General Discussion

Hegseth’s demands for change were made months before Scouting America was to celebrate Jamboree, a 10-day summit scheduled for July that is expected to draw more than 15,000 Scouts from throughout the country to West Virginia. It’s held every four years, and Scout troops hold popcorn sales and other fundraisers to be able to attend.

In the past, upward of 500 National Guard personnel, military reservists and active-duty service members have provided equipment and logistical support for Jamboree. The loss of that support could have put the event in jeopardy.

Scouting America has long been an important recruiting pipeline for the military services and a means for military personnel serving overseas to find support for their children.

In a statement, Scouting America said the arrangement it has reached with the Pentagon will strengthen those ties by “waiving registration fees for military families, launching a new merit badge focused on military service and veterans, and reinforcing our commitment to Scouting’s foundational ideas: leadership, character, duty to God, duty to country and service.”