The changing face of the Gold Medal of Achievement

This is an attempt to take a look at the GMA through the ages & how it has changed.

1964-2000
(per my 1978 Air-Sea-Trail Ranger Handbook)

• earn the highest Rating in Air,Sea or Trail Rangers (a lot of work)
  
• Read the Royal Ranger Leaders Manual
  
• A statement from your Commander that you qualify for the award & a list of all advanced awards you have earned
  
• 500 Word essay on “The value of Royal Rangers”
  

**************************************************************************

2001
24 Orange Bible merits of 5 lessons each                                 = 124 lessons
24 Brown Bible merits of 5 lessons each                                   = 124 lessons
11 Required Gold Merits of 5 lessons each                                =  55 Lessons
8 Elective gold,green or silver skill merits of 5 lessons each        =40 lessons
4 required Red skill merits                                                     =20 lessons
                                                                               total =363 Lessons

Additional requirements for the Gold Medal of Achievement:

• 3 Months as a Silver Medalist
  
• 6 Months in Jr. Leadership positions
  
• Service Project
  
• 500 Word essay
  
• Be at least 12 years old
  

********************************************************************

2010
24 Brown Bible merits of 5 lessons each                                          = 124 lessons
11 Elective Green or silver skill merits of 5 lessons each                    =55 lessons
3 Core (required) skill merits of 5 lessons each                                =15 lessons
4 Gold Leadership Merits or 5 lessons each                                     =20 lessons
                                                                                      total =214 lessons

Additional requirements for the Gold Medal of Achievement:

• Must be an Adventure Ranger or Expedition Ranger
  
• Must be at least 12 years old/must complete before 18^th birthday or HS GRaduation
  
• Must serve in Junior Leadership for no less that 12 months in AR or ER
  
• Must have been a Silver Medalist for 9 months (does not apply to Expedition Rangers)
  
• Recite again from memory the Royal Rangers pledge, Code, Motto, meaning of the points of the Emblem, and the Golden Rule.
  
• Demonstrate your ability to present the plan of salvation to someone.
  
• Must complete a 12 week capstone project. (A separate class outside of Rangers)
  
• Appear before your District GMA Review Board .
  

**********************************************************************

2012
12 Bible merits of 8 lessons each                                          = 96 lessons
11 Elective green or silver skill merits of 5 lessons each            =55 lessons
3 Core (required) skill merits of 5 lessons each                       =15 lessons
4 Leadership Merits (any) or 5 lessons each                           =20 lessons
                                                                              total =186 lessons

Additional requirements for the Gold Medal of Achievement:

• Recite again from memory the Royal Rangers pledge, Code, Motto, meaning of the points of the Emblem, and the Golden Rule.
  
• Be a Silver Medal recipient for no less than 9 months, or be a graduate of the 7th grade.
  
• Serve in one or more leadership positions in Adventure Rangers for an additional 6 months.
  
• Demonstrate your ability to present the plan of salvation to someone.
  
• Be at least 12 years of age
  
• Complete the GMA Capstone Project (read 1 book & complete Q&A session with Commander)
  
• Appear before your District GMA Review Board.
  

You probably don't have the books from the '90s so no Ken Hunt's gold track. The rest is very accurate. 

Definitely, seems to show a slide downward in difficulty. I don't know much about the gold track but it seems everytime they reinvent the GMA its supposedly meant to make it easier or streamlined. 

The leadership merts are show-up-participate merits. Only hard is 3 core merits. Pick 11 easy electives or do the academic, sports, or course merits (e.g. Fa/cpr, hunter safety, etc) and you don't need to be in meetings half the year to earn the GMA...

Absolutely
when I first added up the lessons, it was shocking. We were told by National that the 2010 GMA was not easier than the 2001 GMA, but the numbers do not lie.

363 to 214 to 186  the 2012 GMA is only 51% of the merit work needed for the 2001 GMA.  Not saying all those school-ish merits were great or anything, but the GMA is almost become a participation medal.

taking a standard 48 week RR year that makes for  48 Bible & 48 skill lessons per year. in a 3 year program you would get 288 lessons, but only 186 are needed. 

65% of 288 is 187.  that means its technically possible to earn the GMA while attending only 65% of meetings. Very unlikely, but possible.

Did you factor in two sunday school lessons. As alt lessons for each bible lesson?  

When they said it was harder it was a comment out of thin air not backed up by the research you've done. Plus nat'l isn't going to admit watering down the whiskey so to speak.

RRCmdrBennett wrote:Did you factor in two sunday school lessons. As alt lessons for each bible lesson?  

No 
that only makes it worse

ccm2361 wrote:65% of 288 is 187.  that means its technically possible to earn the GMA while attending only 65% of meetings. Very unlikely, but possible.

When you factor in the merits that can be earned at school, the 65% becomes much more feasible

If you factor in a DR transferring his 4-6 red leadership merits to AR automatically puts him ahead of the rest of the class. Then that 65% attendance drops dramatically.

Obviously National tried to reduce the school-ish stuff with all the writing. Have to give them credit for that.

but the end result did not live up to the billing. We were told we would have a program that kids would get out of a pool to come to.

I don't know too many kids who would get out of a pool to memorize scripture. (No matter how much good it would do them)

I notice that they still won't let go of the requirement for everyone to read Marsh's books.

I do agree with nixing most of the writing it became too much. I did some writing in the olde GMA and I thought that was fine for those who are pursuing that. Some scripture memorization is good too. We never seem to find a balance between two extremes. Too much writing -> no writing or too little bible (o/b merits) -> green bible plus brown merits being very heavy. Then add two dist level global missions events into one year for Global Missions on top of the two leadership merits that were intended to be weekenders as well. Original concept was 4 weekend events designated for leadership merits plus missions conferences/banquets. No wonder we're told to plan fewer events of high quality.

Marsh's books were a recent addition when Ryan Beatty's capstone was upgrade to 2.0.

I seriously doubt we'll ever have an official "GMA" come out of our outpost.

Phillip Gross wrote:I seriously doubt we'll ever have an official "GMA" come out of our outpost.

Are you going, "off the rails" like Chris?

Maybe I'm too hard, but we're still requiring the service projects for silver and gold. I can not in good concious let go of what once was the heart of GMA.

Phillip Gross wrote:I seriously doubt we'll ever have an official "GMA" come out of our outpost.

I know we wont

RRCmdrBennett wrote:
Are you going, "off the rails" like Chris?

Man.  I'm so far "off the rails" that I'm walking on the "Third Rail".

I kind-of like the electricity.  It gives me a "warm, fuzzy feeling".

I'm going off the rails on a crazy train....

 



But in all seriousness, I suppose we are off the rails to some extent. Maybe I'm super dense (no comments please), but the whole current system seems confusing. It doesn't flow well IMO.

...........and the little light bulb over Phillip's head is starting to come on (I use that analogy, only, because you are an electrician).

And THAT is what happens when the Organization starts taking on a life of its own.  As all living things, its FIRST priority is Self-Preservation.  It was seen with the Catholic Church, it was seen with Henry VIII's Church, it was seen in Jimmy Swaggart's Ministry, and now it is being seen with the IRS.  Those whom it was made to serve become vassals to serve the Organization.

strods wrote:Maybe I'm too hard, but we're still requiring the service projects for silver and gold. I can not in good concious let go of what once was the heart of GMA.

That's good. Big difference in being a participate in 4-6 leadership merits than leading one yourself.

Claymore wrote:
And THAT is what happens when the Organization starts taking on a life of its own.  As all living things, its FIRST priority is Self-Preservation.  It was seen with the Catholic Church, it was seen with Henry VIII's Church, it was seen in Jimmy Swaggart's Ministry, and now it is being seen with the IRS.  Those whom it was made to serve become vassals to serve the Organization.

The proverbial "cart before the horse". That sums up the reason I decided to leave the church I had attended for 16 years.

Yes, that's a terrible thing to happen. Can it be turned back, or will it need to come crashing down?

As Christie would say

RRCmdrBennett wrote:You probably don't have the books from the '90s so no Ken Hunt's gold track.

I have a few of those books if anyone is interested. If I ever get some free time I might be able to scan the pages and either email them or post them here.

I'm always interested in reading older manuals predating the PC movement.

(Politically Correct. Not Period Correct... Don't want there to be any confusion about that...)

Darn Philip you cut me off...

I am laid up for a few days, so while I am off my feet I decided to keep my mind busy so I am actually sitting down and listening to the audio files of Lead 2016. There are a few updates on a few things so I will endeavor to post those updated on this site, where they best are suited (proper threads, etc.)
It appears that many a comment has reached National regarding the 2010 GMA and its comparison to historical counterparts. That being the case they have opted to make some adjustments.
–Don’t overreact, it’s not too bad.-
Also the link is a PowerPoint that they showed during LEAD. I have not edited at all.
Role of the GMA
You can listen if you truly want to but essentially they saw what we noted above, that the requirements of GMA traditionally involved more. Their general phrasing was regardless of the program version, be it Trailblazers and AST Rangers, or DR and AR, it would take a Ranger closer to 6 year to get everything done. Then with the 2010 advancement trail revision/reduction a lot of that effort was cut.
Additionally, one thing they said often is that they were very conscious of the multiple changes throughout the recent years and didn’t want to make anything drastic. They wanted to do laser surgery, not a heart transplant.
I will try to give an apples to apples comparison in a 2nd post for numbers, but effective 2016 GMA now requires a Ranger to complete 2 full trails in DR, AR, or ER, and their Capstone project.
Before I get into the weeds, let me note that 2016 is transition year. AR’s who complete Master Ranger have an option. If they complete their Capstone project by year end they can still earn the 2010 GMA.
If they choose not to or do not they can earn the new Adventure year end medals, Adventure Bronze for Year 1, Adventure Silver for Year 2, and Adventure Gold for Year 3.
For 2017 forward, the requirement of completing 2 age groups is in effect. RK is not considered for the standard GMA. I do say standard because they did address the Honor GMA. That is still around, but they specifically referred and compared it to the role Buffalos used to and still play.
So to balance the equation, yet still provide outpost flexibility for Rangers who have varied interest we have
Completion of 2 age groups: GMA
Completion of 3 earn a star of Merit for the GMA
Completion of all 4 groups earn 2 stars for Honor
That is my official and objective review. Now is my personal recommendation for implementation, as a Commander who has just gotten 2 GMA done in the 2010. As far as changes that Rangers has made over the last 16 years, this isn’t too bad. I did a comparison of the X-men in my outpost. Of my two 2010 GMA’s 1 would need another 6 months of spirit lessons for his E3. The other earned his Eagle so he would be fine. A third and forth Ranger, both E1, only needed service projects, but now needs another year to complete E2-E3, not too bad and especially since they haven’t even given me project proposals, they likely were going to work that year also.
Boys coming up from DR to AR have no issues. Boys starting in AR need to finish ER but several of us have always said it is better to start any Ranger 6th grade or over in AR. Sounds like I may have been ahead of my time.
From what I can tell they Rangers most likely to “feel” this, would be those who started in ER, and only worked on the ER trail. But 1.) ER is our least populated age group. 2.) Those on that trail aren’t expecting the GMA.

ccm2361 wrote:This is an attempt to take a look at the GMA through the ages & how it has changed.

1964-2000
(per my 1978 Air-Sea-Trail Ranger Handbook)

• earn the highest Rating in Air,Sea or Trail Rangers (a lot of work)
  
• Read the Royal Ranger Leaders Manual
  
• A statement from your Commander that you qualify for the award & a list of all advanced awards you have earned
  
• 500 Word essay on “The value of Royal Rangers”
  

**************************************************************************

2001
24 Orange Bible merits of 5 lessons each                                 = 124 lessons
24 Brown Bible merits of 5 lessons each                                   = 124 lessons
11 Required Gold Merits of 5 lessons each                                =  55 Lessons
8 Elective gold,green or silver skill merits of 5 lessons each        =40 lessons
4 required Red skill merits                                                     =20 lessons
                                                                               total =363 Lessons

Additional requirements for the Gold Medal of Achievement:

• 3 Months as a Silver Medalist
  
• 6 Months in Jr. Leadership positions
  
• Service Project
  
• 500 Word essay
  
• Be at least 12 years old
  

********************************************************************

2010
24 Brown Bible merits of 5 lessons each                                          = 124 lessons
11 Elective Green or silver skill merits of 5 lessons each                    =55 lessons
3 Core (required) skill merits of 5 lessons each                                =15 lessons
4 Gold Leadership Merits or 5 lessons each                                     =20 lessons
                                                                                      total =214 lessons

Additional requirements for the Gold Medal of Achievement:

• Must be an Adventure Ranger or Expedition Ranger
  
• Must be at least 12 years old/must complete before 18^th birthday or HS GRaduation
  
• Must serve in Junior Leadership for no less that 12 months in AR or ER
  
• Must have been a Silver Medalist for 9 months (does not apply to Expedition Rangers)
  
• Recite again from memory the Royal Rangers pledge, Code, Motto, meaning of the points of the Emblem, and the Golden Rule.
  
• Demonstrate your ability to present the plan of salvation to someone.
  
• Must complete a 12 week capstone project. (A separate class outside of Rangers)
  
• Appear before your District GMA Review Board .
  

**********************************************************************

2012
12 Bible merits of 8 lessons each                                          = 96 lessons
11 Elective green or silver skill merits of 5 lessons each            =55 lessons
3 Core (required) skill merits of 5 lessons each                       =15 lessons
4 Leadership Merits (any) or 5 lessons each                           =20 lessons
                                                                              total =186 lessons

Additional requirements for the Gold Medal of Achievement:

• Recite again from memory the Royal Rangers pledge, Code, Motto, meaning of the points of the Emblem, and the Golden Rule.
  
• Be a Silver Medal recipient for no less than 9 months, or be a graduate of the 7th grade.
  
• Serve in one or more leadership positions in Adventure Rangers for an additional 6 months.
  
• Demonstrate your ability to present the plan of salvation to someone.
  
• Be at least 12 years of age
  
• Complete the GMA Capstone Project (read 1 book & complete Q&A session with Commander)
  
• Appear before your District GMA Review Board.
  

**********************************************************************

2016
DR & AR option
24 Bible merits of 8 lessons each = 192 lessons
22 Elective green or silver skill merits of 5 lessons each =110 lessons
6 Core (required) skill merits of 5 lessons each =30 lessons
8 Leadership Merits (any) or 5 lessons each =40 lessons
total =372 lessons

2016
AR & ER
12 Bible merits of 8 lessons each = 96 lessons
75 Spirit Challenge = 75
22 Elective green or silver skill merits of 5 lessons each =110 lessons
6 Core (required) skill merits of 5 lessons each =30 lessons
8 Leadership Merits (any) or 5 lessons each =40 lessons
total = 351 lessons

Additional requirements for the Gold Medal of Achievement:
• Recite again from memory the Royal Rangers pledge, Code, Motto, meaning of the points of the Emblem, and the Golden Rule.
• Be a Silver Medal recipient for no less than 9 months, or be a graduate of the 7th grade.
• Serve in one or more leadership positions in Adventure Rangers for an additional 6 months.
• Demonstrate your ability to present the plan of salvation to someone.
• Be at least 12 years of age
• Complete the GMA Capstone Project (read 1 book & complete Q&A session with Commander)
• Appear before your District GMA Review Board.
 
-Especially when compared to the 2001 numbers and keeping in mind they are trying to avoid entire ministry rewrites, I am actually happily surprised.