Young men grow from Cub Scouts to CommissioNed offiCers

Andrew Vonderschmitt Mountain Democrat correspondent

Three childhood friends who rose through the Scouting ranks together — from Cubs to Eagle Scouts — have made a commitment to be of further service to their country as commissioned officers in the U.S. Army.

Caden Lowder, Joseph Pyle and Mitchell Scott met as Cub Scouts in 2010 and have remained friends throughout the years. Each of the high school graduates were recently awarded highly sought-after Army ROTC scholarships to attend their chosen colleges. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps is a program designed to develop college students into officers in the U.S. Army. The program provides students with various training opportunities, including leadership development, military tactics and physical fitness.

Each year more than 10,000 students apply for the ROTC scholarship program. Around 3,000 are awarded. The process focuses on finding students who have shown an aptitude for academics, athletics or leadership. Acceptance of a scholarship obliges the students to serve either four years of active duty or eight years in the reserves. Upon graduation, ROTC graduates commission into the Army as 2nd lieutenants.

When Lowder, Pyle and Scott became Cub Scouts in El Dorado Hills back in the day they had no idea they were building bonds that would last through elementary, middle school and high school graduation ... and beyond.

But that’s how it played out for this cadre of friends. Although they did not all attend the same schools throughout the years, Scouting always brought them back together. The Boy Scouts of America focuses on instilling important life skills and values in young boys such as leadership, teamwork, responsibility and community service. Only around 4% of Scouts achieve Eagle Scout, which all three friends attained.

“We’ve been doing Scouts now for 11 years,” said Lowder. “That would put us at about 6 years old.”

“Scouts has been a great thing to keep me involved with my friends,” added Scott. “So even if I didn’t go to school with them it has been a great way to keep connected.”

“We did everything from racing in the derby where we made our own n See Officers, page B3