By Ralph H. Moza Assistant National Director, Senior Scouting Service
● Before the swirling flood waters had stopped pouring into Vanport, Oregon, last May, Sea Scouts were driving rescue boats through the break in the levee. They had been alerted two days earlier, and were ready when called.
Will your Senior Unit be ready when needed for disaster duty?
You cannot answer that question easily, because flood, fire, explosion, tornado, and earthquake strike so suddenly that there rarely is time for alerting. You may even think you will never have to face an emergency. But remember, few of the people at any scene of disaster expected it to happen to themselves!
One thing is certain: if an emergency does occur in your community, Senior Scouts who have had emergency service training will be very greatly appreciated men to have on hand.
Every registered Senior Scout Unit is a potential Emergency Service Corps. As a Senior Scout registers in his Unit and becomes an Apprentice Senior Scout, he can at the same time become an Emergency Service Apprentice.
The Emergency Service Corps consists of Senior Scouts in their existing Units, under their own leadership, or Crews of Emergency Service Corps members in registered Boy Scout Troops, under their own Unit leadership. The term “Crew” replaces “Patrol” in Troops, thus indicating that it is a young man’s group.
There are three good reasons for promoting Emergency Service Training in Senior Units: