Advancement Guide

Advancement Basics

[taken from BSA’s ‘Guide to Advancement’]
All Scouts BSA awards, merit badges, badges of rank, and Eagle Palms are only for registered Scouts, includingLone Scouts, and also for qualified Venturers or Sea Scouts who are not yet 18 years old. Venturers and Sea Scouts qualify by achieving First Class rank in a Scouts BSA troop or as a Lone Scout. The only exceptions for those older than age 18 are related to Scouts registered beyond the age of eligibility and those who have been granted time extensions to complete the Eagle Scout rank.

In Scouts BSA, advancement requirements must be passed as written. If, for example, a requirement uses words like “show,” “demonstrate,” or “discuss,” then that is what Scouts must do. Filling out a worksheet, for example, swould not suffice.

There are seven ranks in Scouts BSA that are to be earned sequentially no matter what age a youth joins the program. These ranks are described in order below. Click on the rank badge for requirements.

The Scout rank is oriented toward learning the basic information every youth needs to know to be a good Scout. It starts with demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout motto, and Scout slogan and then introduces the Scout to basic troop operations and safety concerns.

Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks are oriented toward learning and practicing skills that will help Scouts develop confidence and fitness, challenge their thought processes, introduce them to their responsibilities as citizens, and prepare them for exciting and successful Scouting experiences. Requirements for the Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks may be worked on
simultaneously; however, these ranks must be earned in sequence.

All requirements for Star, Life, and Eagle, except for those related to merit badges, must be fulfilled after the successful completion of a board of review for the previous rank.

A Scout advances from the Scout rank to Eagle by doing, things with a patrol and troop, with adult and youth leaders, and independently. For each rank, the following steps occur.

Learning
With learning, a Scout grows in the ability to contribute to the patrol and troop. As Scouts develop knowledge and skills, they are asked to teach others and, in this way, they learn and develop leadership.

Testing
The unit leader authorizes those who may test and pass the Scout on rank requirements. They might include the patrol leader, the senior patrol leader, the unit leader, an assistant unit leader, or another Scout. Only an adult leader may sign off on the requirements for the Star, Life, and Eagle Ranks. Merit badge counselors teach and test Scouts on requirements for merit badges. Once a Scout has been tested and signed off by someone approved to do so, the requirement has been met.

Youth leader signing off on a requirement should be at least one rank higher than the youth seeking the signature. A sibling should not sign off on requirements for their sibling.

Scoutmaster Conference
The Scoutmaster Conference is a meeting between the Scoutmaster and the Scout, and it is a requirement for each rank. The Scoutmaster reviews the Scout’s progress and ensures all requirements have been met. The Scout is expected to show their growth in understanding of the Scouting ideals, including the Scout Oath and the Scout Law, and how they have applied those ideals. The Scoutmaster will also discuss the next steps in advancement and will encourage the Scout to establish a goal for personal growth that will be evaluated by the Scout at the next Scoutmaster Conference.

It is the responsibility of the Scout to request a Scoutmaster Conference.

Review
After completing all the requirements for a rank, except Scout rank, a Scout meets with a board of review. For Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, and Life ranks, members of the unit committee conduct it. The Eagle Scout board of review is held in accordance with National Council and local council procedures.

Recognition
When a Scout has earned the Scout rank or when a board of review has approved advancement, the Scout deserves recognition as soon as possible. This should be done at a ceremony at the current or next unit meeting. The achievement may be recognized again later, as well as the other ranks during formal court of honor.

After a Scout has completed the requirements for any rank (except Scout rank), he or she appears before a board of review. A board of review is a personal and individual experience for the Scout. Its purpose is to determine the quality of the Scout’s experience and decide whether the requirements for the rank have been fulfilled.

The Board of Review is made up of a group of three to six members of the Troop Committee. No unit leader, assistant unit leader, or the parent of the Scout may participate.  It is the final approval process for rank advancement in Scouting.  The Board of Review members interview the Scout to ensure all requirements are met, determine the Scout’s attitude, and their acceptance of Scouting’s ideals and their application. The Board also solicits the Scout’s opinions on the Troop program and on youth and adult leadership, and Scouting.

Scheduling and Attending
Make sure the requirements in your book are signed off and that you have completed a Scoutmaster Conference for that rank. Generally, board of reviews are conducted once a month just before or during one of the troop meetings, or as needed outside of that schedule. Contact the Advancement Chair via email to schedule a review. The Scout is responsible for scheduling a board of review.

Please arrive for your review about 5 minutes early, in your complete Field Uniform, with your Boy Scout Handbook. Reviews for ranks up to 2nd Class take 10-15 minutes, 1st Class, Star, and Life take longer (20-30 minutes or so), and Eagle takes 30-45 minutes. Plan accordingly.

Troop 883 has quarterly court of honors. A court of honor is a formal ceremony during which Scouts are honored and recognized for their achievements, including special awards, merit badges, and ranks., except Eagle. Troop 883 celebrates after the closing with social time and refreshments. All parents should attend and encourage and congratulate their own and other Scouts during this time.

The Eagle Court of Honor is special court of honor with a different format and usually focused on a single recipient. These court of honors are programmed and coordinated by the parents of the Scout and scheduled by them to their liking.

Please keep in mind that service hours are required for advancement, and they are not cumulative. You must complete the required number of service hours for each rank.

Service hours are not outings. They may be part of an outing, but alone do not fulfill the outings requirements for Second Class and First Class. (e.g. Road Cleanups is a service hour opportunity, but not an outing). Patrol projects at Summer Camp is an example of when it can be both.

Always check the lasted Rank and Merit Badge requirements for service hours needed.

• Tenderfoot, requirement 7b: One hour of service (up from zero)
• Second Class, requirement 8e: Two hours of service
• First Class, requirement 9d: Three hours of service
• Star, requirement 4: Six hours of service
• Life, requirement 4: Six hours of service, at least three of which are conservation-related
• Eagle Scout: The Eagle Scout service project

Some merit badges have a separate requirement for service hours as well. These cannot be combined with the ones used for rank advancement. (Not cumulative.)

There are more than 100 merit badges in a broad range of areas.  Merit badges are an important part of the Boy Scout advancement program, however, we encourage Scouts to earn merit badges that go above and beyond the requirements of the advancement program. Many Scouts end up in a trade or profession later in life as the result of a related merit badge they earned while in Scouts!

You can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers as you earn merit badges.  Any Scout may earn any merit badge at any time.  There is no rank advancement to be eligible. Here’s how:

1. Pick a Subject
Choose a merit badge to earn – any Scout can earn any merit badge.
Discuss the merit badge you would like to earn with the Scoutmaster.
2. Find a Merit Badge Counselor
Work with the Scoutmaster or Advancement Chair to find a merit badge counselor.
Some merit badge counselors are affiliated with the Troop while others on the Carroll District list.
3. Request a Merit Badge Card (“Blue Card’)
The blue card is a record of your enrollment in the merit badge, requirements completed, and completion of the merit badge. The physical card is blue and has three sections, each to be divided for you, the merit badge instructor, and the troop upon completion of the merit badge. More and more, this card is digital/electronic, or simply virtual in nature if the counselor and/or troop use digital bookkeeping.
Have the Scoutmaster sign your merit badge card.
4. Scout Buddy System
When meeting with the merit badge counselor, you must have another person with you, no matter what! This person can be another Scout, your parents or guardian, a brother or sister or other relative, or a friend.
5. Contact the Counslor
Get in touch with the merit badge counselor let them know you want to earn the merit badge.  The counselor may explain what is expected of you and to start helping you meet the requirements.  You should also discuss work that you have already started or possibly completed. When using the physical blue card, you will want to get that to the counselor.
6. Work on the Merit Badge
Unless otherwise specified, work for a requirement can be started at any time.  Ask your counselor to help you learn the things you need to know or do. You should read the merit badge pamphlet on the subject. You can get a copy of the merit badge pamphlet from the Troop Librarian.  Many Troops and school or public libraries have them, and sometimes they may be available in digital format online.
7. Show Your Stuff
When you are ready, make an appointment with the counselor to meet the requirements.  Take along the things you have made or accomplished in meeting them. If they are too big to move, take pictures or have an adult verify in writing what you have done. The counselor will ask you to review each requirement to make sure that you know your stuff and have done or can do the things required.
8. Get the Badge
When the counselor is satisfied that you have met each requirement, he or she will sign your blue card, keep his/her copy for record-keeping. Bring the other 2/3 of the card to the Scoutmaster for the 2nd Scoutmaster signature. Once signed by the Scoutmaster, give the blue card to your Advancement Chair so that your merit badge emblem can be secured for you. Once secured, you will be awarded and recognized the merit badge at the next Court of Honor.

Many people find the merit badge worksheets at www.meritbadge.org to be helpful.  This site also lists the most current badge of rank requirements.