MILITARY EXPLORER POST STUDIED

Local military, Scout leaders and others met in Cape Girardeau Monday to discuss development of a new Explorer post to combine elements of Scouting and military boot camp.

The Explorer program is a young-adult division of the Boy Scouts of America. Posts are organized by businesses, churches, schools, government agencies and other organizations that want to match the interests of youths 14 to 20 with adult expertise and program resources.

Doug Justice, program director for the first military Explorer post in Selmer County, Tenn., encouraged the group of about 15 people attending the informational meeting to develop a similar post in Cape Girardeau for teen-agers interested in a career in the military. Lawyers, educators, juvenile justice administrators, National Guard officials, police officers and others expressed interest in bringing the program to Cape Girardeau County and Missouri.

"There's just a big need in our area for programming for youth in this age group," said Tom Turpin, executive director of the Boy Scouts Shawnee District. "Outside of sports, there's just not much, and it's hard to put sports on a resume."

Justice's program is a joint effort of the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and National Guard programs in Selmer County. The program, which is funded by donations and numerous fund-raisers throughout the year, was started to provide the military and procedures training young people are lacking, Justice said. It also serves as the only youth-oriented program sponsored by the Army outside of the Junior ROTC.

Although the program was designed for teens considering the military as a career, Justice said the Selmer County Military Explorer program also emphasizes strong character, physical fitness and academic success. Youths need self-discipline and self-worth, he said, and this program provides them with the ability to take pride in themselves and their country while learning important job skills.

"The program emulates the Army National Guard in just about every way," he said. "The kids wear Army uniforms and attend training weekends, activities and meetings just like in the military. We also expect them to conduct themselves like a person in the military would whether they're in schools, in the public or attending one of our events."

Cooperation from the public education and juvenile justice systems has helped the Tennessee program recruit a diverse mix of participants, Justice said. Of the 88 participants currently involved, about 40 percent are female and about the same percentage ethnic minority, he said.

"We have all kinds of kids doing all kinds of things," Justice said. "The neat thing about this program is that anyone can participate. We've got kids who will never qualify for the military because they have physical impairments. It doesn't matter; they can be a part of this."

Circuit Judge Peter Statler, who attended the meeting, said the program could easily be used by judges and probation officers looking for a way of steering teen-agers away from criminal violations and gang-related activities.

"This is a possible condition of probation, and everything that is possible is always welcome," he said. "Getting this type of structure into some of these kids like these would be an incredible asset."

Justice said the program's "war stories" includes many successes and failures. We don't win in every case," he said. "We lose a lot of these kids simply because we've gotten them too late or they don't have the money to participate in the program.

"They're going to be typical teen-agers. We can't fight them, but maybe we can influence them."

SHAWNEE EXPLORER POSTS

Explorer Posts currently operating in the Boy Scouts of America Shawnee District counties of Bollinger, Cape Girardeau and Perry, and parts of Scott and Stoddard:

-- Two law enforcement posts sponsored by the Cape Girardeau and Advance police departments.

-- One emergency management and fire protection post sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Fire Department.

-- One medical post sponsored by Southeast Missouri Hospital.

-- One sea post co-sponsored by the Naval Reserve Center and Elks Club.

-- Three high adventure posts sponsored by VFW, St. Andrews Lutheran Church and Dalton Florist.

-- One community service post sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity.

-- One native American lore post co-sponsored by Zenon River Brigade and Parents of Exploring.