LAPLACE — In the span of 135 minutes, three Boy Scouts from LaPlace’s Troop 406 advanced to the rank of Eagle Scout this summer.

Reece Bordelon, Jared McElveen and Alex Watkins traveled to Camp V Bar at Salmen Scout Reservation in Mississippi as part of their summer scouting trip, and on June 19 they each became Eagle Scouts in their individual turn at a 45-minute Board of Review.

While it may be lauded by some as an individual accomplishment to become an Eagle Scout, Reece said scouting has meant much more to him than solo accolades.

“It’s always been a brotherhood,” he said. “We treat each other like family. It’s more than a friendship.”

Reece, 15, is the son of Van and Penny Bordelon of LaPlace. His older brother Julian achieved Eagle Scout rank in 2012, and his dad serves as advancement chair in Troop 406.

Scouting, Van said, has strengthened their family.

“It’s a steady, consistent and proven method to raise good boys,” he said.

A student at Riverside Academy, Reece is active in football, track and field and the math honor society Mu Alpha Theta. He has won a National Outdoor Achievement Award for hiking and camping, and has served as Troop 406’s troop guide for two years.

Reece said the troop guide position is all about “leading young men into who they’ll be,” and in the role he helps manage younger scouts.

For his Eagle Scout project, Reece organized a May blood drive with Ochsner Blood Bank in honor of veterans.

Jared, 18, is the son of Cynthia Russo. He recently graduated from Natchitoches’ Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts — where he was in the chess club — and said he plans to attend college at North Carolina’s Davidson College.

Jared, who serves as junior assistant scoutmaster, refurbished a run-down playground at First United Methodist Church of LaPlace, the same church Troop 406 meets at each week, for his Eagle project.

While Alex and Reese have been in scouting together since they were 6 years old, Jared joined the troop as a freshman in high school.

Jared said he learned about the scouting opportunity from Alex’s father Chuck, who was his freshman science teacher at East St. John High School.

“I walked into class and Dr. Watkins and another student were looking at stuff for scouts,” Jared said, adding it sparked an interest in joining the troop. “I joined a few weeks later.”

Van said Jared “had to put in more work than the other kids cause he didn’t have that much time,” as scouts must complete all Eagle requirements before they turn 18.

Even with the limited time, Jared worked hard and reached the peak of scouting success alongside two of his other troop members.

For 14-year-old Alex, the son of Chuck and Lisette Watkins, scouting is also a family affair. His dad serves as assistant scoutmaster, and his younger brother Bryce, 12, is a member of Troop 406.

Alex, who is the troop’s senior patrol leader and is a long-time piano student, established two Little Free Library ventures for his Eagle Scout project. He attends East St. John High School, where he is active in Beta Club.

Other accolades for Alex include NRA expert marksman and National Outdoor Achievement Award winner for camping, hiking and water sports. Van said Troop 406 has 36 members from around the parish, and every school is represented by the variety of troops.