Is Eagle Scout Worth It? Personal Experiences and Career Impact

[Settummanque]

Is Eagle Scout "worth it"? After reading all of the postings above, I would have to say "yes it is." However, I have a different slant on the answer than most of you have. I realize that the young man who asked this question did so some six or so years ago, so this is for someone else who will "happen to trip over" this line of discussion.

I also realize that this is a physics, and not a Scouting-related discussion area. All the better, for our nation needs more physics -- and if that person is both a physics major and an Eagle Scout, that is purely exceptional!

In 1976 I received "permission" from an Army officer to date his 16-year old daughter after what I called a "grueling interrogation". It ended when he asked me "what ELSE do I need to know about you before I tell you to hit the bricks?" I got up, extended my right hand and said "It was nice talking with you sir; I just happen to be an Eagle Scout. Good night." I pulled down my hand after noting that he would not shake it.

I started for the door and he grabbed my right shoulder and said "Please stop!" I did. I turned around and looked him straight in the eyes. "You not only have my permission to see my daughter, but you also have my permission to stay here overnight any night of the week as long as it's okay with your parents." He then extended his right hand and as we shaked, he added, "I'm also an Eagle Scout -- class of 46."

I dated his daughter for two years off and on. She was white; I was not.

My first job was given to me basically because I had earned that $11.75 medal. I outlasted four other candidates for a job to show people around the base on Saturday mornings.

I became an Army officer myself, and the first real job I had was one reserved for senior Captains. I did not get it because I'm an Eagle Scout; I got the job as Scoutmaster of the base's Troop because of that fact. That role was more important than my "8-5" job for pay as at that time, every military base in Europe was "graded" not only on their military ability but also their concern for their families. My general's base was in a sinkhole because it had no Scouting program. I got it out of that sinkhole and when the three-star General came to visit, he "insisted" I was to be available to shake his hand and accept his challenge coin. I was the only communications officer in southwestern Germany who was neither fired nor relieved -- I knew and did my military job well. But more than that, important people placed their confidence in me and my ability and I exceeded their challenge and expectations.

Eagle Scout.

Leaving active duty, I had a period of time in which I was unemployed -- almost a year. When I was hired, the director not only started me the following Monday, but increased my salary 40 percent simply because "no Eagle Scout should have to try to play catch-up on income he lost." That 40 percent was the difference between us living on the streets or being able to pay off all of our overdue, late and stagnant bills and still have money to eat and live with. I stayed with that firm for close to three years before I accepted a teaching job which paid a bit more. The director even vouched for me, saying that "if you don't hire him, I'll take him back at the same salary you are offering him. He's an Eagle Scout, if you don't know."

I have run into lots of fellow Eagle Scouts in my life. No certificate on the wall, nor a paperweight told me -- it was their attitude, their smile, their "I may not like it here but I'm here to help you" way of doing things. I've had to remind a couple Eagles of what they swore to way back when and one actually appreciated the reminder.

I earned Eagle in 1975. Almost 40 years later, it still remains one of the five most important things I have done in my life. Was it worth it? Yeah. What did I do with it? Nothing.
I allowed others -- others who knew the value of that $12 or so medal in real terms -- to be of service to me. Now, with balding gray hair and overweight tummy, I'm now out here giving back my service to others.

May you find a new usage for all of the plastics found in our landfills. May you find a new compound, a new chemical to make our lives better. May you develop the nanoportal to teleport our ways across the globe. May you find a way to "help other people at all times." You don't need to be an Eagle Scout to do any of those things.

Being an Eagle Scout, however, would not hurt -- and may get you that date which moves you from child to man.

Settummanque!

 

[Briandaflyin]

I am in the exact position as you, can get eagle in a few months, but is it worth it? I have decided that it is, and plan to get it soon so I can go to college earlier.
brian

 

[Future Sailor]

Zup,

I earned the rank of Eagle Scout when i was 17. All i had to do to get a job was just mention that i was even in scouts and then i mentioned i was an Eagle landed me a leading possition with the company. i am now waiting to leave for basic training with the U.S. Navy at Great Lakes Navy Base. Thanks to my rank of Eagle i will Be an E-3 out of Basic where as everyone else will be a E-1 or E-2. These possitions are better known as " e-1= Seaman Recruit, e-2= Seaman Aprentece , and e-3= Seaman.


HOWEVER!

just because you are an eagle scout doesn't mean things just get handed to you. You have to work for it. when someone hears so and so is an Eagle they expect him to know stuff like first aid and how to survive not to mention how to lead.

I have already been let known when i get to Basic I will be expected to lead and be an example for my other fellow future sailors. so these stories you have been hearing are true. and its not just in America where we eagles are looked highly apon. China, Japan, Russia, England, France, Ect... when they hear ur and eagle scout you guessed it your the big gahoona. so go for it bro you'll never regret it.

 

[Dr Transport]

I am in the exact position as you, can get eagle in a few months, but is it worth it? I have decided that it is, and plan to get it soon so I can go to college earlier.
brian

If you don't get it, you'll be kicking yourself later. I wish I had gotten it, my son is an Eagle Scout and my daughter is well on her way to the Girl Scout Gold Award (equivalent to the Eagle Scout in Girl Scouts). It is a brotherhood that you'll be able to look back on.

 

[ehilge]

I think earning my eagle was certainly beneficial for me. I found that its useful to have on your resume if nothing else for your first couple years of undergrad. It shows you have leadership experience even though you may not have been around campus long enough to have obtained a leadership position in a student organization. As for me, I am a senior and I still have it on my resume.

The manager who interviewed me for my first engineering internship had a couple of sons that were in scouts so it gave me a bit of an 'in' with him that I think helped. During my last interview, the interviewer made comment about me being an Eagle Scout. Basically told me that its a great thing to have. I did get that job btw. When the eagle comes up, I like to discuss how scouts really set the base for the person I've become today. This seems to work well since an interviewer then relates you with scouting ideas.

Needless to say, I didn't get either of those jobs simply because I was an eagle scout, I have plenty of other things to talk about. But when it comes down to it, the Eagle could be the thing that puts you over the top against otherwise equal competition in a tight job market.

 

[Broccoli21]

I'm in college for maths and physics, and received by Eagle at age 16. Its rather useless in my opinion. I don't see it as useful for an academic profession, and nobody really cares that you have one. It doesn't really teach you many life skills that a person with enough common sense and experience would learn, but that isn't to say that its a bad experience. I certainly had some fun getting it.

The one benefit I can see is that for a few years, there is not much else to put on a resume.

 

[Genghisaha]

I am an Eagle Scout (Class of '69) and my two sons are Eagles ('99 and '04). I have some interesting ideas for you, because I actively use my Eagle rank to my advantage. Others in this forum may not bother, or may not care, or may not have thought of it... but you should understand the true value of the accomplishment.
(1) I wear a $12 pair of Eagle Scout cuff links to every client meeting. If the clients don't know what they are, nothing happens. If they do, i.e. they just attended their nephew's Eagle Courto fo Honor, or they' are an Eagle, or their son is a Scout, then we have an instant ice-breaker and a bond we would have with nothing else. It is instant credibility for all the Scout Law stands for. Credibility leads to trust, and trust leads to business.
(2) Linked-In is kind of a Facebook for business relationships. There are a few Eagle Scout groups: Eagle Scouts in Business, Eagle Scouts in the Law, The Eagle's Nest, and others. I have received introductions and given referrals through those groups... and networking is unique there because of the element of scout trust. I can't calculate the amount of business I got from referrals from these groups, or from wearing the cuff links, but it is significant. My colleagues tell me I should wear my whole uniform to meetings!
(3) Headhunters (professionals who find jobs for you) find this achievement to be noteworthy. View this headhunter's article on line at http: // marketingheadhunter .com /2007/01 /eagle_scout.html. [copy and paste into your browser, and remove all the spaces I inserted]
(4) In 2001, while looking to hire an engineer, I got a chance to speak with the Admissions Director for Rensselear Polytechnic Institute (RPI) - arguably one of the top 5 engineering schools in the USA. She told me that in 2001 RPI accepted 23 of 23 Eagle Scout applications, "not because they could build a campfire" but because even at a young age they have proven they could set their sights on a goal, and not stop until they reached it. (my paraphrasing.) She went on to say "We want people like that."
(5) My oldest son (now 30) graduated from Law School in 2008, when the financial markets collapsed and there were virtually no jobs for lawyers in New York. He finally got an interview with a prestigious firm, and after all the candidates were interviewed, the hiring committee chair said to the partner in charge... "We'll take the Eagle Scout."
(6) Many government agencies and EVERY branch of the military gives at least one rank advancement PLUS at least one pay-grade advancement to entry level Eagle Scouts. I don't know what you will do with your physics education, but if you work for the government, this is a very big deal.
(7) Some of America's largest corporations (like, I am told, Bloomberg Financial) offer hiring preferences to otherwise qualified Eagle Scouts. Today, getting a job after college is huge, and having any kind of a preference is even bigger.
(8) Speak to adults who earned their LIFE rank, but never advanced to Eagle... you will find that decades later, this is one of their life-long regrets.
I was hoping to have 12 reasons - one for each of the points of the scout law... but I'm not that clever. So I hope these 8 make a difference in your decision. GOOD LUCK!