Cub Scouts Attack Navy SEAL 'O' Course

By By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class William S. Parker, Naval Special Warfare Group Two Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va (NNS) -- Cub Scout Pack 364, had the opportunity to experience the Naval Special Warfare Obstacle Course ('O' Course) during a visit to the East-Coast SEAL (Sea, Air, and Land) and SWCC (Special Warfare Combatant Crewman) Scout Team on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story Oct. 2.

The visit was in conjunction with SCOUTStrong Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) Challenge. Presidential Active Lifestyle Award Challenge is designed to motivate participants to be physically active on a regular basis by allowing them to participate in activities they enjoy, as well as improving their eating habits, and in 2011, the Boy Scouts of America aligned with the Presidential Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition with the shared goal of promoting good health for America's youth. The SCOUTStrong PALA Challenge, a Scout-specific PALA challenge, is one of the results of this alliance.

"To earn the SCOUTStrong PALA Challenge award, a participant is required to meet a daily activity goal of 30 minutes per day for adults and 60 minutes a day for people under 18, for at least five days a week, for a total of six weeks. The participants pick their activities and strive to reach their goals, logging their physical activity and can take up to eight weeks to complete the program," said Richard Lebel, Cub Scout Pack 364 Cub Master.

Several adults and more than 40 children from the pack took part in the course.

Pack 364 had the opportunity to be coached by Navy SEALs (Sea, Air and Land), and SEAL candidates, currently undergoing the Fleet Transition Program, who motivated the scouts and showed them how to properly perform and complete each obstacle on the course.

"It was really fun to come out here today and lead the 'pack' through the 'O' Course," said Chief Special Warfare Operator Phillip Sandberg. "I really liked the team work and motivation the cub scouts showed throughout each obstacle."

The scouts really enjoyed their time on the 'O' Course.

"It was so much fun, my favorite part was the monkey bars, and jumping over the walls," said Gabe Warner, a Pack 364 cub scout.

The visit was attributed to the preparation and planning of Navy Career Counselor 1st Class Katie Warner, a Command Career Counselor and mother of Cub Scout Gabe Warner.

"The kids had a half day off at school, so I thought this would be a fun way to spend the other half of the day and also help out the cub scouts with their SCOUTStrong PALA Challenge award. The kids all had a great time and cannot wait to come back and do the 'O' Course again," said Warner.

The Navy SEAL and SWCC Scout Team identifies and engages high-quality, potential SEAL and SWCC candidates, informs them of a career in Naval Special Warfare and assists them with the recruiting process.