BOY SCOUT RANKS
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Scout |
Tenderfoot |
2nd Class |
1st Class |
Star |
Life |
Eagle |
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 these
challenges, they achieve the aims of Boy Scouting. The Scout
advances and grows in the Boy Scout phase of the program in the
same way a plant grows by receiving nourishment in the right
environment. Parents must understand that a Scout may need
encouragement from time to time but it must be done at his own
pace.
The role for adults concerned with
advancement is to provide the right environment. One of the
greatest needs of young men is confidence. There are three kinds
of confidence that young men need: in themselves, in peers, and
in leaders.
There are sections in the first part of the Boy Scout Handbook
where the Scout or Parent
may mark a check and record dates for rank accomplishments.
Parents do not sign for the Leader.
BSA 4 Advancement Steps
1. The Boy Scout learns.
A Scout learns by doing. As he learns, he grows in ability to do
his part as a member of the patrol and the troop. As he develops
knowledge and skill, he is asked to teach others; and in this
way he begins to develop leadership.
2. The Boy Scout is tested. A Scout may be
tested on rank requirements by his patrol leader, Scoutmaster,
assistant Scoutmaster, a troop committee member, or a member of
his troop. The Scoutmaster maintains a list of those qualified
to give tests and to pass candidates. The Scout’s merit badge
counselor teaches and tests on the requirements for merit
badges.
3. The Boy Scout is reviewed. After a Scout has
completed all requirements for a rank, he has a board of review.
For Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle
Palms, the review is conducted by members of the troop
committee. The Eagle Scout board of review is conducted in
accordance with local council procedures.
4. The Boy Scout is recognized. When the board
of review has certified a boy’s advancement, he deserves to
receive recognition as soon as possible. This should be done at
a ceremony at the next troop meeting. The certificate for his
new rank may be presented later at a formal court of honor.
The Boy Scout Rank Advancement Process
- In the Back of the handbook only LEADERS sign off on the
requirements (where there is a field that is printed Leader. Leaders are those as designated and delegated by
the Scoutmaster. This is the part where a Scout is tested if he
is proficient in the subject matter.
- A Scoutmaster conducts a Scoutmaster Conference.
(A good conference should be unhurried. It helps the Scout
evaluate his accomplishments and set new goals with his
Scoutmaster. This can be accomplished at a troop meeting,
camping trip, or in the Scout’s home. Goal setting by
the Scout makes it possible for the Scoutmaster to help the
Scout with his weaknesses and encourage him to use his
strengths.)
- The Scoutmaster reviews Scout Spirit typically during
the Scoutmaster Conference.
- If Approved, the Scoutmaster signs the fields
Scoutmaster Conference and Scout Spirit
- The Boy Scout notifies the Advancement Chair requesting
a Board of Review and presents the handbook with all rank
requirements signed up to the Scoutmaster Conference.
- The advancement Chair oversees that there is a Board of
Review that consists of parents.
- NOTE: Scoutmasters do not participate in a Board of
Review. The Board of Review may request a
Scoutmaster to momentarily step in to answer or clarify
an issue.
- NOTE: Parents are not invited to their son's a Board of Review.
- The Board of Review proceeds if the handbook is
properly signed.
- If the Board of Review approves the Scout, they
are to sign the Scout Handbook where it calls for the Board
of Review.
- The Board of Review files out a
Unit
Advancement Report and signs it.
- The Advancement Report is then sent to the Advancement
Coordinator and the Troop Database administrator is to be
notified.
- The Troop database administrator records the date,
generates an electronic report to be sent to the advancement
coordinator, also generates labels for the advancement
certificate.
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The Advancement
coordinator logs onto the council advancement website and
sends the advancement report to the council office.
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Council will then
mail the badge to the designated Leader.
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The advancement
coordinator acquires parent pins and the rank metal pins for
the COH.
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The Scoutmaster
will present the cloth badge at the nest Troop meeting.
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The Scoutmaster
will oversee the Rank ceremony and present parent pins/and
rank pins along with the signed certificates to the Scout at
the next Court of Honor. This may be delegated to a Scout
that needs this opportunity for advancement (Communications
MB)
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The Scout and his
achievements are to be included in the COH printed program
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The Advancement
Coordinator then places the advancement report in the troop
files
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At each COH, an
advancement summary report from Council should be placed in
the Troop's files.
NOTE: The requirements must be met by the Scout by completing
exactly what is stated, no more; no less. A Boy Scout
badge recognizes what a young man is able to do; it is not a
reward for what he has done. Standards for joining a Boy Scout
troop and for advancement are listed in the latest printing of
the Boy Scout Handbook and in the current Boy Scout Requirements
book.
Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures Pg
10: "Whatever system is used for record keeping, the awarding of
badges to youth members should never be delayed. "
Service Projects
A dedicated page on the topic of Boy Scout service projects.
Community Service Project Form SCOUT SPIRIT is one of the most intangible
requirement for rank advancement is Scout Spirit. An
entire page is dedicated to the subject to first help the Scout,
Second help the Scoutmaster, third the Advancement Committee,
and finally the parent.
SCOUT SPIRIT Advancement accommodates the three aims of
Scouting: citizenship, growth in moral strength and character,
and mental and physical development. The advancement program is
designed to provide the Boy Scout with a chance to achieve the
aims of Scouting. As a Scout advances, he is measured and grows
in confidence and self-reliance. The ranks of Scouting are shown
above. To view the specific requirements for each rank, click on
the image. Eagle palms, merit badges & Order of the Arrow
information can be found by clicking on the images below.
Ranks up through and including First Class focus on Scout
Skills. Ranks above First Class focus on demonstrating
Leadership skills while using Scout Skills.
RESOURCES FOR THE ADULTS CONDUCTING REVIEWS
Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures
TROOP 151 BOARD OF REVIEW GUIDE A guide for
the Board of Review team.
Board of Review
Training (ppt)
BSA Board of Review Training
(pdf)
Scoutmaster Conferences (a
guide for the Scoutmaster and the Assistants for each rank)
Scout Spirit Guidelines (Required for each rank) SCOUT SPIRIT
UNION DISTRICT conducts Boards of Review for (Star, Life, and Eagle by
appointment)
BSA Advancement Videos
BSA Insignia Guide For all your uniforming, badges, & awards
placement guidelines
ADVANCEMENT Frequently Asked Questions:
http://www.scouting.org/BoyScouts/GuideforMeritBadgeCounselors/RankAdvanceFAQ.aspx
REFERENCE: Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures, BSA Document
ISBN978-0-8395-3088-6, Supply # 33088 This document is the most
comprehensive guide on advancement policies and procedures available in
one binding. The section on Boy Scouting should be reviewed in its
entirety when there is a question to ensure the intent and context is
well understood.
NEW 2010
Advancement Changes
MERIT BADGE PROCESS
Merit Badges

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Merit Badge Counselors must
complete
1. Youth protection Training
2. Merit Badge Counselor Orientation
Introductory Guide for Merit Badge Counselors
(Training)
Merit Badges classes may be offered in a group setting
or more effectively done independently by the Scout
(using a buddy system).MERIT BADGE PROCESS:
The Scout meets with the Scoutmaster for approval and
location of a merit badge counselor. A merit badge blue
card is filled out with a counselor's name and address
then the Scoutmaster signs the card approving that the
Scout for work on the merit badge.
The Scout will contact the counselor to make an appointment.
Some counselors will visit a troop meeting to counsel a Scout.
Some will meet at the Scout's home or the counselor's home. BSA
guidelines prohibit any adult from meeting alone with a boy.
Someone else (another Scout or another adult) must always be
present.
The blue merit badge
application is in three tear-off sections:
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MERIT BADGE
APPLICATION (and Troop Record)
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APPLICANT'S
RECORD (to be kept by the Scout)
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COUNSELOR'S
record (kept by the Counselor)
As a Scout passes a requirement, the counselor dates and
signs the chart on the back of the applicant's record.
When all Merit Badge
requirements have been met:
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The counselor
signs the back of the application and the applicant's
record.
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The counselor
keeps the counselor's section/record
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The Boy Scout
gives the application and the applicant's record to the
Scoutmaster.
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The Scoutmaster
signs the APPLICANT'S RECORD and gives it back to the Boy
Scout who is to place it in safe storage.
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The APPLICATION
section of the Blue card is to then be given to the
Advancement Coordinator.
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Troop database
administrator then records the date, generates an electronic
report to be sent to the advancement coordinator, also
generates labels for the advancement certificate.
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The Advancement
coordinator logs onto the council advancement website and
generates an advancement report and seeks necessary
signatures and sends the form to the council office.
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The merit badge
APPLICATION section is then dated by the Advancement
coordinator when the badge is reported to council
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The Scout and his
achievements are to be included in the COH printed program.
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Council will then
mail the badge to the designated Leader.
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The Scoutmaster
will then present the Merit Badge and merit badge
certificate at a Court of Honor.
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The Advancement
Coordinator then places the advancement report in the troop
files, and places the blue card APPLICATION record into the
Scout's personal file.
NOTE: The
applicant's record is the Scout's "receipt". He should
keep it in a safe place like any other important record.
We suggest a small loose-leaf binder with pages made for
baseball cards. Keep all applicant's records, merit
badge certificates, and rank certificates in the binder.
Do not put
them in your pocket nor your wallet!
It is
recommended you acquire a baseball card collector type
holder placing them in a notebook binder, along with all
documentation.
Some Summer
camps may only present an electronic version of the blue
cards, in this case, documentation signed by the Troop
Advancement Chair and or Scoutmaster will be sufficient
in this case. This is typically in the form of a
Individual Advancement History Form.
Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures, Page 20 "
Clause 13. The responsibility for merit badges shall
rest with the merit badge counselor approved by the
local council and district advancement committee. Merit
badge counselors shall be registered adult members of
the Boy Scouts of America. The merit badge counselor
shall prepare and qualify youth members. There shall be
no board of review procedure for merit badges, but
public recognition may be given at a unit court of honor
or other suitable occasion."
Merit Badge Library Merit Badge Requirements
http://usscouts.org/mb/mbbooks.asp
Merit Badge
passports (mini pamphlets)
Merit Badge Counselors annually fill out a BSA
Membership application and a Merit badge Counselor form which is
to be submitted to council.
Merit Badge
Counselor registration form
Merit Badge Counselor Orientation Training NOTE:
some councils no longer use the blue cards, in
such cases, the Scout individual history form is used to
record the completion of the merit badge. Partials
may also be recorded via notes on the form as well as
the use of Troopmaster. WHERE DO MERIT BADGES
GO? The Merit Badge Sash is only worn on
formal occasions. Merit badges are to be sewn in
rows of three starting 3 inches from the top crease.
Fewer than 6 merit badges are worn on the long sleeve
uniform shirt on right sleeve above the (this is no
longer common practice). Activity patches and
awards(not ranks) may be sewn, on the back of the sash,
3 inches from the top. OA sash in place of the merit
badge can be worn only during OA functions or when
representing the OA. (The merit badge sash and OA sash
may not be worn at the same time.) |

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Eagle Scout Rank Application
Eagle Scout Service projects are to be done 100% by the
Scout including leadership and documentation.
Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook
Contact Congress for Flag Orders
An Eagle Candidate must schedule:
Scoutmaster Conference with documentation that would
be needed to go to the Eagle Board of Review.
At least one month prior to the Union District Board
of Review.
Grand Lodge of Virginia Certificate |
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National Eagle Scout
Association
http://www.nesa.org/ |
Eagle Palms



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Awarded after serving the troop
for 3 months and earning additional merit badges beyond
the required 21 Merit Badges for Eagle Scout. May
be worn on the Eagle Ribbon or Knot.
Bronze 5, Gold 10, Silver 15 Merit Badges
Example: An Eagle Scout who earned 21+ 20 merit badges would
wear a Silver and a Bronze Palm.
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Order of the Arrow |
The Order of the Arrow is the
National Honor Society of the BSA. Being a member
of the Order of the Arrow is not an Award but rather a
Recognition of those who have displayed,
in the eyes of their fellow scouts, Scout virtues of
unselfish cheerful service, camping skills, and
leadership.
Eligibility Requirements
Scouts are elected to the Order by their fellow unit
members, following approval by the Scoutmaster or
Varsity team Coach. To become a member, a youth must be
a registered member of a Boy Scout troop or Varsity
Scout team and hold First Class rank. The youth must
have experienced fifteen days and nights of Boy Scout
camping during the two-year period prior to the
election. The fifteen days and nights must include one,
but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of six
consecutive days and five nights of resident camping,
approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy
Scouts of America. The balance of the camping must be
overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps.
Election is to be conducted annually by the OA
Election Team. The results are only to be revealed during the Call
out ceremony by the OA and no other individual(s)
Adult candidates must meet the same camping
requirements as the youth.
A worthy adult may be nominated using a special OA
nomination form which is to be turned to the OA Lodge
during the Troop Election. Only one adult can be
nominated in the same year that a youth is elected.
Ordeal Membership

After the Candidate has been called out, the
Candidate will be given the opportunity to participate in
an "Ordeal" and induction ceremony within 12
months of election. After completing the Induction
"Ordeal", he may then be confirmed as an Ordeal Member
of the Order of the Arrow by the OA Lodge.
If an elected candidate does not complete the ordeal
within 12 months of election, he then goes through the
entire qualification, election, and call out process
that next year.
Brotherhood Membership

After 10 months of service and fulfilling certain
requirements, a member may take part in the Brotherhood
ceremony, which places further emphasis on the ideals of
Scouting and the Order. Completion of this ceremony
signifies full membership in the OA.Vigil Honor

The Vigil Honor cannot be won by a person's conscious
endeavors and is not earned, rather it is bestowed.
After two years of service as a Brotherhood member, and
with the approval of the national Order of the Arrow
Committee, a Scout may be recognized with the Vigil
Honor for exceptional and outstanding service to
Scouting, his lodge, and the community. This honor is
bestowed by special selection and is limited to a
maximum of two percent of a Lodge's registered Arrowmen
once a year, through the Vigil Honor petition.
MEMBERS
Members are expected to set high examples of camping
traditions, service, and leadership. The
activities of the OA are intentionally not well
publicized as good works are to be done without self
recognition and knowing it was to benefit fellow Scouts.
A final word...
The Order of the Arrow, recognizing the attractiveness of the
unknown, utilizes the form of mystery to enhance the quality of
the program for the candidates. Early disclosure in most
all cases lessens the value of the experience for the Scout. OA Business shall NOT to be discussed with
non-members. Questions regarding the OA can be
discussed in confidence with the Scoutmaster or a
Professional Scouter (District Executive).
OA UNIT Election
Report and Adult Nomination Form
OA
Election Script To be used by Lodge Election Team,
provides general knowledge
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