Trained or Trained?

There is a difference in Scouting between being “trained” and being “trained.” Confusing? Yes! So what is the volunteer training team trying to do to help?


A Scouter is considered trained for his or her position in the BSA’s ScoutNET system when they have completed a prescribed course, or sequence of courses. This could be the current course set, or even a course or courses that they took in the past. For example, Scoutmastership Fundamentals if they took it back when it was the current “basic” training.

But to be able to wear the trained patch, and for the unit to qualify under the unit Journey to Excellence (JTE) standards, trained means that they have taken the current training set for their position.

Why the difference?

The BSA has long believed that a tenured leader does not need to take “basic” training every time there is a new course - because the assumption is through supplemental training, roundtables, Scouting magazine, and participation in activities, they stay up to date with the current methods and practices of the program. We know this is not always the case.

There may be a challenge getting tenured leaders to take the time to take a new course. In most cases these leaders can be excellent resources for the training committee to put on Specifics or an outdoor skills course. (Be sure to give them credit for taking the course when they do!) But the hope is that leaders will take - or teach - the latest course to be sure that they have the up-to-date information related to their role.

At our October committee meeting we took some steps to help make the criteria for being trained in ScoutNET, for earning the trained patch, and the unit JTE match. More on that in the next issue of Training Times.

We are also conducting a thorough review of all of the training web sites and all of the literature available, and are working to make them consistent. As you can imagine, that is a big undertaking!
We can never be “fully trained.” There is always something to be learned. Take advantage of training opportunities whenever they are available.


From Training Times - Scouting.org