BRICK – A Brick teen achieved the prestigious Eagle Scout award recently, making him the youngest Eagle Scout to come out of Boy Scout Troop 39.
James Michael Komsa, a 14-year old freshman at Brick Township high School, received this award on August 19 during a Court of Honor at La Bove Grande in Lakehurst.
The Eagle Scout award is the highest rank a Boy Scout can achieve. A Boy Scout must move up in the ranks, earn at least 21 merit badges, serve in a leadership position, and perform a service project, among other requirements, to earn this award. Komsa is part of the 4 percent of Boy Scouts nationally to achieve this title.
Komsa began as a member of the Brick Cub Scout Pack 33 at the age of 7. He then moved on to become a member of Boy Scout Troop 39 in 2015. Over time, Komsa earned 23 merit badges and even completed a community service.
His project implemented improvements – such as rebuilding the bleachers and constructing brass sifters – to the outdoor facility at the Manchester Township Police Firearms Range, where police officers conduct firearms training. Komsa put in more than 130 of work to this project, with the help of 18 fellow scouts and leaders. The project was also funded 100 percent through an online fundraising campaign that Komsa managed.
He is currently a member of the Order of the Arrow Japeechen Lodge and serves as Troop 39’s Senior Patrol Leader. Throughout his time with Troop 39, he served as Patrol Leader, Scribe, Quatermaster and the National Jamboree Contingent Assistant Patrol Leader, and successfully completed National Youth Leadership Training.
“I like the adventure as well as the life and leadership skills that I’ve learned over the years,” he said.
Komsa is currently enrolled in honors level courses at Brick HS and he plans on studying engineering in the future.
