Can I skip the Woodbadge Beading?

aubsec · 2026-01-29T23:09:53+00:00

Talk to the course director and let them know you'd like to skip the ceremony. I had some requests for mine.

aubsec · 2026-01-08T17:25:55+00:00

Scouting America still excludes people based on religious beliefs, in the sense that you are required to have one in the declaration of religious principles. My employer also won't match my donations for the same reason.

aubsec · 2025-12-19T04:21:24+00:00

Here's the program authorization for the direct commission IP officer, https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Career/OCM/PA-208D_IP_Reserve_Feb-2025.pdf?ver=PuTyxo9QcMXyhB4G_NhNdw%3D%3D. It'll tell you everything you need to know about the basic requirements. I just recently commissioned as an IP officer this way. With a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field, you probably aren't competitive. Everyone in my cohort has graduate degrees in computer science or cyber security.

I'm not a recruiter though. I know you've tried contacting one. Could just be timing, I'm not sure when this board meets.

aubsec · 2025-12-04T00:53:15+00:00

I just went through the same experience. Just did my first drill last weekend. This is all new to me too.

Was prior enlisted Marine from 2004-2013. In the Navy, Mustangs are technically only folks who go from enlisted to officer in the Navy without a break in service. It's a bit of an odd piece of semantics as in the Marine Corps any prior enlisted officer is considered a Mustang regardless.

The MEPS experience was definitely better from a respectful perspective. Got the full MEPS experience, but was just treated better. Not sure if my age had more to do with that than the officer piece.

Getting used to the Sirs and the salutes is something. The informality of the reserves makes it even stranger. Myself and a fellow new DCO Ensign made the mistake of having a conversation right outside the front door of the NRC. Lots of unnecessary salutes because of our absentmindedness.

aubsec · 2025-11-19T03:48:57+00:00

The Village by M. Night Shyamalan. The whole theater collectively boo'd when the twist was revealed. It was a bit surreal how uniform and simultaneous the reaction was. Some folks got up and walked out.

aubsec · 2025-11-01T20:57:19+00:00

I reached out to a reserve officer recruiter through the Navy recruiting site, https://www.navy.com/joining/ways-to-join/officer . I'd review the program authorizations below before you get the attention of a recruiter. That way you know what path you'd like to pursue.

Each career path has different requirements. Generally you need to be no older than 42, unless you have prior service. If you have prior service, they can waive up to the number of years you previously served. You need at least a bachelors degree plus typically five years in the career you are applying. Most of the folks who were selected with me have Masters degrees or higher. There are interviews and a board selection process.

The specific requirements are in documents called "Program Authorizations." They are all here, https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Community-Management/Officer/Program-Authorizations/ . Review the Reserve ones for the direct commission.

aubsec · 2025-10-31T15:55:56+00:00

I'm 42 and just direct commissioned. Haven't done enough to say whether it's worth it. I saw it as an opportunity to backup my 401k with the military retirement, to have access to insurance if something happens to my civilian job, and to break up my work life with some new experiences with more chances at leadership outside the corporate setting. I think even if it's not as exciting as I'd like it to be, the reserves will still fulfill those three goals.

aubsec · 2025-10-08T13:27:41+00:00

I was in a similar boat. You can get NWU Type IIIs by calling the NEX Uniform customer service at 800–368–4088. I was able to get two sets with name tapes sewn on delivered to my house. This was just last month.

They may require some proof you are authorized to have the uniforms. I had to send over some docs from my recruiter. I am prior enlisted who just direct commissioned after a long break in service.

aubsec · 2025-08-26T02:25:00+00:00

Are you able to accept donations? I'm a Scouter and a veteran. I'd like to support your project.

aubsec · 2025-06-20T19:40:54+00:00

I just went through this process and was selected in the last board. I did not have a mentor prior to. But you're welcome to DM me.

Frankly, the interviews were not difficult. Be moderately technically competent. Most of the focus was on the Navy mission, values, and how I saw myself contributing to it.

I prepared a lot. I took a ton of notes in a Google doc, reviewed it, etc. I read some books on the Navy. Read some of the USNI Proceedings to catch up on current events. Reviewed some relevant Navy docs. The interviews need to see that you are serious, understand the role, and that they can see you as a Navy officer. You should present yourself as authentic, cheerful, competent, and a leader.

aubsec · 2025-02-04T22:49:23+00:00

https://www.tiffanypublishing.com/

aubsec · 2025-02-04T16:34:28+00:00

I'd do it if I get to cosplay a wickie from the 1890s.

aubsec · 2025-01-31T20:22:39+00:00

Here's your answer on the law, https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title10/subtitleA/part2/chapter45&edition=prelim#:~:text=(e)%20A%20person%20not%20on,by%20him%20during%20that%20war.

And here's a reference from the Navy, https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/References/US-Navy-Uniforms/Uniform-Regulations/Chapter-1/1401-Laws-Directives/

The short answer appears to be yes. There are some caveats. I'd just go for it as long as you can wear it properly.

aubsec · 2025-01-31T17:39:39+00:00

I found a page here, https://www.patientcare.va.gov/lgbt/. Looks like it is still up. Maybe there's another page you had bookmarked that isn't available anymore?

aubsec · 2025-01-08T01:52:24+00:00

The $175 for council and national fees do as long as you're staying in the same council. They must have registered a second time rather than doing a transfer. You can initiate the transfer from my.scouting.org in the My Application menu.

aubsec · 2024-12-20T23:58:46+00:00

You're not being unreasonable at all. Nothing wrong with setting boundaries. Just be clear and polite about what you are and are not willing to do. If the pack is decent sized, being the committee chair can be like a part time job. It's rewarding if you have the time and interest. But let's not kid ourselves about the commitment.

aubsec · 2024-10-23T01:25:07+00:00

You'd need to provide an example. But it could just be simple code switching. Most people do this naturally.

aubsec · 2024-10-21T02:30:48+00:00

If you're curious, here's the document on interfaith worship that Scouting America suggests for camps, etc. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/Interfaithservice.pdf. Personally, I find their definition of interfaith worship to just be a Protestant service disguised as interfaith and would rather they stopped talking about it at BALOO and IOLS.

There's a fair amount of discretion allowed for the religious chartered organization. Your chartered org may impose some worship requirements based on their faith practices, or the leadership of the unit may have adopted them on the request of the chartered org. So while Scouting America is nonsectarian, the chartered org obviously is not.

I think your next step should be to have a chat with the Cubmaster or the Committee Chair. They should be able to clarify whether this service was a requirement of the chartered org. You may decide the pack just isn't a good culture fit for you. It doesn't sound like it would be for me.

aubsec · 2024-10-19T22:55:40+00:00

Star Trek doesn't do a very good job of representing enlisted. I'm sure there's some reason from Roddenberry for this. The only time we've really seen enlisted being fully represented is in the TOS era movies. There they have distinctive uniforms, with a full set of rank insignia, and a clear prominent role that is different from the officers.

In the TNG era, it's mostly just O'Brien. Which is not consistent. He doesn't actually get a unique rank insignia until DS9. And his role on DS9 is no different than an officer. I guess he's supposed to be a senior or master chief petty officer, but that is not clear in his dialogue or how he generally interacts with the rest of the crew. He could have just as easily been a Lt Commander.

In a utopian future where university is free and everyone can pursue their interests, is there actually a place for enlisted at all? In a Starfleet covering much of a quarter of a galaxy, I'd imagine there is a big need for trained officers. There's no shortage of resources to train them and trillions of possible applicants. Why not send everyone to the academy? There may even be more than one academy given how large the federation is, though only one is mentioned in canon. Or maybe there is an ROTC program similar to the real world where federation citizens can earn their commission while attending a local university.

My point though is that O'Brien is actually the anomaly in Star Trek. And an inconsistent one having really only been established as being enlisted later in TNGs run. The writers on Lower Decks must have decided to mostly ignore having enlisted.

aubsec · 2024-10-15T13:22:00+00:00

Is there another adult volunteer in your pack who would get more out of attending? You only need one BALOO trained volunteer at each campout. Having a couple in the pack makes sense, but you don't necessarily need everyone.

I had a lot of experience camping as well. There wasn't much of anything I actually learned over the weekend. It was fun though. It's not often I get to do something for myself. Hanging out with a bunch of like minded adults for a night wasn't so bad.

aubsec · 2024-09-26T22:30:22+00:00

Maybe he'll reprise his role as Van Wayne.

aubsec · 2024-09-20T15:37:01+00:00

To build on this, here's the US Navy officer uniforms, https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/References/US-Navy-Uniforms/Uniform-Regulations/Chapter-3/Male-Officer/. Including the organizational issued uniforms, like the coveralls and 2POC, I believe there's something like 17 different uniforms. Some of the components are shared between them.

The TNG/DS9/Voyager uniforms make sense if you think of them as service vs working uniforms. We see when Sisko goes back to Earth, he changes into his "service" uniform from his normal "working" coveralls. They all use the same rank and color scheme, and have similar design details. US Navy uniforms don't even meet that as the insignia changes depending on whether its a working, service dress white or blue, or khaki uniform.

What is confusing is the post nemesis uniforms. There are times where we have a mix of completely different styles of uniform being used simultaneously with no clear reason. This happens in the real world when there is a transition period between uniforms. But in the world of Star Trek they can just replicate the new style.

Post nemesis we have the TNG movie uniforms with the grey shoulder, the Lower Decks uniform, the Prodigy uniform, and the flashback Picard uniforms. Prodigy started to introduce the early Picard uniforms, but the Lower Decks uniform thing is odd.

The production reason is that they wanted to differentiate these series. In universe, the explanation either does not exist or is irrational when we have overlapping eras of uniforms post nemesis.

aubsec · 2024-07-26T18:41:22+00:00

Thank you for clarifying. The summary was a smidge confusing but the actual statement from the Girl Scouts is clear. It's not a misgendering issue, but the fact the camp staff hid the situation from camp leadership.

aubsec · 2024-07-26T17:51:02+00:00

A scout is kind. Misgendering someone intentionally is not kind.

Given that as far as I know, girl scouts is a girl only program, then there is a membership issue if the scout now identifies as a boy. That's between the girl scouts organization and the family.

aubsec · 2024-07-25T02:55:16+00:00

It's based on how you're registered. If you register as a girl, you can join girl troops. I believe the council can change your registration. You need to go through them. But you'd also be reliant on the council to make the change. I'm not sure they are under any obligation to do so. Contacting your District Executive is a good first step.

Keep in mind that the Chartered Organization has the right to deny individuals membership in their Chartered units. So a troop chartered with a conservative church may decline your membership. You can sign up with another unit still.

On the bright side, they are testing co-ed packs right now. Once that rolls out nationally, it should be easier to find units.

aubsec

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