NAVEX 1st Quarter 2017 Edition First Edition | Page 11

Volunteers Wanted:
Boy Scouts Jamboree
The mission of the United States Coast Guard’s Jamboree Task Force (JTF) 2013 was to support the Boy
Scouts of America in putting on their National Jamboree, to teach Scouts about safety on the water and
to showcase the Coast Guard to the nearly 100,000 jamboree participants and visitors. During the 10
days of the jamboree in 2013, the Coast Guard manned three activity areas, with activities such as boats in
the water, tours aboard boats on display, videos, demonstrations and a trailer with judgmental shooting.
Members of the task force were billeted in tents in a camping area set up for military and civilian support
staff, and fed at a very well-run Boy Scouts of America galley.
The first Boy Scout National Jamboree was held in 1937 on the mall in Washington DC, with about
25,000 scouts in attendance. Because of the Second World War, a break saw the next one held in 1950.
The following eight jamborees were then held approximately every four years in various locations around
the country until 1981. The eight jamborees after 1981 were held consistently at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia,
with the Coast Guard providing a task force for all eight jamborees.
In 2013, the jamboree was moved to the new Boy Scout reservation known as the “Summit” near Beckley,
West Virginia. Members of the Coast Guard family, including active duty, reserve, auxiliary, and civilian
employees were formed up into the “Jamboree Task Force 2013” for that jamboree. The task force flag-
rank sponsor, Rear Admiral Dan Abel, appointed Commander (Captain Select) Jeff Westling, to form the
task force from volunteers throughout the entire Coast Guard.
Several changes have been made to the “Summit” since its inaugural jamboree in 2013, and for the next
Jamboree, 19-28 July 2017, the support personnel will enjoy warmer showers, shorter walks and the
ability to use the government vehicles to transport members and gear from camp to the venue areas.
The Coast Guard has already established the 2017 JTF, and Admiral Abel and Captain Westling are again
the flag sponsor and JTF commander, respectively. Although the next jamboree is still several months
away, in order for us to be Semper Paratus, we need to be collecting the names of volunteers from the
entire Coast Guard family now.
Auxiliary members who want to volunteer for this task force should submit their name, member number,
and the name of their flotilla commander to the JTF Auxiliary Liaison, Bill Reisa at william.reisa@cgauxnet.
us. Further information will be provided as it becomes available.
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