10/06/2026
29-year-old professional football player, David Montgomery, didn’t get to where he is now by sitting on the sidelines…
When we say “sidelines,” we’re talking about sports AND Scouting. A member of Troop 772 (a Black troop in Cincinnati), David fell in love with Scouting quickly. In time, he earned the highest and most revered rank – status – in 2014.
But, when David first joined , he was a bit nervous…thinking was not for people like him.
He quickly learned this fear was unwarranted – from Pinewood Derby, to campouts, to earning plenty of Merit Badges in , to so much more…David excelled in Scouting. Sitting on the sidelines was never an option.
“I definitely think it’s a form of fear because the thought of what everybody else around them would think,” Montgomery explains in a recent AP article. “Definitely think that plays a major role. So, I think me playing football and playing as long as I have and being a positive … role model in regards to scouting, I definitely think it gives kids who look like me an opportunity to believe that that’s something that they can do also.”
Scouting helped shape exactly the man Montgomery is today. Now, with a son of his own (future Cub Scout, of course!), David sees Scouting as even more valuable.
“Scouting gave me the right tools to make me understand what’s really right and what’s really wrong,” David tells the AP.
Kids of all ages learn life skills, gain outdoor experience, discover new things, develop character, grow in the Scout Law and become prepared – FOR LIFE – in Scouting America programs.
Don’t let your child miss out. Find a Scouting unit near you in seconds at BeAScout.org.
