MOUNTAIN HAWK SCOUTS

The insignia of the Modern Scout Tracking System symbolizes the professionalism and dedication to the art of animal/human tracking as practiced by the certified scouts and scout-trackers of the Mountain Hawk Scouts™. Those scouts and scout-trackers that have attended the Scout Tracking School in the United States Marshals Service and the Scout Tracking Operations School, once Cmdr Cunningham retired, set themselves apart as the elite in the scouting field. This is shown in the team designation they wear on a shoulder patch. The markings are delineated as follows:    

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Shape:

This signifies that the SPEARPOINT of the trail is pushed forward deliberately and dynamically based on mission, terrain, and spoor parameters.

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Name:

Signifies the band of kinship to the trail of man or animal. To be counted among the elite of scout-trackers is an honor and privilege for I am a scout.

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Brand:

Signifies there are "many trails, lost trail, tracker shows direction." Also, the Mountain Hawk Scouts™ is the home of the world’s most elite scouts and trackers who solve the most difficult of “trails”.

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Top Staff:                 

This signifies that in front of the scout, there are terrain formations, natural and manmade obstacles, specific surface soil, and vegetation that must be negotiated by the team and quarry.

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Bottom Staff:           

This signifies that within the scout there are self-imposed limitations, fears, and desires that must be accentuated for the good of the team and mission. These internal factors must be focused on for mission enhancement and must buoy up each scout.

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Top Two Feathers: 

This signifies the importance of the two scout-observers (SOs) that flank the scout-tracker providing security as well as knowledge of the trail that awaits the team as the wings of the Mountain Hawk. The SOs move the trail along and give the Hawk's eye view of the big picture.

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Bottom Feather:    

This signifies the importance of the scout-tracker who maintains and confirms the trail with the eyes of the Mountain Hawk, never deviating from building the mind of the quarry for the advantage of the team in all the details of the track, sign, and trail (spoor). The ST confirms the findings of the SOs.

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Trackers Triangle:  

Signifies the historical, technological, mechanical, and methodologies of the ST with the TTPs of Scout Search Drill and Scout Pursuit Drill with the Trackers Triangle as the base of the "Triad of the Scout." The standard for trailing operations must always be improved upon for the success of every mission. The team cannot fail their trust.

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Human Track:         

This signifies the spoor presence of man on every trail, both the quarry and those that contaminate the trail--human and animal. The scout must always, "help nature with human problems--step by step."

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Wolf Track:              

This signifies the importance of maintaining the instincts of nature as the attributes of scout focus and the base of all animal/human tracking is within the ecology of the natural world. The scout must become nature to survive in it.

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Wolf Face:               

This signifies that the nose of the wolf and team must be centered on mission, terrain, and spoor. The wolf always blends and uses terrain for advantage in protection through the application of scoutcraft skills—tracking, survival, and defense. The wolf must survive no matter what. This requires a nose focused on the track, hunting, and survival.

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MIL/LEO/SAR

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Acronyms:               

Signifies the three professions that require the skills of the ST in the performance of their sworn duties.