this post was submitted on 27 Feb 2026
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Scouting America will alter several policies at the urging of the Pentagon, including one targeting transgender youths, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday as he pushes a campaign against military support for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

Under Hegseth, the Pentagon has taken aim at the military’s partnership with Scouting America, decrying its historic rebrand in 2024 from the Boy Scouts and other changes in recent years that he sees as part of “woke culture” efforts that he wants to root out.

The U.S. military and the Boy Scouts have had longtime ties, including the military providing logistical support for the National Boy Scout Jamboree since its inception in 1937.

The military also has a long history of sponsoring Scout troops and activities on U.S. military bases and has maintained a strong relationship with the Eagle Scouts, whose members often enlist in the armed forces.

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[–] Paragone@lemmy.world 19 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

There's something fundamentally-wrong with making the default male extracurricular club be a military-indoctrination program.

This principle should apply internationally, too.

Military should be a choice, not a programmed-into-the-population default.

ALWAYS have a not-military-recruiting/programming version competing with any military-recruiting/programming version: let competition live, don't make the market captive.

_ /\ _

[–] chocrates@piefed.world 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

When I was a kid we went camping and shot guns and volunteered.

I think we had a reverence for the military but we never partnered with them for anything.

I was in a small town so maybe that is why

[–] 1dalm@lemmings.world -4 points 3 weeks ago

Dude. It's going to be an elective merit badge. And merit badges take YEARS to go through the requirement system. Trumps goons are going to be gone before this even makes it to the program.

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 13 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Burn it to the fucking ground.

[–] 1dalm@lemmings.world -2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Yes. Burn everything good and happy for internet points.

Yes, they have had historic issues and made some bad choices. So have schools, youth sports, universities, and literally EVERY youth organization more than 30 years old. So why take away this opportunity from kids today just so that you can feel morally superior?

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I'm sorry. Maybe you misunderstood me. Google or search "Glenn Jordan BSA". Quite literally dozens of my childhood friends were groomed and raped by pedophiles because of this organization. There were, potentially, hundreds of victims, and as Jordons molestation would evolve into grooming, and the conversion of victims into pedophiles themselves. Until the Epstein files, the BSA has been responsible for some of the largest incidence of molestation and pedophilia in US history.

So, let me be clear.

BURN. IT. TO. THE. FUCKING. GROUND.

Yes. Burn everything good and happy for internet points.

Pedophile apologist.

[–] 1dalm@lemmings.world -5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Good. So video games are also used to from kids. So burn that industry to the ground right?

Schools are also used to from kids. Burn that to the ground.

Universities. Burn them to the ground.

Right?

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I don't think video games rape children. But you are apologizing for an organization that does.

[–] 1dalm@lemmings.world -5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] U7826391786239@piefed.zip 3 points 3 weeks ago

just curious, has your sole debate strategy of whataboutism ever gotten you anywhere?

[–] Assassassin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 3 weeks ago

Is anyone surprised that the org notorious for covering up the rape of children for decades is willing to capitulate to the government comprised of child rapists? I'm not.

[–] braindead@piefed.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

Maybe call it Trumpjugend. Has a nice, disgusting ring to it. 

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] 1dalm@lemmings.world -3 points 3 weeks ago

Dude. It's not that big of a deal. It doesn't affect you at all. Not even a little bit.

[–] apfelwoiSchoppen@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

History rhymes and AI present copies: Hitler Jungen

[–] 1dalm@lemmings.world 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

It's really funny to me how the BSA Scouts are, at the same time, too conservative for liberals and too liberal for conservatives. Y'all need to touch grass.

Here's what really happened: Hegseth blinked.

The dude clearly figured that he wasn't getting the online traction with this that he wanted. So he farted out a stupid set of "demands" for the scouts to agree to. Ultimately very little in the program is changing. The scouts lose 1 merit badge and replace it with an elective badge. (The scouts aren't going to start checking birth certificates at sign up. )

This is a win for the scouts. They change almost nothing, and Hegseth moves onto someone else to bully for internet points.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

discontinuing its Citizenship in Society merit badge, introducing a Military Service merit badge

Great

[–] 1dalm@lemmings.world -4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

You don't even know what those are! 😂

People are so easily triggered by things online. Like, you have not spent 5 minutes in your entire life thinking about the merit badge requirements. But this article pops up and suddenly this is somehow important news for you.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago

Pretty sure I got one once. Involved being nice to people. Now decommissioned replaced with the newly popular Blood-for-Oil merit badge. Excellent leadership in action.

Yeah nothing affects me, I am a rock. I am an island.

[–] sylver_dragon@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

Guess they're headed back to the BSA acronym:
Bigot Scouts of America