A dangerous book for boys? Try the USMC-EST!

I got a note in the Email about something that is apparently making the rounds on the net. It is the "Dangerous book for boys." Apparently, the Wussification (with a capital "P") of America has continued, and is creating some signs of backlash.

While I think that this book is a neat idea, but it is not a novel one. Personally, I think that most of what a young man needs to know can be found in this particular tome: The Marine Corps Essential subjects guidebook.  For those of you who doubt the applicability of this book to civilian life, that can only be true if you do not care for the following chapters:
History and Tradition
Code of Conduct
Leadership 
Courtesy and Discipline
First Aid
Sanitation and Hygiene
Physical Fitness
Clothing and Equipment
Basic Communications
Land Navigation

It used to eb that once upon a time, the boy scouts served as an organization where a boy acquired the skills and training for such things. Nowadays, I do not know what the Boy scouts are about anymore, and so I am not sure if it is still the case. I used to be a boy scout myself, but it seemed to be a lot of disorganized  hazing when I did it, and so I learned little, and grew disinterested. While I could see myself helping out my future son's scout troop, I have this sinking suspicion that not being an eagle scout, or any of that would make those ordained with such a title think that they are my natural lord and master in the wilds.

They would be quite mistaken.

That is all for a hypothetical and later date, anyway.

Back to the dangerous book for boys.

I think that since Domestic-6 and I are going to be working on getting some sprogs of our own, I have been thinking more in my mind of how to play my role as father. A kind of mental run-through, if you will. Now, the first thing I have noticed is that you could say that I have two fathers. The first is my biological father who raised best he could, and did as well as any mortal man could have done given the starting materials. He did the lions share of the work of making me into a man by instilling in me certain core values, and setting an example for me to follow. He gave me the foundations that were firm enough that I could build something lasting and strong upon it. His lessons were the first, and the most important:

"Run the good race, fight the good fight, keep the faith."

My second father was the Marine Corps. I hate to say it, but it took an immortal, cruel and focused teacher like the big green machine to burn out the impurities that my father could not, and should not, out of love, do. The Corps also taught me a lot of the arts and sciences that a man should know.

So, what will I do when I have my own little rapscallion to try to mold into a man? Well, one of the things that occurred to me is that there is a set of what I would consider essential skills that a man should be in possession of when he reaches the age of majority. These skills, for that matter, are also largely essential for girls becoming women, but there are some important differences.

Anyway, the following is a list of "essentail skills" that my kids will need to have (and this does not largerly address pure learning like reading, mathematics, history, science, et cetera; those comprise a core fund of knowledge which they must learn, but are not skills, per se):

Basic camping skills (making shelter and fire from what is readily available).
Land navigation (they must be able to dead reckon their way to known points and read a map if they are going to be allowed to stay out after dark)
First aid (Basic first aid, CPR, home remedies for common ailments)
Vehicle maintainance (must know before I will allow them to have a driver's license. To inclulde changing oil, tires, checking fluids, checking tire pressures, and how to correct anything out of spec)
Entry level Martial arts (not to make them a fighter, but to keep them from being easy prey, and so that they can understand the principles of unarmed combat)
Basic Marksmanship
Etiquette (this is a whole ball of wax including table manners, phone etiquette, Addressing others, proper attire, et cetera. I don't know how I will pull this one off, considering my own lack of knowledge in this particular area. I hope my wife will be capable here).
Sewing
Basic building, repairing and tool use.
Swimming
Sailing
Horsemanship
Budgeting and finance
Dancing
Second Language (Russian, preferably)
Blade and Leather care
stick shift driving
One athletic sport of their choice to varsity level.

Okay, I think that that about does it. I am sure there are other skills that they should probably have, which have slippd my mind, but if you consider the above a basic "toolbox" of skills for a youngster (16 years old) to draw upon, then I think that they will do okay with what is listed above.

While the dangerous book for boys is a neat idea, and stuff like building treehouses and making paper airplanes are good "bonding activities," I think that is is an excellent opportunity for such activities to be a vehicle to train the child in basic building and tool use, and perhaps the basic fundamentals of aerodynamics in a fun manner. I remember I had a martial arts teacher who taught his kid footwork by making it into a type of game that they played. 

Anyway, in closing, I will just say that this is a plan still in progress, and that like so many thintgs, it's success will depend upon my ability to improvise, adapt, and overcome obstacles unforseen right now.

Why not make this interesting?

I am going to be on call tomorrow, and I am going to ask readers to submit what they think other "essential skills" for a boy or young man would include. Put them into the comments . I am interested in what else people think would be necessary.

Respectfully Submitted,
-doc Russia
 

...And I already thought about basic demolitions training, so don't list it.

(this means you, Moriarty)