In the survival reality television show, Kicking and Screaming, 10 survival experts competed against each other for a $500,000 prize in the Fijian jungle:  a warlord, a ninja, two U.S. Air Force SERE Instructors, several U.S. Special Forces members…

…and a Scoutmaster?

To make matter worse, Scoutmaster Terry L. Fossum and the others did this while dragging along a complete novice, someone who had never camped before in their life, ‘kicking and screaming’ across the finish line.

It sounds like a recipe for disaster.  Then again, so did Terry’s life.

Growing up in the poorest city in the United States surrounded by gangs and drugs, Terry faced a life with few opportunities.  One night he found himself starting down the barrel of an assault rifle.  Instead of following a path toward a dark future, he joined Scouting.  It changed his life.

Terry overcame great obstacles to earn a Mechanical Engineering degree from Texas A&M University.  As an Officer in the U.S. Air Force, he received numerous awards, including Officer of the Year, Fairchild Air Force Base; Humanitarian of the Year, Strategic Air Command; and Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer’s School.

In 1991, following his military service, Terry built a global direct sales business and became a multimillion dollar earner.

After retiring to focus on his wife and three preteen and teenage boys in his new blended family, Terry focused on philanthropic causes, including the Terry L. Fossum Learning Center for the widows and orphans of the Rwanda genocide, agricultural training for the poorest country in Africa, Malawi, and the Terry L. Fossum Scholarships for Underprivileged Youth in his home town of McAllen, Texas.  He also received his Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.

An author of four highly-acclaimed books, Terry is an international speaker helping individuals and companies reach new heights, and telling how the underdog Scoutmaster and his partner overcame the odds to win one of the toughest survival contests ever seen on prime time network television.

KICKING & SCREAMING: Terry Fossum, Life-Long Boyscout. “Survivalist” CR: Jeff Neira / FOX. © FOX Broadcasting Co.