Army Relations with Boy Scout Organizations

Mr. Novotne DSN 227-0921

Approved by:

COL RAYMOND C. RUPPERT

INFORMATION PAPER

DAJA-SC

13 August 1996

SUBJECT: Army Relations with Boy Scout Organizations

1. PURPOSE: To provide information on official Army relations with, and support to the Boy Scouts.

2. FACTS:

a. Prohibited Activities.

(1) Fundraising and Membership Drives . No official endorsement or participation in Boy Scout fundraising or membership drives is allowed. ( Joint Ethics Regulation (JER), DOD 5500.7-R, para. 3-210)

(2) Endorsement or Sanction . Official endorsement or sanction may be neither stated nor implied, and Army officials may not give preferential treatment to the Boy Scouts. (JER, para. 3-209). However, as noted below, there are statutes authorizing specific support to overseas scouting, and to Jamborees. Commanders may also support other Boy Scout events where there are legitimate community relations, morale and welfare, or other DOD interests.

(3) Official Participation in Management . Army personnel may not participate in management of the Boy Scouts in their official capacities. However, they may be appointed as official liaisons when there is a continuing Army interest in discussion of matters of mutual interest. (JER, para. 3-201; 3-202)

(4) Conflicts of Interest . Army personnel may not take official actions that affect the financial interests of the Boy Scouts if they are an officer, director, or employee of the organization. (18 U.S.C. § 208) Even if Army personnel are not officers in the Boy Scouts, if they are "active participants" in scouting, they should refrain from taking official actions which affect the Boy Scouts interests in order to avoid the appearance of favoritism. (5 C.F.R. § 2635.502) An "active participant" is someone, such as a Scoutmaster, who does not necessarily have input to organization policy, but has a visible and significant role with the Scouts.

(5) Gratuitous Membership . Army personnel may not accept an office, directorship or similar leadership position in the Boy Scouts offered because of their official duty position. (JER, para. 3-201)

b. National and International Jamborees . The Army may provide the following services to national and world Jamborees. Prior to these types of support being provided, the Boy Scouts must provide a bond to cover the items and the risk of loss or damage costs associated with transportation. (10 U.S.C. § 2544)

(1) Loan of cots, blankets, commissary equipment, flags, refrigerators, and other equipment;

(2) Services and expendable medical supplies, as available, without reimbursement;

(3) Transportation, as available, without expense to the U.S. Government, and which does not interfere with military operations.

(4) In the case of a Jamboree held on a military installation, DoD may provide personnel and logistic support at the military installation, in addition to the areas of support listed in the three paragraphs above. (10 U.S.C. § 2544(g)).

c. Overseas Scouting . Subject to various levels of delegation and authorization, the Army may provide overseas scouting organizations transportation, office space, recreational space, warehousing, utilities, and communications without seeking reimbursement. (10 U.S.C. § 2606). DOD Instruction 1015.9 should be consulted before deciding what support to provide for overseas scouting activities.

d. Marksmanship . As part of the civilian marksmanship program, the Army may issue ammunition and loan weapons, targets and related equipment to qualified Boy Scout troops. ( Promotion of Practice With Rifled Arms , AR 920-20, paras. 3-5; 3-6(i))

e. Use of DOD Property .

(1) On a limited basis, commanders may authorize the use of DOD equipment (and manpower to operate the equipment) in support of Boy Scout activities which are legitimate community relations events or provide genuine benefit to the morale and welfare of the military community. (JER, para. 3-211; see also , 10 U.S.C. § 2012) Commanders must determine that:

(a) there is no interference with unit readiness and mission accomplishment;

(b) support serves a legitimate Army interest, such as community relations; ( Community Relations , AR 360-61, Chap. 3)

(d) the command is willing and able to provide support to other similar events and organizations (such as Girl Scouts);

(e) no admission fee beyond reasonable cost is charged either for the whole event or for that part supported by DOD, or that the DOD support is incidental to the event.

(2) Installation commanders may authorize use of space for Boy Scout meetings and storage of equipment. ( Private Organizations on Military Installations , AR 210-1)

(3) Government equipment may be loaned or rented if there is no interference with mission accomplishment. However, the Boy Scouts may not use installation auditing, data processing, financial management, legal, or purchasing services. (AR 210-1; and Special Authorization and Procedures for Issues, Sales, and Loans , AR 725-1, Chap. 6)

(4) Army personnel who volunteer to participate may be given uncharged leave (a "permissive TDY") to support Boy Scout events that otherwise meet the requirements of a community relations event. Leaves and Passes , AR 600-8-10, para. 5-32k.