Eagle scouting and success later in life

We have all heard the theory about how scouting, particularly achieving the rank of eagle, helps you succeed later in life.  You can hardly go to a sn2js or eagle court of honor without the stats being presented.  In case you are unfamiliar with the schpeel, let me tell you..... 

Of any one hundred boys who become Scouts, it must be confessed that thirty will drop out in their first year. Perhaps this may be regarded as a failure, but later in life, all of these will remember that they had been in Scouting and will speak well of the program.

Of the one hundred, only rarely will one ever appear before a juvenile court judge. Twelve of the one hundred will be from families that belong to no church. Through Scouting, these twelve and many of their families will be brought into contact with a church and will continue to be active all their lives. Six of the one hundred will become pastors.

Each of the one hundred will learn something from Scouting, and all will develop hobbies that will add interest throughout the rest of their lives. Approximately one-half will serve in the military, and in varying degrees, profit from their Scout training. At least one will use it to save another person's life, and many may credit it for saving their own.

Four of the one hundred will reach Eagle rank, and at least one will later say that he valued his Eagle above his college degree. Many will find their future vocation through merit badge work and Scouting contacts. Seventeen of the one hundred boys will become adult leaders and will give leadership to thousands of additional boys.

One in four boys in America will become Scouts, but it is interesting to know that of the leaders of this nation in business, religion and politics, three out of four were Scouts.

This story will never end. Like the 'Golden Pebble' of service dropped into the human sea, it will continue to radiate in ever-widening circles, influencing the characters of men through unending time."

Another way of saying this is:
Of 100 Boys in Scouting -
* Only rarely will one appear in juvenile court.
* 12 will receive their first church contact through Scouting. 
* 5 will receive church religious emblems. 
* 1 will enter the clergy due to his Scouting relationships. 
* 18 will develop hobbies that will give them a lifelong interest. 
* 8 will find their future life vocations. 
* 1 will use Scout skills to save another's life. 
* 1 will credit Scout skills with saving his own life. 
* 2 of the 100 will reach the Eagle Rank. 
* 17 will later become leaders in Scouting and will pass on their skills, inspiration and leadership to countless youth.

A comparative study of the records of Scouts and non-Scouts in a sampling of schools and colleges shows that Scouts hold most of the major positions of leadership in the student body. The survey resulted in the following statistics in regard to school officers bearing a large amount of responsibility.
* Of senior class presidents, 89% were Scouts.
* Of junior class presidents, 80% were Scouts. 
* Of business managers of school publications, 75% were Scouts. 
* Of student council presidents, 85% were Scouts. 
* Of school newspaper editors, 88% were Scouts. 
* Of editors of school annuals, 77% were Scouts. 
* Of basketball captains, 64% were Scouts.

Numbered among the alumni of the Boy Scouts of America are: 
* 64% of Air Force Academy graduates. 
* 58% of West Point graduates. 
* 70% of Annapolis graduates. 
* 72% of Rhodes scholars. 
* 85% of FBI agents. 
* 26% of the 29 U.S. astronauts.

The idea is that the scouting program sets the boys up to be leaders and teaches them valuable character traits to succeed.  I agree about the value of scouting to help instill those traits in our boys, but i feel that the scouting program is not entirely responsible.  I think that the scouting program require quite a bit of parental support, and that support is the factor that make good men.  Without the strong family support necessary to stick with the bsa program, those kids wouldn't make it, but the families who support and encourage the boys thru eagle play a strong role in how the child turns out. I think its a combination of those factors that make for successful men.