Revision as of 14:12, 30 June 2010

Sea Scouting is a program that the Boy Scouts of America offers for young men and women, ages 14 (or 13 years of age and completed eighth grade) through 20. Along with Cub Scouts for younger boys and Boy Scouts for older boys, Venturers and Sea Scouts provide a program for religious, fraternal, educational, and other community organizations to use for effective character, citizenship, and mental and personal fitness training for youth. As part of this training, Sea Scouts are expected to develop personal religious values, learn the principles of American heritage and government, and acquire skills that will prepare them to become successful adults. The advancement scheme for Sea Scouts places an initial emphasis on nautical skills before encouraging the youth to take a major role in planning activities in the unit. Young men and women ages fourteen through twenty who are willing to abide by the requirements of BSA membership, including agreeing to live by the ideals expressed in the Sea Promise, Scout Oath, and Scout Law are eligible to join a Sea Scouting ship. Ships are administered by volunteers with the assistance and support of some paid professional staff.

Contents 1 Coast Guard Auxiliary Best Practices 2 Aims and principles 3 Organization 4 Advancement 5 Other awards and recognitions 6 Activities 7 Training 7.1 Youth Training 7.2 Adult Training 8 External links

Coast Guard Auxiliary Best Practices

The Coast Guard & Coast Guard Auxiliary host Safety at Sea training events all over the country

• Academy Introduction Mission (AIM) -- Introduce Sea Scouts to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy
• Preparing for a Trip to the Florida Sea Base
• Canoeing and Kayaking
• Coast Guard Auxiliary Boater Education for Scouts
• Merit Badge Counseling
• Preserve America's Waterways -- Develop a joint waterway conservation project with a Sea Scout Ship
• Regattas & Rendezvous -- Seamanship skills competition
• Safety at Sea Weekend -- Weekend on-the-water training event held jointly with the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary
• Vessel Safety Checks of Sea Scout boats
• Winter Training Weekend -- Weekend training event held when it is too cold to get out on the water

Aims and principles

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."

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.

Sea Scouts also learn and subscribe to the Scout Oath, Scout Law, and Venturing Code.

Organization

The ship is the fundamental unit of Sea Scouting, consisting of five or more Sea Scouts and the adult leaders. Ships are numbered and may adopt a name.

Each ship is sponsored by a community organization such as a business, service organization, private school, labor group or religious institution. The chartered organization is responsible for providing a meeting place and promoting a good program. A chartered organization representative manages the relationship between the ship, the chartered organization, and the BSA.

The ship committee is a group of adults, led by the ship committee chair, who guide the ship program and activities and manage record keeping, finance, leadership recruitment and registration. The ship is led by youths who are elected to the positions of boatswain, boatswain's mate, crew leader, assistant crew leader, yeoman, purser, and storekeeper. Skipper and mate provide guidance while allowing the youth to lead the ship.

Above the ship level, committees which are organized to support the program. Each level also has its own terminology:

• Division (district)
• Squadron (council)
• Flotilla (area)
• Fleet (region)
• National Committee

Advancement

Ranks: Apprentice, Able, Ordinary, Quartermaster

Quartermaster Award medal, badge and knot

The Sea Scout rank system consists of Apprentice, Ordinary, Able and Quartermaster. The first rank of Apprentice shows basic marlinspike seamanship skills, safety and basic ideals. To earn Ordinary, the Sea Scout must know, the Ideals of Sea Scouting, be an active member for six months, learn specials skills relating to boats, marlinspike seamanship, piloting, communicating, swimming, safety, and cooking. In addition three of seven electives need to be completed such as, close order drill, signaling in semaphore, boxing a compass, yacht racing, sailing, ornamental ropework, and engine maintenance. For the Able rank, the Sea Scout must be able to explain and demonstrate a complete knowledge seamanship skills, earn the Lifesaving merit badge, complete a long cruise, and must and be a petty officer in his or her ship.

Quartermaster is the highest rank attainable by a Sea Scout can earn and is equivalent to Eagle Scout. The Sea Scout must attend at least three quarters of all Ship meetings and special activities over eighteen months, demonstrate marlinspike seamanship and leadership skills, demonstrate the ability to teach Sea Scouting skills, complete a Quartermaster Leadership Service Project (community service project) and pass a council level 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.

Sea Scouts who earn this rank are entitled to wear a uniform similar to that of a United States Navy Chief Petty Officer (CPO), and can earn advanced rates upon enlistment into the U.S. Navy or United States Coast Guard.

Other awards and recognitions

Small Boat Handler, Qualified Seaman, Long Cruise Badge

Sea Scouts may also obtain the boating licenses and safe boating training certifications offered at the state and local levels and are encouraged to qualify in first aid, CPR, lifesaving, SCUBA and US Sailing certifications. The Long Cruise Badge may be earned by Ordinary rank and above Sea Scouts and adults who complete a two week cruise, or a series of weekend or overnight cruises adding up to 14 days. Segments indicate subsequent awards— red for one additional award and white for five additional awards.

Sea Scouts may earn all Venturing awards, but only registered Sea Scouts may earn Sea Scouting awards. Sea Scouts who have earned the First Class rank in Boy Scouts can work on requirements and merit badges for the rank of Eagle Scout until age 18.

Activities

As a nautical program, most ships engage in several activities in this area, such as sailing trips, scuba dives, and other boating activities. Ships also maintain their boats and equipment.

Councils with a squadron structure may hold Sea Scout regattas or rendezvous organized among local ships, often with sailing competitions that may include ships from other councils. Several areas and regions organize similar events. Some areas and regional also organize training events like Safety at Sea Weekends and Winter Training Weekends. There is no National Sea Scout event, but the biannual William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup, is an international Sea Scouting event.

Training

Sea Scout Advanced Leadership SEAL

Sea Scouts take part in Venturing training with specific Sea Scouting training for youth and adults.

Youth Training

Youth may attend the week-long Sea Scout Advanced Leadership Training (SEAL) Upon completion, the double-dolphin SEAL training pin may be worn. Adults who completed SEAL training as a youth or has qualified to be a SEAL course director or assistant course director may also wear the badge.

Adult Training

Seabadge Trident pin

Sea Scout adults complete the same training as Venturing adults, as well as Sea Scout Adult Leader Basic Training. Seabadge is the advanced leadership and management course for adults.

External links

• Sea Scouts BSA
  • Find your local Sea Scout Ship
• What is Sea Scouting?
• Sea Scouts: Chart a Course for Life
• Coast Guard Station San Francisco teaches Sea Scouts safety
• What Did You Do This Weekend: Sea Scouts in Action
• Boy Scouts of America
  • Find your local Scout Council
• Scouting magazine
• Sea Scouting Discussion List
• Florida Sea Base
• Guide to Safe Scouting
• Good Turn for America
• Insignia guide