CARY, NC – A rare Sea Scout Quartermaster Award was recently presented to Rachel ‘Rae’ Johnson of Ship 244 in Cary, NC. Out of 826,000 BSA Scouts, formally called the Boy Scouts of America, only an average of 30 scouts earn the Award each year. The coed high adventure Sea Scout program for ages 14-20 focuses on long-distance sailing, white water rafting, canoeing, kayaking, motor boating, SCUBA, and competitive sailing.
Johnson is only the fifth Quartermaster Award recipient in the 92-year history of Occoneechee Council, which encompasses the 12 counties surrounding the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area.
Like the Eagle Scout Award, the Quartermaster Award is earned after accomplishing an extensive list of requirements, including demonstrating open water navigation skills, piloting multiple types of boats in various weather conditions, and showing team leadership skills while in command of boat crews. Requirements also include learning maritime history, engine maintenance, and weather prediction as well as earning advanced Life Saving certifications and Red Cross CPR First Aid AED certification. Awardees must document a minimum of 14 days and nights of boat cruising as well as complete a significant Quartermaster Project to benefit their local community.
“The most fun was being with my shipmates, especially on trips like the week-long cruise from Marsh Harbor in the Bahamas”, said Johnson. She said she is already working towards her USCG Captain’s Six-Pack License.
“Rae was always ready for a new Sea Scout adventure”, said Jane Tallis, First Mate of Ship 244. “She had no hesitation in competing in a sailboat regatta or leaping off a 63-foot sailboat into the ocean to snorkel with tropical fish. She accepted the challenge to learn new skills, and then taught others as new members joined the ship. Rae was determined to reach her goal while also in college full time. Her school breaks were spent out on the water with her shipmates, even canoeing the Neuse River in December and sailing on Kerr Lake in the cold winter weather.”
“Rae’s journey to QM meant overcoming many challenges — big and small — that the pandemic threw her way,” said Tom Cox, USCG Auxiliary and Scout Leader. In 2020, most regular Sea Scout activities were cancelled due to Covid restrictions. “I was impressed with her perseverance and commitment to complete her projects despite the hurdles. She demonstrated a great deal of poise, flexibility and focus.”
Johnson is currently a student at High Point University in High Point, NC, where she was selected as one of 40 Media Fellows Scholars. She majors in communications with a concentration in popular culture.
In 2018, the Sea Scouts program was named the official youth organization of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. After earning the Quartermaster Award, recipients are eligible for an automatic pay grade increase when enlisting in the US Coast Guard and other military branches.
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Sea Scout Ship 244 = https://ship244.org
Sea Scouts, the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Official Youth Program
US Coast Guard Auxiliary = http://cgaux.org/