Teenage youth make up a Battalion unit in a local church. In some areas, this will include boys in sixth grade who have entered a middle school. All boys from ages 12 to 18 are potential members of Battalion.
Recruiting a team of adult and teen leaders is the most important place to begin.
Consider these guidelines as you select members of the leadership team.
Captain
The captain is the key man in Battalion. He should be a mature Christian (at least 21 years of age) with a strong desire to reach young men for Christ. He should relate comfortably with young men from all kinds of backgrounds and know how to be a friend and counselor. Explaining the Gospel and exploring the Word of God with young men should be a pleasure to this man. The captain should also be able to work effectively with other adults.
The captain’s duties are to guide the weekly meeting, delegate tasks to the senior and teen leaders, and spend time with the teen leaders, discipling them. He must also oversee the planning of all Battalion activities.
Senior Leaders
A senior leader is any adult leader in Battalion. Besides the Captain, a Battalion needs other adult leaders, perhaps one for every eight to ten boys. These senior leaders should be mature Christian men. You may want to call these men Lieutenants or, simply, senior leaders.
The Lieutenants assist the Captain in many ways: Leading games, telling a story at Council Ring, or organizing a special outing are the most obvious examples. They also cultivate personal friendships with the young men and help them with their achievement.
Junior Leaders
A nucleus of teen (or junior) leaders is the heart of a Battalion. The more leadership they assume in the weekly meeting and all other Battalion activities, the more successful your ministry will be.
There are several vital roles that teen leaders play. One is to serve as corporal or squad leader. The squad meeting is the occasion when the corporal exercises his leadership with a group of four to six younger teens. Usually, he’s assigned to lead a squad for the entire year so that he can develop close friendships with those in his squad. One of the squad members who shows potential for teen leadership can be assigned as an assistant squad leader (or lance corporal). The corporal should assign specific duties to his lance corporal, such as keeping squad records and helping individual squad members with their achievement.
The teen leader with the most maturity and experience fills the role of sergeant. This includes keeping the meeting on schedule and directing the formation of Battalion. This young man functions much like a senior leader. In some ways, he is both one of the young men and one of the men. (Some Battalions operate without a sergeant if they don’t have a qualified teen leader for this position.) Incorporate these ranks of teenage leadership as your ministry develops and your team grows.
What do you look for in boys who are to be your Battalion’s teen leaders? The first step is getting to know them. Check with the youth minister or sponsor for their suggestions.
In order of priority, take these steps:
Choose young men who know Jesus Christ as Savior and who will work toward the spiritual objectives of Battalion. Attitude and direction of life are significant considerations.
Seek to recruit young men who are eager to assume responsibility and who are respected by others.
Find young men with a combination of natural leadership potential, acceptance from other peers, and enthusiasm for Christian service.