The activities of The Legion Riders are limited only by the imagination of the members of the local Riders organizations, and many chapters have independently raised thousands of dollars for local children’s hospitals, schools, veterans’ homes, severely wounded servicemen and women, and American Legion scholarship programs. Since 2006, Riders have united nationally for The American Legion Legacy Run to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund, established for the children of those who given their lives on active duty defending our freedoms around the world.
For the latest in American Legion Riders apparel and gear, including the American Legion Riders Patch, go to Legion Rider Merchandise - Emblem Sales
Today's Youth.......
Tomorrows Leaders 
Boy Scouts of America
Based on the principle of duty to God and Country, the Scouting Program serves youth, ages 6 through 21, regardless of ethnic background, creed, or physical or mental ability. In cooperation with organizations like The American Legion, Scouting offers a way for you and other dedicated volunteers of your Post and the Community to bring fun, adventure, and leadership skills to young people, and to provide effective citizenship training, and personal fitness opportunities for youth.
The Scouting Program also gives Legionnaires the opportunity to touch the lives of the youth of our nation and share with them the skills necessary to build a generation of young people ready to do their duty to God and Country.
The American Legion, at its first National Convention, voted approval and support to the Boy Scout movement. Since that time in 1919, The American Legion's support of Scouting has remained relatively steady with local Post chartering more than 2,500 units. Hundreds of other units benefit from financial and other forms of support by local posts.
Scouting utilizes the service-learned skills and abilities of the veteran in building character and desirable habits in "Young America." It's a Post activity that brings public credit and goodwill to the Post. Legion-sponsored Scout units should be a "must" in every Post.
The American Legion Life Insurance Committee provides annually for a national scholarship to be awarded to the Eagle Scout who is selected "The American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year." The winner is eligible to receive an $10,000 scholarship to be awarded over a 4 year period. Three additional scholarships of $2,500 each are awarded to the first, second and third place runners-up.
Further information and nomination applications are available from the Department Adjutant and from the Americanism and Children & Youth Division at National Headquarters. The deadline for nomination applications to the Department Headquarters selection committee is March 1. The application judged as most outstanding must be forwarded to National Headquarters no later than April 1.
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Scouting Square Knot Award
This award is designed to recognize American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary or Sons of The American Legion members who are actively involved in the Scouting program. Its purpose is to recognize dedication and work by the member to assist in furthering the Scouting program in The American Legion.
What is The American Legion Junior Shooting Program?
It's a three part program that combines the Basic Marksmanship Course, Qualification Awards, and Air Rifle Competition.
During the Eight years of this program's continued growth, thousands of male and female junior shooters have participated, with a perfect safety record of no reported gun-related injuries.
Participants in The American Legion Junior Shooting Sports Program can be any gender, ages 14 through 20. Handicapped youth are encouraged to participate.
Basic Marksmanship Course
Is a comprehensive instruction package for the beginning shooter that has little or no marksmanship experience. The course insures understanding by the student and easy use by the instructor. Gun safety and marksmanship fundamentals are taught through a balanced mix of short lecture or discussion followed by hands-on activity. The package of instruction and support materials include:
Instructor's Guide: Detailed information for the instructor to teach the course.
Student Handbook: Now in its third edition, this popular handbook is a comprehensive reference text for beginning shooters, thoroughly covering the fundamentals of position shooting.
Learning Tools: Six quizzes and a final exam.
Qualification Awards
If an effective job is done presenting the BMC, most graduates will want to keep improving their marksmanship skills. The National Rifle Association provides Marksmanship Qualification Course for Air Rifle. These courses offer a personal skill development ladder where individual shooters work to achieve established performance standards. For each level of success, a sew-on patch and certificate of achievement are presented. Marksmanship Qualification Course offer family fun and enjoyment that can last a lifetime. Junior shooters may enroll in these programs upon graduation from the Basic Marksmanship Course.
Air Rifle Competition
Is not a sport which gives an advantage to individuals of great size or strength. Physical fitness and stamina are important, but it is mental toughness and self-discipline which determine success. Competitive shooting is also one of the few sports where men and women can compete as equals. It is truly a sport which is open to anyone willing to practice and to test their shooting skills on the
firing line.
The American Legion Junior Position Air Rifle Tournament is an annual tournament that begins with postal matches to determine state and/or regional champions. The next stage is a Qualification Round (also a postal match) to determine shooters who will earn expense paid trips to compete in the National Championship. The National Championship is a shoulder-to-shoulder match held during the summer, and is conducted at the Olympic Training Center/USA Shooting Range Facilities in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This is the same facility that our Olympic shooters train and practice on.
Scholarships
The RECOMMENDATION adopted by the Minneapolis National Convention in 1919, at the time the National Americanism Commission was created, stated that a major objective of the Commission shall be the realization in our Country of the ideal 100 percent Americanism through the development and support of a continuous, constructive educational system destined to accomplish certain enumerated citizenship and Americanism objectives. Throughout the years of its existence, the efforts of the National Americanism Commission have been directed toward that high purpose.
Education is the cornerstone upon which the future of this Nation is built. Where there are good schools we find good citizens. In fact, education is the first requisite of good citizenship. The American Legion wholeheartedly subscribes to the proposition that every educational facility should be provided for the fullest development of the mental resources and technical skills of our people.
Over the years, The American Legion at all levels has, through a cooperative working relationship, encouraged its members to keep abreast with the many changes required to maintain a good school system. Support has been provided to secure adequate funds for school construction, research, teacher's salaries and a variety of resources to assist students to continue with their education.
The National Organization of The American Legion, The Department of Arkansas & The Forty & Eight offer the following scholarships to students meeting the eligibility requirements as set forth for each of the following Scholarship Programs:
Department of Arkansas Coudret Trust Scholarship
(Contact Department Hq. for more information)