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COLLEGE STATION, Texas - To say that Texas A&M seniors, and
triplets, Pollyanna, Lilliebeth and Aaron Halling shined at the 2013
National Scout Jamboree would be an understatement. The A&M trio
performed an amazing feat as Sea Scout leaders educating thousands
of scouts in boating safety and the Sea Scouts nautical way of life
from July 15-23 at the Bechtel Summit Reserve in West Virginia.
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Triplets,Texas A&M seniors, and Sea Scout leaders, (from left)
Pollyanna, Aaron, and Lilliebeth Halling taught Boy Scouts at the
2013 National Scout Jamboree about the Sea Scouts and boating safety
July 22, 2013. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Warrant Officer
Russell Tippets)
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The 23-year-old triplets, originally from Kingwood,
Texas, lead the Sea Scouts exhibit at the Jamboree. With
only 7,000 members, the Sea Scouts is a lesser-known
organization in the Boy Scouts of America community. The Sea
Scouts were formed just two years after the Boy Scouts in
1912. The organization is open to boys and girls ages 14-21.
George rowl, a Skipper with the Sea Scouts, and an
exhibit leader at the jamboree, said, “Think of us as a Boy
Scout troop, but with boats and girls.” A Skipper is the Boy
Scout equivalent of a Scout Master.
During the
course of the 10-day jamboree, the Halling triplets exposed
Boy Scouts to the Sea Scouts' nautical way of life, teaching
them classes in maritime navigation rules, row boat
operations, basic line handling and boating safety.
When asked how they got involved in Sea Scouts, Aaron
explained that he was about to earn the rank of Eagle
through the Boy Scouts when his Scoutmaster encouraged him
to look into the Sea Scouts.
“My Scoutmaster was
also a Sea Scout Skipper, and he told me to go check out the
Sea Scouts, so I visited Sea Ship Eight and I thought ‘Wow,
this is really cool!' I couldn't wait to tell my sisters
about it,” said Aaron.
Lilliebeth explained it was
more about the family aspect that got her into the Sea
Scouts. “My dad and brother were always off doing fun stuff
like camping, so when I found out about the Sea Scouts, I
thought finally, this is an activity we can do all together
as a family,” said Lilliebeth.
All three Halling
siblings are Quartermasters, which is the Boy Scout
equivalent of Eagle Scout. The Sea Scouts is a unique
program where boys can earn both their Quartermaster and
Eagle Scout rank.
“The Eagle Scout is such a
prominent rank. Girls should be allowed to have the same
opportunities as boys and the Sea Scouts offers that with
the rank of Quartermaster,” said Pollyanna.
The Sea
Scouts have a special relationship with the U.S. Coast
Guard. There is a memorandum between the two organizations
that allows Sea Scouts to train aboard Coast Guard Auxiliary
vessels. The Coast Guard also has a special program where
highly qualified and motivated Sea Scouts can apply to sail
aboard the Coast Guard cutter Eagle on its summer cruise
each year. Under this highly competitive program, six to
eight Sea Scouts are picked to train with Coast Guard
Academy cadets aboard the Eagle.
The program is open
to those Sea Scouts who have an interest in attending the
Coast Guard Academy and who have also completed the Sea
Scouts SEAL program. The SEAL program stands for Sea Scout
Experience Advanced Leadership training. It is an intensive
weeklong program on the water where Sea Scouts gain advanced
leadership and seamanship experience.
Sisters
Pollyanna and Lilliebeth are both Education majors and plan
to work in the special education field after graduation.
Aaron is a Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences major and wants
to work with elephants upon graduation.
“We really
believe in future generations, and that's why we are going
into teaching,” said Lilliebeth Halling. “By being here at
the jamboree, this gives us a chance to give back and teach
people about the Sea Scouts.”
Learn how you can
get involved with the Sea Scouts.
By U.S. Coast Guard CWO Russell Tippets
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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