Family is Vincent Rappa’s priority. After serving for 20 years, the former Army officer moved his family of seven to Hanover to settle down while the kids were still young, choosing the Anne Arundel County area to be close to his family in Virginia and his in-laws in Baltimore.
Now, Rappa works in cybersecurity for the Marine Corps. He has been actively involved in his sons’ Scout troop—Troop 446 of Hanover—for the past 18 years, only taking a one-year hiatus.
Rappa lives with his wife, Tamara, and their five boys, Dominic (18), Grayson (17), Julian (15), Noah (13) and Nicolas (9).
What do you love most about being a parent?
There’s a lot of things. I think just being able to help guide and shape your children to be better people and be[come] responsible adults—that’s something I enjoy. I get to do that through Scouting on top of just being a parent.
What does a typical work day look like?
Normally [a] 9 to 5 job. I work for the Marine Corps and help with cybersecurity.
How do you balance parenthood and the demands of your career?
For me, I think the demands of my career are a little bit different. I’m a retired Army warrant officer; I served 20 years. We started having kids a little bit later. Dominic was born in 2006, and I was already over halfway through my career. I joined [the Army] in 1994, and 12 years in, we had Dominic, so we’re fortunate that my kids were little towards the back half of my career in the Army.
As a retiree, I’m still able to have a job. [I don’t have] to do crazy things in my career to keep advancing for my kids. I don’t view it currently as my career getting in the way of parenting. I’m fortunate enough to have a good job in a career field that I love and that lets me be a “nine to fiver.” It doesn’t get in the way of family.
What are your responsibilities as Cubmaster and Scoutmaster?
I started in leadership roles with Cub Scouts when Dominic was a Tiger. I felt it was really important; I’ve always been the type that enjoys teaching. I felt like it was a nice, natural thing to do. Early on, as a Den leader, you’re running a small group of kids; you’re responsible for curriculum for them, making sure you’re teaching them good values and Scouting and stuff. At the top level, the responsibilities are to make sure that programs are in place and making sure that [Den leaders] are teaching the requirements and aren’t behind. On that side, it’s very much running the adults.
I also double as a Den leader. I’ve been a Den leader for all five of my kids, sometimes at different points. I would usually start with them the first year and then identify a parent that would be fit to be a leader. My main responsibility, first and foremost, is always going to be to make sure the kids are safe. Job No. 1 is ensure there’s a safe environment for our children. Not only just physical safety on a trip, but ensuring the leaders that are there are right for our kids. It’s also to ensure that I have a safe environment free of bullying, and making sure that kids understand we have kids in the troop who have special needs and we have to make sure they have a safe environment.
Second and third is making sure that we’re guiding our youth to be leaders; to do that, you have to let them be leaders, and you have to give them those opportunities to lead, but also the ability to fail in a safe space. I’m expecting them to take leadership roles and run the troop, and be the person in charge, and I’m there to help. I’m there to help guide and mentor them.
What do you want your children to learn from you?
To be honest, to be fair, to not pass judgments on people unreasonably or unfairly; just be good people. I want them to treat others with respect and dignity. In our house, we’re not bigots. We’re very open and willing to always give people chances and trust people. If they’re seeing somebody being bullied, I want my kids to be the ones who can help, who can be a shoulder and also an advocate for them.
Family Favorites
Family Meal: Pizza
Dessert: Ice cream (“When you have such a big family, everybody likes something different.”)
Family Activity: Trips to Ocean City
Local Spot: Ocean City Boardwalk
Restaurant: Crabtowne
