Why adults in this troop call themselves the Time Lords patrol

Scouting volunteers are some of the busiest humans around.

With all their different commitments, you’d think they’re time travelers.

That explains the patrol name adopted by the adults in Troop 3 of Texarkana, Texas. They’re the Time Lords patrol.

Any fan of the long-running TV series Doctor Who will approve of the name and the accompanying patrol emblem. The Doctor himself is a Time Lord; he can travel through time and space. His mode of travel: the TARDIS, a police telephone box that’s actually a time machine.

Donna Standridge, advancement chair for Troop 3, suggested the patrol name to her fellow adults.

“I am a huge Doctor Who fan and saw this TARDIS patch when looking for a patch source for the Scouts,” she told me. “I had to have it.”

Some adult patrols adopt names like the Bald Eagles, the Old Goats or the Y-Knots — as in, “Can we go here for our next campout?” “Why not?”

But the adults in Troop 3 seemed to gravitate toward the Time Lords moniker.

“We are always saying, ‘I ain’t got time for that!’ and ‘Do we have time to do this?’” Standridge said. “No matter how much we say we can’t find the time, we always do.”

A positive reaction

Doctor Who, a British series, has been gaining popularity in the United States. It now airs on BBC America.

More and more, Standridge sees fellow Scouters smile when they spot the TARDIS on her sleeve.

“When they see it on our uniform shirt, the reaction is always giant smiles and laughter at how fitting and original it is,” she said. “There are a few that don’t get it and we have to explain it, but mostly it is a positive thing. I know I have made several new friends because of the conversations that come up from it.”

Even the Scouts — many of whom are Doctor Who fans themselves — seem to approve.

“Most of them get it,” Standridge said, “and for once, the adult leaders are ‘cool.’”

Old troop, new patrol name

Troop 3 has been around 43 years longer than the Doctor himself. The troop was formed in 1920.

At 97 years old, it’s the longest continuously operating troop in the Caddo Area Council.

Why an adult patrol?

I have previously blogged about the practice of adults forming their own patrols.

The BSA’s stance: Adults aren’t required to form their own patrol with a patrol name, but they aren’t prohibited either. It’s left up to individual troops.

My stance: When adult leaders function as a high-performing team, they can better serve the Scouts. Coming up with a fun patrol name builds camaraderie, which strengthens the team.

Why adults in this troop call themselves the Time Lords patrol