History

The Boy Scouts of America Troop 31 is located on Fort Monroe in the beautiful Hampton Roads area of Virginia.  The Troop was established in 1918 and is one of the oldest Boy Scout Troops with continuous service in the commonwealth of Virginia.  In June of 2018 the Troop will celebrate its 100th birthday.  

BSA Troop 31, nicknamed the “Moat Monsters”, traces its origins to Virginia’s BSA Troop 1. As one of the oldest continuously chartered troops in the Colonial Virginia Council, Troop 31 has served Fort Monroe and the Hampton Roads community for over nine decades.  

Legends abound regarding when Troop 31 actually appeared on the scene, but unfortunately BSA historical files offer little clarity. Originally chartered in June 1918 as Troop 1, in 1925 or 1926 the troop either generated three additional troops (11, 21, & 31), split into three new troops, or was redesignated as Troop 31.

As of March 2008, out of 1,116 Boy Scout Troops in Virginia, only four—including Troop 31—have been continuously chartered for 90 years or more.  Nationwide, only 282 of nearly 8,000 troops have achieved the same distinction. 

As Fort Monroe transitioned to Fort Eustis under the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) decision on 15 September 2011, the troop remained in place as an active and vibrant member of the local Fort Monroe/Phoebus community. 

Today, the Troop 31 continues its active service on Fort Monroe at the Chapel of the Centurion Chapel Annex, 54 Bernard Road, Fort Monroe, VA 23651.  The Chapel of the Centurion is located inside the walls of Fortress Monroe and graciously serves as Troop 31’s new Chartering Organization.