Astronauts and the BSA

The Boy Scouts of America teaches young people to be good citizens and trains them to become leaders. These qualities are also found in the U.S. astronaut program. Of the 294 pilots and scientists selected as astronauts since 1959, more than 180 were Scouts or have been active in Scouting: 37 Eagle Scouts, 25 Life Scouts, 13 Star Scouts, 27 First Class Scouts, 16 Second Class Scouts, 13 Tenderfoot Scouts, three Explorers, 29 Cub Scouts, 16 Webelos Scouts, and eight with unknown ranks.

Of the 12 men to physically walk on the moon's surface, 11 were involved in Scouting.

The Boy Scouts of America is proud of America's astronauts.

Development of Leadership

In a study, The Values of Men and Boys in America, conducted by New York-based Louis Harris & Associates, revealed that former scouts (11/97) are:

...better educated
...have higher ethical standards
...are team players, get along with others
...care for the environment
...respect the elderly

Approximately 50% of the members of the 104th Congress had participated in Scouting (239 as Scouts, 12 as leaders, and 48 as both Scouts and leaders) (1/97)
- 23 are Eagle Scouts
- 6 have been awarded the Silver Beaver Award
- 2 have been awarded the Silver Antelope Award

Of men in Who's Who in America, 70% were once Scouts (1/97)

For Every 100 Boys Who Scouting, Records Show That:
· RARELY will one be brought before a juvenile court system.
· 2 will become Eagle Scouts
· 17 will become future Scout volunteers
· 12 will have their first contact with a church
· 1 will enter the clergy
· 5 will earn their church award
· 18 will develop a hobby that will last through their adult life
· 3 will enter a vocation that was learned through the merit badge system.
· 1 will use his Scouting skills to save the life of another person.
· 1 will use his Scouting skills to save his own life.

Scouts Also Account For:
· 64% of Air Force Academy Graduates.
· 70% of Naval Academy Graduates.
· 72% of Rhodes Scholars.
· 85% of F.B.I. Agents.
· 26 of the first 29 US Astronauts.
· Of the 12 men to physically walk on the moon's surface, 11 were involved in Scouting.
· Uncounted Religious and Community Leaders.
· 94% of the men who were members of the Scouts as youth agree that Scouting helps develop character.
· Boys who are scouts for 5 years or more are more likely to graduate from college (40% to 16%) than boys with no scouting experience.


A recent nationwide survey of high schools revealed that:
· 85% of student council presidents were scouts
· 89% of senior class presidents were scouts
· 80% of junior class presidents were scouts
· 75% of school publication editors were scouts
· 71% of football captains were scouts

Click here to see research done by Harris Interactive on the effects on ethics and character of the scouting program.