerly anticipating a spring break Sea Base sailing adventure in the Bahamas. Due to the uncertainties surrounding international travel because of the ongoing pandemic, the crew changed course in January and chose a St. Thomas sailing adventure in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In April, the crew donned their matching Hawaiian shirts, met Captain Matias at Sapphire Beach Marina and boarded the deck of the 50 ft. yacht, Antillean, and set sail.
The first night sleeping on deck was quite an adventure with gusting high winds, torrential downpours, flapping side panels, squealing pulleys, squawking seagulls, and even crowing roosters! The weather improved and the crew enjoyed navigating from the shaded cockpit and at times relaxing in the on-deck hammock. Some of the highlights of the week included snorkeling, night fishing at Honeymoon Beach, hiking to Fort Segarra, and a beach BBQ. Late in the week, the crew swam ashore in their bathing suits to Water Island for a well-deserved hamburger dinner at a local waterfront restaurant.
Troop 58’s next high adventure will be dog-sledding, snowshoeing, ice-fishing and more at Okpik Cold Weather Camping at Northern Tier in January 2023!
he Boy Scouts of America’s Northern Tier High Adventure Base in Ely, MN for a week of winter fun.
