Roman Chasteen, Boy Scout with Troop 50, carries one of the benches that he crafted with his father, Lt. Col. Chad Chasteen, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence G-3 proponency director, to be placed at several locations along the Beaver Lake Trai...
FORT RUCKER, Ala. (June 11, 2015) -- While most teenagers are consumed with the Internet, TV and hanging out with friends, one teenage boy is doing what he can to better the community.
Roman Chasteen, local Boy Scout with Troop 50, is working on achieving his Eagle Scout rank and decided to do his part to improve Fort Rucker by placing benches along the Beaver Lake trail as his service project.
"There are only two benches along the trail and they're facing each other," he said, so adding to the areas that people can sit and relax along the trail was something that stood out to him.
Roman's father, Lt. Col. Chad Chasteen, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence G-3 proponency director, has been there to support his son every step of the way and said he was eager to see his son complete the project.
"Roman came up with the Eagle Scout project idea on his own," he said. "He had to assess the costs in terms of time, resources and labor, and develop a plan to complete the project. Roman had to evaluate safety considerations and determine ways to mitigate risks. He had to raise the money on his own, as well as seek approval -- arguably the most stressful part of this entire project."
In order to get the approval needed to place the benches, Roman had to brief Col. Stuart J. McRae, Fort Rucker garrison commander, on his plans, as well as the Boy Scout Council in Dothan, all at the age of 14.
After all of the proper approvals were attained, Roman began his project, surveying the different areas to place the benches, as well as beginning the process of building the benches themselves, which were crafted out of treated pinewood and composite wood, said the Boy Scout.
Over the course of about seven weekends, he, with the help of friends and fellow Scouts, sanded about 50 wooden boards by hand, then stained them three times each before assembling the benches. After all was said and done, five benches were added to the trail, two of which oversee Beaver Lake to provide a prime spot to relax, he added.
The Eagle Scout service project is designed to provide a service to the community to benefit an organization other than the Boy Scouts of America, according to the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook. It is also designed to help the Scout learn leadership skills, management skills and responsibility.
"Being in the scouts has taught me trustworthiness, kindness, team building and resourcefulness," said Roman. "I've been doing Boy Scouts my entire life, so I figured I might as well see it through to the end."
A Boy Scout must attain his Eagle rank by the age of 18, and Roman is well on his way to achieving that with plenty of time to spare, said his father.
"I'm so proud of him," said the lieutenant colonel. "There are so many things that kids his age could be doing with their time, but to be something like this that is unselfish and involves a lot of hard work makes me proud.
"Fort Rucker has been very good to our family over the years and he enjoyed the opportunity to give back," he continued. "We are proud to be a part of Troop 50, the local Fort Rucker troop, for their leadership and support."
Troop 50, led by Chris Wood, has produced several Eagle Scouts in the last year, including three in a 90-day period this year, and Roman will soon join those ranks.
Related Links:
USAACE and Fort Rucker on Twitter
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