re: Boy Scouts of America changing name to be more inclusive

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I’ll double down and say it really wasn’t earned when you type out a defense like you did. How big is his troop? Is he attaining leadership roles by default or is he actually being voted for over much senior troop members?

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I'll say this. I know there is no way I can change your mind, you've already made it up. But here goes. Ill be as transparent as possible.

His troop is about 20 kids, 10 or 12 that show up on the regular. They have a bunch of older kids in the 15-16 to 16 year old range that have already earned their Eagle Scout or are basically done and only have their projects to complete (many of the scouts they don't regularly see are these kids they come once or twice a months to the advancement meetings). There are also have a bunch of scouts that have just joined in the last year to 18 months and are working their way through the lower ranks.

There are 2 or 3 kids in the same cohort as mine, that are all Star or Life (one crossed over with him, another transferred into the troop.) As for leadership, he was selected by the troop to be on of the ASPL's last fall. The troop is voting on a new SLP tomorrow. He's running for Chaplin because the one we've had is great in that role, but has done it for 2 years (because the last kid that was elected Chaplin stopped coming to meetings as soon as he got the position).

The older kids in the troop some hold leadership positions (two of our Eagles are also SPL's) but others did not run the last election. They had already fulfilled the "Be active in your troop for 6 months) and "Hold a position of leadership in your troop for 6 months", Most of those kids felt they needed to focus on school at this point in their lives. FWIW, many of the kids in his troop go to a pretty rigorous private school (our is in public school)). So my best answer to your question is it's both.

And I'll finish up with this. Scouts can tick all the boxes quickly from Scout thru First class and they can do it quickly. But It's very difficult to scoot your way thru the Merit badge requirements. Especially when you're working with different counselors in different places on different badges. So be as skeptical as you want, but the kid is focused and has a plan. Those two things have allowed him to be strategic and successful. For example, last year at camp, when others were taking art, rifle shooting, or basketry, he took every Eagle badge that was offered that he did not have, That's "not earning the rank" it's smart.