Troop 3's Advancement Guidelines

TROOP 3 ADVANCEMENT GUIDELINES

In late 1997, our Troop Charter Organization Representative asked that a detailed letter be put out in regards to troop, council, and national advancement policies. He suggested that this letter cover all ranks, especially Eagle.

National policy for advancement is outlined in the Boy Scout Handbook. There are very few items that won't be found in the handbook. These are briefly mentioned below. If you have any questions about these please feel free to ask or look in the National BSA Advancement Policies and Procedures book.

1. No one is allowed to add or subtract from the established requirements. (This applies to merit badges also.)

2. More detailed explanation of service projects.

3. All Board of Reviews must reach a unanimous decision regarding a Scout's advancement in rank, especially for the rank of Eagle.

4. Time extensions for those Scouts close to the age of 18.

5. Explanation of how to appeal decisions of a Board of Review.

6. Explanation of Summer Camp advancement.

7. National leaves it up to the local council to determine rather the Eagle Board of Review is held at the troop, district, or council level.

All advancement guidelines outlined by national are the same at the council level. As per National policy, the Council policy that is prescribed to for advancement to the rank of Eagle is as follows. This came out in a letter in November 1997 in an attempt to "uniform" the Eagle packets.

1. Once a Scout has earned the rank of Life he is issued a Life to Eagle Packet #18-927 with an Eagle Scout Application #58-728. The Scoutmaster or Unit Advancement Chairman can review the packet with the Scout and encourage him to pursue the Eagle rank.

2. There are several requirements for Eagle, including the important Eagle service project.

a. Details must be written or typed in the service project workbook.

b. Submitted to the council for approval.

c. Approval must be obtained before any of the project can be started.

3. After the project is completed the Scoutmaster or Unit Advancement Chairman should help the Scout with the application. This will ensure that requirement information, including dates, are complete and correct.

4. A Scoutmaster conference is completed. The Eagle candidate must sign and date the application. The candidate is required to submit a letter of achievements and ambitions. The Scoutmaster and Committee Chairman must sign and date the application before the packet is submitted to the council office.

5. The name and phone number of the Unit Advancement Chairman must be submitted with the Eagle application. The application is verified at council and passed on to the Council Advancement Committee.

6. The Unit Advancement Chairman contacts the references listed on the application and hopefully obtains favorable responses on the applicant.

7. An Eagle Board of Review is than scheduled. At this time the Unit Advancement Chairman reports his findings to the review board.

8. Once the Eagle Board of Review is complete, the members sign the Scout's handbook, Eagle application, and an Advancement Report. The entire Eagle packet is returned to the Scout Office. Once it's returned there, the Scout Executive signs the application.

9. The application is then sent to the National Office for approval. National takes 4 to 8 weeks to receive, process, and return each application.

10. Once approved by National the application is returned to the local council. The Scoutmaster is notified to pick up the packet.

11. Once received by the Scoutmaster an Eagle Court of Honor should be arranged. The packet is only released to the Scout at his Eagle Court of Honor.

Troop policy is basically the same as National and Council. There are some items that are more specified at the troop level. The following covers advancement from the Scout rank up through Eagle. Included are those items which the troop has made specific policy on.

The first rank received at the troop level is that of SCOUT. It is probably the most simple to accomplish, especially for those Scouts that were in Cub Scouts. The requirements are similar to those for the Arrow of Light, with the exception of knowing the Pledge of Allegiance, being able to tie a square knot, and knowing and understanding the Outdoor Code (Page 4 in handbook). Once the Scout has accomplished the requirements he has a Scoutmaster conference and is awarded his rank. There is no Board of Review for this rank.

The ranks TENDERFOOT through FIRST CLASS require completion of various Scouting skills, Scout Spirit, a Scoutmaster conference, and a Board of Review. The requirements for these first 3 ranks may be worked on simultaneously; however, they must be earned in sequence. The ranks of STAR through EAGLE require completion of various merit badges, leadership position, tenure, service project, Scout Spirit, a Scoutmaster conference, and a Board of Review.

SIGNING OFF REQUIREMENTS

Troop 3 uses a computer program called Troopmaster to track each Scout's advancement and activity history. Scout's have been asked not to write in their books (except in pencil). This allows for corrections to be made easily. They should bring their books to the Unit Advancement Chairman for periodic updating.

Upon completion of requirements in their handbook the Scout should take his book to the Scoutmaster for date and initials. If the Scoutmaster is busy the handbook may be taken to the Assistant Scoutmaster assigned to his patrol for date and initials. If the Scout cannot get time with these two people he can leave his book with the Unit Advancement Chairman. [PARENTS ARE NOT TO SIGN OFF SCOUT'S HANDBOOK.]

TENURE

This is the length of time required between ranks. There is no tenure from the Scout through First Class ranks. Boys can routinely have these completed within their first year in the troop, based on their attendance and campout participation. Once a Scout has made the rank of First Class he must be active in the troop for at least 4 months. As a Star or Life Scout, he must be active in the troop for at least 6 months. Tenure can be effected if a Scout is placed on inactive status. Inactive status means a Scout has missed too many troop meetings and activities without calling the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster with a valid excuse.

SCOUT SPIRIT

Each Scout is expected to have Scout Spirit. This is important to his advancement. BSA changed the wording of this requirement to "Demonstrate Scout Spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law in your everyday life." Scout Spirit can be demonstrated by cheerfully cooperating with the adult leadership. A boy with Scout Spirit is helpful during campouts and does his share of the work. He is respectful and attentive during meetings and does what he can to help his troop and fellow Scouts, especially young and new Scouts. Boys who are frequently disruptive or uncooperative may be refused rank advancement based on this requirement.

SERVICE PROJECT HOURS

Troop 3 has the following criteria established for Star and Life service project hours.

1. All service projects must be approved by the Scoutmaster in advance. (This is a BSA policy and is written in the requirement in the Scout's handbook.)

2. Three hours may be counted when doing a troop, patrol, or Eagle service project. These are usually announced and do not need "specified" approval.

3. The remaining three hours are to be a "specific" project discussed with the Scoutmaster. A written plan is encouraged to give the Scout preparation for his Eagle project.

LEADERSHIP POSITION

1. Scouts are assigned or elected to a position within their patrol or the troop.

2. These positions are needed for rank advancement and must be held for at least six months.

3. Failure to do the duties of the Scout's assigned position will result in removal from that position.

4. Assistant patrol leader is not considered a position for rank advancement purposes (BSA policy).

SCOUTMASTER CONFERENCE

1. Each Scout will be responsible for signing up for a Scoutmaster conference prior to the night of each month's Board of Review. (At this time his uniform will be inspected.)

2. Every Scout must present himself in his class "A" Scout shirt, the troop neckerchief, and a slide. This is a requirement, not an option. Be sure shirt is tucked in. (Be sure patches are correctly placed and are neat in their appearance.)

3. Scout is to wear his merit badge sash if he has earned any merit badges. This is definitely required for those Scouts going up for Star, Life, and Eagle. (Sash is worn from right shoulder to left hip.)

4. Neat jeans are accepted for Tenderfoot through First Class ranks. Those going up for Star, Life, and Eagle are required to wear Scout pants or shorts, with Scout belt and Scout socks. Shoes should be neat and clean.

5. The Scout should be neat in his overall appearance.

6. Each Scout is required to have his Boy Scout Handbook at the Scoutmaster conference and the Board of Review.

7. Every Scout is responsible for knowing the joining requirements found on page 4 of the Boy Scout Handbook. (More detailed information can be found within the book.) These should be known for the Scout through Eagle ranks.

8. Each Scout is expected to show his knowledge of those items achieved towards rank advancement. (This is an accumulative process.)

BOARD OF REVIEW

1. Only those Scouts completing the Scoutmaster conference prior to the night of the Board of Review will be permitted to meet the Board.

2. Board of Reviews are scheduled for the second Tuesday of every month (exception made for Eagle Palms).

3. If several Scouts are up for advancement, the Unit Advancement Chairman is permitted to assign a date and time for each Scout to meet the Board. If the Scout does not show up for his assigned Board, he will not be seen until the following month.

4. Requirements 2 through 6 above also apply to Boards of Review. Scouts will not meet the Board without these.

5. Requirement 7 and 8 above are used by the Board members to ensure that each Scout is truly learning what he should for rank advancement. This is also a way to ensure that each Scout is getting a program that satisfies his needs and desires.

MERIT BADGES

1. Scout should work with a registered counselor (other than a parent when possible).

2. Scout should do merit badges using the buddy system.

3. The troop has adopted a one year completion policy on merit badge work.

a. This eliminates the continual maintaining of incomplete cards.

b. Encourages the Scout to complete work in a more timely manner (stay on task).

4. As of 1 January 2002, the list of Eagle required merit badges is as follows::

a. Camping

b. Citizenship in the Community

c. Citizenship in the Nation

d. Citizenship in the World

e. Communications

f. Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving

g. Environmental Science

h. Family Life

i. First Aid

j. Personal Fitness

k. Personal Management

l. Swimming OR Cycling OR Hiking

The remaining nine merit badges needed for the rank of Eagle Scout may come from the hundred plus offered in the current Scouting program. A helpful guide is the current Boy Scout Requirements book.

Hopefully this will answer any questions you or your Scout have about the advancement process and policies. If there are still any questions, please see the Unit Advancement Chairman. This individual maintains the most current issues of the guides listed in this letter.

Policies outlined in this document are those currently accepted and practiced by the leadership of Troop 3.

Yours in Scouting,

Graden Rediker, Scoutmaster

David McFarlane, Committee Chairman