The Royal Rangers Emblem consists of a ring of red encircling 16 points, similar to the points of a compass. Each point signifies a particular meaning.
The four gold points: depicts the four ways of how a boy grows (following Christ's example based on Luke 2:52) [26]
- mentally
- physically
- socially
- spiritually
The four red points: illustrates "the four core beliefs of the church" (Assemblies of God)[27]
- Salvation
- Baptism in the Holy Spirit
- Divine Healing
- Rapture and Second Coming of Christ.
The eight blue points pictures the eight points of the Royal Rangers Code – Alert, Clean, Honest, Courageous, Loyal, Courteous, Obedient, and Spiritual[28] - which is explained in more detail below in the designated subsection.
Pledge[edit]
"With God’s help, I will do my best to serve God, my church, and my fellowman; to live by the Ranger Code; to make the Golden Rule my daily rule" [29].
Code[edit]
A Royal Ranger is: Alert, Clean, Honest, Courageous, Loyal, Courteous, Obedient, Spiritual[30].
- ALERT. He is mentally, physically, and spiritually alert.
- CLEAN. He is clean in body, mind, and speech.
- HONEST. He does not lie, cheat, or steal.
- COURAGEOUS. He is brave, in spite of danger, criticism, or threats.
- LOYAL. He is faithful to his church, family, outpost, and friends.
- COURTEOUS. He is polite, kind, and thoughtful.
- OBEDIENT. He obeys his parents, leaders, and those in authority.
- SPIRITUAL. He prays, reads the Bible, and witnesses.[31].
Motto[edit]
The Royal Rangers motto is "Ready". The meaning of the motto is "Ready for anything! Ready to work, play, serve, worship, live, and obey God’s Word"[32].
Flag[edit]
The Royal Rangers flag is the Royal Rangers emblem centered on a white field.
Divisions[edit]
There are four divisions of the Royal Rangers program corresponding to the age group[33]:
- Ranger Kids (Kindergarten to 2nd grade)
- Discovery Rangers (3rd grade to 5th grade)
- Adventure Rangers (6th grade to 8th grade)
- Expedition Rangers (High School (i.e. 9th-12th grade)) [34]
Each division has their own vest, on which can be placed the awards (i.e. merit patches, medals, (et cetera))
Advancement System & Awards[edit]
The Royal Rangers advancement system includes discipleship, leadership, and skills development aspects. Each age group in the program utilizes an appropriate advancement trail for that age group; boys complete advancement steps by earning a specified number of merits and other requirements[35]. There are over 300 merits which can be worked on during meetings, on their own like at home for example, or both.
Ranger Kids’ Gold Trail Award[edit]
The advancement steps form the Ranger Kids' advancement trail. Each year for the three years in Ranger Kids, there are four quarterly patches; each patch "is based on the completion of requirements in four developmental categories: mental [talking to their parents or commanders after chores/assisting/helping out for instance], physical [like chores or helping the commander], spiritual [such as praying and reading the Bible], and social [for example: talking to others, explaining the things you did, evangelizing]" [36]. Once the ranger earns all four, it is then when they earn the annual patch. Upon earning all three annual patches, the ranger is thereby awarded the highest honor of the division: the Gold Trail Award (GTA). In summary, the GTA is attained by earning the three yearly patches and the three yearly patches are attained upon the completion of the four quarterly patches.
Discovery Rangers’ Trail to the Gold Eagle[edit]
Skill, leadership, and Bible merits form the core of the advancement trails for Discovery, Adventure, and Expedition Rangers. The Discovery Rangers is similar. The yearly trails are respectively the Falcon, Hawk, and Eagle[40].
Adventure Rangers’ Trail to the Adventure Gold Award[edit]
Likewise, the Adventure Rangers' annual trails are the Adventure Bronze Award, Adventure Silver Award, and Adventure Gold Award[41]
Expedition Rangers’ E3 Award[edit]
The Expedition Rangers' annual trails are the E1, E2, and E3 Award[42]
GOLD MEDAL OF ACHIEVEMENT (GMA)[edit]
The highest attainable award in Royal Rangers is the Gold Medal of Achievement (GMA). The GMA testifies to the persevering work, assiduous endurance, and ceaseless dedication towards the program, plus being equipped to be strong, intrepid leaders. The GMA is awarded upon the completion of the highest award for any two Royal Rangers age group besides the Ranger Kids' Gold Trail Award, as of the new, current 2016 amendments[43] as well as other requirements such as reading the entire Bible, age specifications, the GMA Capstone Project, etc.[44]
The Gold Medal of Achievement with MERIT is a special honor awarded to boys earning the highest award in three age groups (including Ranger Kids).[45]
The Gold Medal of Achievement with HONORS is a special honor signifying 13 years of dedication, as one completes the entire advancement system; representing a full 13 years of work, recipients of this award must earn the highest award in each age group, as well as other requirements.[46]
Special programs[edit]
The program features a number of components of special interest to certain types of our membership. These include: Frontiersman Camping Fellowship (FCF), Royal Rangers Alumni, The Outpost Ranger of the Year, The NSSP (National Shooting Sports Program), The National Championships, Brownells/NRA National Youth Shooting Sports Program, and the "Together Plan".
Royal Rangers International[edit]
Royal Rangers ministers to young people in the United States and in over 90 countries through the support of Royal Rangers International, the Assemblies of God World Missions organization tasked with the responsibility to support Royal Rangers worldwide (see RoyalRangersInternational.com). Thus, in 2002[47], Royal Rangers International (RRI) was started and "exists to establish, strengthen, and serve the growing number of nations seeking to impact the next generation through the Royal Rangers ministry." [48][49]. The largest organization outside the United States is in Australia, with groups in all areas except Northern Territory and Western Australia.
Training seminars[edit]
Royal Rangers has a variety of different training opportunities for boys, or Junior Leaders, and adult leaders. Training takes place in various parts of the country and is mostly given at the district and national levels.
In 2013 many elements of training were made available online including; Ranger Safety, Outpost Chaplaincy, Preventing Child and Substance Abuse, and more. National Elementary Education Conference (NEEC) and Ranger Safety Course were updated.
Junior leader training[edit]
Equipping the next generation of boys and young men involves preparing them for leadership. In Royal Rangers, the process of preparing boys for leadership and engaging them in leadership roles today is an integral part of what we do. The process of training junior leaders currently takes place both within the local outpost as well as at the district level. Both play a vital role in leadership development in Royal Rangers. Boys can participate in local or district leadership training as well as the Trail of the Saber. Junior leaders are trained to be respectful leaders as they grow up. You need to contain discipline and attend several leader training camps. For example the SED Junior training camp, advanced junior training camp, survival (training) camp.
Adult leader training[edit]
Outpost leaders (called "commanders") can participate in spiritual, Royal Ranger skill, and leadership development through opportunities provided to outpost leaders and organizational leaders.
An outpost commander can earn the prestigious Medal of Excellence (MOE). To do so, the commander must first go through commander training: the four levels of Outpost Leaders Advancement[50]. The advancement setup is simple. Commanders must first earn a square-shaped patch that certifies them of being ready, safe, trained, as well as undergoing advanced training; that patch features the emblem in the center, with "Ready" "Safety" "Trained" and "Advanced" on the sides - one written for each of the four sides[51]. To get this patch, commanders earn each of the four "tickets" on the edges one by one. That is, to earn the "Ready Ticket," the commander completed Ranger Basics and Ranger Essentials training; earning the "Safety Ticket" requires being CPR certified and having completed the Ranger Safety Course; earning the "Trained Ticket" requires taking a choice of either the National Rangers Ministry Camp (NRMC) or National Elementary Education Conference (NEEC); finally, it culminates with the World Class Outpost (WCO) Seminar for the "Advanced Ticket;" this adult leadership training has the purpose to equip leaders to effectively minister to boys[52]. With everything mentioned, plus a couple of more requirements, the commander earns the square patch. Now, they could start to work on the Medal of Excellence since that requirement to the MOE is completed. The MOE "represents a level of commitment and dedication to both the leader's personal growth as well as the spiritual and leadership development of boys and young men"[53]. It is earned via taking one or more boys on the journey of completing the requirements for earning the highest attainable medal of any of the four Royal Rangers' divisions[54]. (i.e. Taking a Ranger Kids on the journey to the Gold Trail Award; a Discovery Ranger to the Gold Eagle Award; an Adventure Ranger to the Adventure Gold Award; an Expedition Ranger to the E3 award).
Additional leader training[edit]
Additional leadership training is available for instructors, organizational leaders, and more.
No comments:
Post a Comment