Keith Blackey spent 10 years volunteering with Scouting programs in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2005 to 2015. In Iraq, he helped establish Scout troops for over 150,000 Scouts across 18 provinces by 2010. In Afghanistan, he helped launch the PARSA Scouting organization in 2009 with the first boys and girls troops starting at orphanages. Scouting programs in both countries faced challenges such as corruption, security issues, poverty, and lack of infrastructure and resources, but provided benefits to local youth.

1. My 10 Years with
Iraq and Afghanistan
Scouting
2005 - 2015
Keith Blackey
Redwood City

2. Iraq and Afghanistan

3. Iraq
1. 1922 - ’40 (First Arab
nation to embrace
Scouting)
1940 - ’55 (WWII & Recovery)
2. 1956 - ’99 (12,000 Scouts)
1956 - ’03 (Saddam's Lion
Cubs)
3. 2004-Present (150,000
Scouts in 2010)
Keith 2005 – ‘10
Prince of Wales & B-P w/Iraqi
Scouts at 3rd World Jambo,
Arrowe Park, England, 1929.

4. • Hasar Kashafa, Iraq
– 110-120 regular participants
– Started by soldiers of 116th Brigade Combat
Team’s Task Force 1-148 Field Artillery &
community leaders
– Leaders trained, uniforms distributed, weekly
meetings

5. Hasar Tigers (8-11 yr olds)
• “One of the first things was to get the
troop its own Scout Badge. The second
was to have its own "Pinewood Derby".
1LT Jeremy Thomas
• July 7, 2005
• Cars donated by families of 116th
Brigade Combat Team Soldiers

6. Hasar Lightening (12-14 yr olds)

7. Adult Training: Wood Badge

8. Visionaries
Chip Beck Eric Fretz

9. Famous Scouters Helped
Lt. Col. Roberta Luba
Gen. David Petraeus
Ambassador Ryan Crocker
Lt. Gen. Robert Van
Antwerp

10. Paul "Jerry" Bremer
Head of the Coalition Provisional Authority
Charged with overseeing Iraq's occupation after the 2003 invasion.

11. General Joe Dunford
Led 5th Marine Regiment during 2003 invasion of Iraq

12. 2010
• $100,000+ Raised
• 150,000 Scouts
• 18/18 Provinces
• 22 Camps
• Iraqi run, uniforms,
trained leaders
• Integrated into schools

14. Afghanistan
• 1880 Robert Baden Powell
1. 1931 – ’47 (Royal decree)
1048 – ’63 (Fire worshipers)
2. 1964 – ’78 (36,000 Scouts)
1979 – ’09 (Soviets, Taliban,
War)
3. 2009 – Present (PARSA)
Keith 2012 – ‘14

15. 2009
Boys Troop 001
Tai Maskan Orphanage
Girls Troop 001
Allahoddin Orphanage

16. What’s it Like?

17. Corruption

18. War Lords

19. Electricity & Internet

20. Literacy & Poverty

21. Security

22. Scouting is Part of the Solution

23. Recruiting

24. Funding: Afghan Garden Kitchen

25. Funding: Scout Store

26. Funding: Community Organizations

27. Funding: State Department

28. Uniforms

29. Meetings

30. Working With Locals

31. Working With Police

32. Community Service: Schools

33. Community Service: Warm Clothes

34. Training

35. Training: Youth

36. Merit Badges: Pioneering

37. Training: Trip Survival

38. Training: Adults

39. Training: Wood Badge

40. Field Trips

41. 30th APR Scout Jamboree
August 2013

42. Fun: Rocket Derby

43. Fun

44. Visionary
Marnie Gustavson

45. General Joe Dunford
Commander, ISAF (Int’l Security Assistance Force)
& US Forces-Afghanistan, 2013 – ’14
Commandant of the Marine Corps, 2014 - Present
Ambassador Ryan Crocker
Ambassador Karl Eikenberry
Famous Scouters Helped

46. Questions?