Philosophy

“The Boy Scout advancement program is subtle. It places a series of challenges in front of a Scout in a manner that is fun and educational. As scouts meet challenges, they advance the aims of Boy Scouting.” ¹ Each scout should strive to live the Scout Oath and Law in his every day life and to do a good turn daily.

The Four Steps of Advancement²

The Boy Scout Learns
The Boy Scout is Tested
The Boy Scout is Reviewed (Scoutmaster’s Conference and Board of Review)
The Boy Scout is Recognized

THE BOY SCOUT LEARNS

“A Scout may at any time complete any requirement for Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class. There is no waiting time between those ranks, so a boy may work on the requirements at his own speed.”² There is a special award given by the troop for those scouts who achieve First Class in one year.

THE BOY SCOUT IS TESTED

“A scout wanting to complete an advancement requirement must demonstrate to his leader that he has fully mastered a skill at the level expected.”² Most rank requirements can be signed off by the scout’s patrol coaches, except for the Scoutmaster’s Conference, Board of Review, service hours, and leadership requirement.

Rank Requirements –

Scouts should document in their books when requirements are done at a campout (done at camporee 2002).

Rank requirements should only be signed off if the scout is appropriately dressed for the event at which his book is being signed. For example if the scout is not in full class A/Class B, (whichever is appropriate) at a meeting, then he should not have his book signed off).

Second Class, requirement 2a and 1^st Class requirement 3 – Troop/patrol activities: Any troop or patrol event approved by the Scoutmaster can be counted for this requirement. This includes the troop Court of Honor. If it’s on the calendar, it can be counted.

Second Class requirement 8 - Participation in a school, community or troop program on the dangers of using drugs alcohol and tobacco. Participation in a

school program will only count if the scout was enrolled in the troop before the program was completed.

Service hours – Any service project that the troop is participating in can be counted and does not need prior approval (for example: scouting for food, We Remember). The 4^th of July clean up does not count for service hours, as it is a fundraiser. Some examples of troop service projects are: cleaning up the community; pruning community trees; fixing up cemeteries; shoveling snow; conducting clothing drives; assisting at election day; aiding shut-ins; restoring historic sites; refurbishing monuments; visiting nursing homes; collecting toys; participating in conservation work.² If a scout wishes to do an independent service project, he must get written approval from the Scoutmaster before the project is started. The scout should provide the Scoutmaster in writing with a brief explanation of the service project, the expected number of hours needed to complete the service, and the date of the service project. The Scoutmaster will then sign the document approving or disapproving using the service project for rank advancement. After the service project is completed, the scout must have an adult in charge at the service project sign the document stating how many hours the scout worked. When this is done, the Scoutmaster can then sign off the requirement in the scout’s book.

First Class requirement 4 – Requirements 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, and 4e, should be completed for the same campout.

Leadership Requirement for Star, Life, and Eagle – Each scout who holds a leadership position in the troop will be assigned an adult mentor (for example, Troop Scribe will work with the Committee secretary). This mentor will work with the scout on a regular basis and will sign off for this requirement. If a scout does not hold a leadership position in the troop, he may still complete this requirement by carrying out a Scoutmaster-assigned leadership project to help the troop. In this case, the Scoutmaster will sign off this requirement.

Scout Spirit – Only the Scoutmaster or someone designated by the Scoutmaster may sign off for this requirement.

Scheduling a Scoutmaster’s Conference and Board or Review – When all requirements have been completed for the rank, except for the Scoutmaster’s Conference and the Board of Review, let the Advancement Chairperson know. The Advancement Chairperson will then verify all of the dates for all of the requirements and schedule a Scoutmaster’s Conference. After a scout has the Scout Spirit and Scoutmaster’s Conference signed off, each scout should then request that the Advancement chairperson schedule them for a Board of Review.

THE BOY SCOUT IS REVIEWED

Three registered committee members of the troop will conduct the Board of Review (BOR). These people cannot be the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster or a member of the scout’s family. “The purpose of the BOR is not to retest a scout, but rather to ensure that he has completed all of the requirements, to determine the quality of his troop experience, and to encourage him to advance toward the next rank.”² “At the end of the review, the scout will leave the room while the board members discuss his qualifications. Then they will call him back to tell him that he is qualified for his new rank, or to outline very clearly what more he must do in order to successfully complete the requirements.”² The BOR members must vote unanimously to advance to the scout. On the day of the scout’s BOR, he must present himself in full Class A uniform.

Full Class A uniform:

Class A shirt

Neckerchief

Slide

Green shorts or green pants (scout socks must be worn with the shorts)

A belt (this does not have to be a scout belt, any belt will do)

Slides or neckerchiefs should not be borrowed from someone else, as it is the scout’s responsibility to come to the BOR dressed appropriately. If the scout has a problem obtaining the required clothing, he must let the Advancement Chairperson know before the BOR.

A SCOUT IS RECOGNIZED

A scout will receive his new badge as soon as possible after his achievement has been certified by a BOR. He will receive his rank card at the next Court of Honor.

Additional Helpful Information

It is strongly recommended that each scout keep a notebook and bring it to each meeting. He should take notes during the meeting; keep a calendar of events, patrol/troop phone numbers, and merit badge information. It is very important to keep all rank advancement cards and merit badge cards in a safe place. A scout may make a copy of these cards to bring to meetings and outings and keep the originals in a safe place. Often these cards are used to verify requirements for eagle.

First Class requirement 9c has been removed from the First Class requirements and is now Requirement 4 of the swimming merit badge.

¹ Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures, Boy Scouts of America, Revised 1989.

²The Scoutmaster Handbook, Boy Scouts of America, Revised 2001.

Written by Jean James, Advancement Chair

January 2003