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McEntire hosts Boy Scout Camporee

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jorge Intriago
  • 169th FW/PA
MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE, South Carolina --     Hundreds of Boy Scouts from the Midlands' Indian Waters Council held their 2012 Camporee here during November drill. McEntire, in partnership with the Indian Waters Council, hosted more than 800 scouts from over 50 units. Local Cub Scout Troops and venturing crews also took part.

   Subject matter expert Airmen from the SCANG assisted the scouts in earning merit badges. The 169th Security Forces Squadron conducted a class on gun safety. The base fire department held a class on fire safety. The 169th Civil Engineering's Emergency Management team taught emergency preparedness and the 169th Medical Group led a class on first aid techniques, just to name a few.

   Lt. Col. Joseph Stewart from the 169th Medical Group, an assistant scout master in Charlotte and an Eagle Scout himself said, "The Boy Scouts in all their training have a first aid requirement to go along their Eagle merit badge. We covered choking, cardiac arrest, shock and serving bleeding."

   In addition to camping at McEntire all weekend, the scouts were able to see numerous static vehicle displays and a helicopter from the South Carolina Army National Guard. The 169th Maintenance Squadron also provided an F-16 static display. Both SCANG and SCARNG recruiters were also present and provided activities and games.
 
   Lt. Col. Glen Boatwright from Joint Force Headquarters and a scout master of BSA Troop 95 in Irmo said, "We have an ongoing relationship with McEntire, a symbiotic relationship where Eagle candidates can plan and lead a project to benefit an organization. From our perspective it's a great community relations event for the National Guard. And it's a mutually beneficial relationship."