REGINA: Can women volunteer to help?
BRIAN: While my wife volunteers at the national level, and we know there are many wives and grandmothers who have assisted in some way, the organizations’ members are made up of clergy, fathers/male guardians and male youth.
REGINA: An organization of this character costs money to run. How do you finance the Troops?
BRIAN: Primarily, our funding comes from the membership dues of $30.00 per member per calendar year. We then raise funds through donations and our online store. We are a non-profit (501C3) organization that is also volunteer-run with only one employee to date.
REGINA: Other boys’ organizations have a large network and good reputation for their former excellent efforts. How are you able to get your message across to boys in this face of this competition?
BRIAN: In the end, sticking to the mission and apostolate the Holy Spirit has called us to carry out. We have never been about numbers, as we simply seek to offer a safe environment for men and boys to grow in their faith in Christ through the context of the outdoor adventure. The rest will take care of itself as it is the Lord's will. Further, we do not consider these other networks and organizations as competitors. We stand alone. There are no other ‘father-son’ organizations we are aware of in this capacity, so this distinction makes us drastically different.
REGINA: Boys enjoy working on rank badges and skill badges; do you have such a structure in the Troops?
BRIAN: For the Junior Cadets, 1st - 5th grade (St. Mathew's Angels, St. Mark's Lions, St. Luke's Oxen, bulls, St. John's Eagles and Saint George's Dragon Slayers), they have yearly requirements to complete to move onto the next patrol level.
Then, the Senior Cadets 6th - 12th grade, formed under the name of a Blessed or Saint of their choosing, work on completing Achievement Courses. There are currently 20 available from Apologetics to Camping to Safety to Latin to Altar Service, etc.
REGINA: And for older boys?
BRIAN: As the Senior Cadet completes 16 (8 of which are mandatory), they can then complete a service project for their local pastor/parish and then complete the Survival Ordeal. Once completed, they are then awarded the rank of Tribunes of Saint George for our Supreme Pontiff.