|This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2011)|
In adventurous or dangerous activities, where the buddies are often required, the main benefit of the system is improved safety; each may be able to prevent the other becoming a casualty or rescue the other in a crisis.
When this system is used as part of training or the induction of newcomers to an organization, the less experienced buddy learns more quickly from close and frequent contact with the experienced buddy than when operating alone.
The buddy system is used in the United States Armed Forces, and referred to by various names in each branch ("Wingmen" in the Air Force, "Battle Buddies" in the Army, "Shipmates" in the Navy), as well as The Boy Scouts of America.
It is also used by religious organisations like the LDS Church. Members on mission form a companionship constituted by two or sometimes more missonaries, which are not allowed to be alone for a two year time period: "Stay Together. Never be alone. It is extremely important that you stay with your companion at all times."
The buddy system is also informally used by school-aged children, especially on field trips. Assigning each student a buddy provides an extra measure of safety and removes some of the burden of keeping an eye on a large number of children in an unfamiliar environment from the supervising adults.
- "What is the buddy system?". FAQs. Boy Scouts of America. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- "Buddy System in Swimming, Boating, Rappelling and other activities. Boy Scouts of America". Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- "LDS Missionary Handbook".
|Look up buddy system in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.|