Eagle Scout Joshua Myers helps a volunteer Scot assemble changing rooms for Operation Deploy Your Dress in Landstuhl, Germany (Ron Myers)
Becoming an Eagle Scout is a prestigious achievement and the highest rank in Scouts BSA, Scouting America’s traditional youth program. It requires a Scout to serve as a leader, earn merit badges, provide letters of recommendation and show ethical behavior. To earn the rank, a Scout must also complete a major service project. This Eagle Scout Project requires the Scout to use managerial skills in order to help their local community.
Over the past few months, I’ve interviewed Scouts working on their Eagle rank in the Trans-Atlantic Council region, Scouting America’s overseas arm. A large percentage of these Scouts are military-affiliated youth whose families are stationed abroad. For most, an Eagle Project takes months of dedication.
That has been true for Joshua Myers of Troop 69 in Vogelweh, Germany. In April 2026 he passed his Eagle board of revenue and prepared to be officially recognized at an Eagle Scout court of honor.
“It shows a sense of giving back to the community. That’s one of the main goals of Scouting…to show support, giving back to the community and showing that there are people who can do good things in this world and doing those good things…will always come around to give back to somebody else.”
— Joshua Myers, Troop 69
While the Eagle Project is only part of earning the rank of Eagle, it is often the culminating task and the one that requires the most work.
Myers’ began working on his Eagle Project last June and spent his summer handling all aspects of the project, from financial support and organization to the logistics of managing volunteers.
He worked with the Landstuhl-based branch of the Operation Deploy Your Dress (ODYD) organization to help them with a big relocation and expansion project. The Kaiserslautern Landstuhl Spouses Association (KLSA) was hosting ODYD in a small section of their thrift store but had made available a large lower-level space that was unused.
Myers’ managed the logistics of having volunteers movedfurniture, fixtures, shoes and artwork to a new shopping space and to set it up as a fresh premises. The Scouts also built two brand-new changing booths. Lastly, there were all the dresses (and suits) to bring in.
Eagle Scout Joshua Myers arranges shoes at the new Operation Deploy Your Dress shop in Landstuhl, Germany. (Ron Myers)
The hundreds of dresses that needed moved were in two places: some in the older, small ODYD shop area and many more in a basement storage space. They all needed moved to the new shop space where the organization can now display the entire inventory. It was a challenge to figure out how best to do this.
“One of the things was bringing down the dresses… because they are so heavy and they’re so large and we don’t want them touching the floor to ruin them, so we had to carefully bring them down.” Myers’ solution: two Scouts per trip with only a few dresses at a time, one holding the bodice and another bringing down the train.
The best way to move hundreds of heavy, formal dresses was a challenge Eagle Scout Joshua Myers had to figure out. His solution: two people per load. (Ron Myers)
Dresses and formal wear is provided for free by Operation Deploy Your Dress in Landstuhl, Germany. (Ron Myers)
The most difficult part for Myers was the management. He learned “a lot more about communication and listening” and found that hearing his volunteer team’s suggestions made for a great way to build a plan that he could then put into action.
ODYD is a non-profit organization that provides valid DoD ID holders with free formal wear and accessories, giving members of the community the opportunity to attend formal events without the associated costs. It is a resource for people seeking attire for prom or military balls and more. The branch at Landstuhl is the first shop with premises in Europe and is typically open one or two days a week. Check the Germany-Operation Deploy Your Dress Facebook page for their current hours.
Landstuhl’s Operation Deploy Your Dress is approaching its first anniversary in their new shop where the entire inventory can be displayed. (Ron Myers)
Building new changing rooms for Operation Deploy Your Dress was part of Joshua Myers’ Eagle Project to relocate and set up the store. (Ron Myers)
Thanks to Myers and his volunteer team, it has been nearly a year since ODYD was moved to the new location. It now has its own entrance, making it possible for their volunteers to establish their own opening hours instead of being limited to those offered by the thrift shop. Myers said that it is also a much cooler space, both in temperature and (he implied) in presentation. All the dresses, suits, jewelry, accessories and shoes are tidily on display and accessible to customers.
Like all Eagle projects, Myers’ was aimed at serving his community while learning valuable leadership skills along the way.
Joshua Myers and his father after passing his Eagle Scout board of review. (Ron Myers)
