Rank Advancement

A Boy Scout advances from Tenderfoot to Eagle by doing things with his patrol and his troop, with his leaders, and on his own. Advancement establishes a pattern of setting positive goals and reaching them throughout life. A Boy Scout badge recognizes what a young man is able to do; it is not a reward for what he has done.

When a badge and certificate are awarded to a Boy Scout to recognize that he has achieved a rank, they represent that a young man has:

§       Been an active participant in his troop and patrol.

§       Demonstrated living the Scout Oath and Law in his daily life.

§       Met the other requirements and/or earned the merit badges for the rank.

§       Participated in a Scoutmaster conference.

§       Satisfactorily appeared before a board of review.

In the advanced ranks (Star, Life, and Eagle), the badge represents that the Scout has also:

§       Served in a position of responsibility in the troop.

§       Performed community service to others.

The requirements for the ranks of Tenderfoot through First Class prepare the Scout to take full advantage of all that Scouting has to offer. Star, Life, and Eagle requirements focus on service to others and developing leadership skills.

Requirements for each rank are outlined in the Boy Scout Handbook. The Scout can work on advancement requirements with his parents or other family members, with other Scouts, and with adult Scout leaders. This can be done on his own, in patrol and troop meetings, and during other troop functions such as campouts. He will have many opportunities to practice each skill, and will be tested on each requirement before his handbook is dated and signed. In addition, he should expect to practice each skill repeatedly, even after the requirement is completed. As the Scout progresses, he will also have opportunities to teach these skills to less experienced Scouts, which will further reinforce his knowledge and skill.

As the Scout completes each requirement he will need the information verified, or be evaluated on his ability to master a skill, then the requirement is signed and dated in the back section of the Scout handbook. The person signing the book may be an Assistant Scoutmaster, a troop committee member, or another, more experienced, Scout. In Boy Scouts, troop leaders or older Scouts, rather than parents, sign the advancement requirements. In order to avoid the appearance of impropriety, troop leaders will not normally sign the rank requirements for their own son. Infrequent exceptions are made in the case of a leader who is teaching skills to several Scouts at once at a patrol or troop meeting or other Scouting function. The requirement for demonstrating Scout Spirit is signed by the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster. (He will only sign if he believes that the Scout is living by the Scout Oath and Scout Law). He will do this during the Scoutmaster Conference.

It is up to the Scout to take advantage of the advancement opportunities available to him, and to take the initiative to ask someone to test him when he is ready. The Scout is responsible for keeping his own personal advancement record in his handbook. He should also record his service hours, campouts, troop activities, and leadership positions in the handbook.

The Scout must earn the ranks in order, but may complete any requirement for Tenderfoot through First Class at any time. For example, he may complete a First Class requirement before finishing the Tenderfoot requirements, but must earn Tenderfoot rank before he is awarded Second Class and First Class ranks.

When all the requirements for a rank are completed (other than scout sprit, Scoutmaster conference, and board of review) the Scout must bring the handbook to the advancement chairperson, who will review the handbook and verify the rank requirements.

The Scout will then write his name on the white board to request a Scoutmaster conference. The Scout must have his handbook and be in complete uniform (class-A shirt and neckerchief, appropriate pants or shorts, and a belt) for the Scoutmaster conference.

Once the Scout has passed the Scoutmaster conference, he should write his name on the white board to schedule a board of review.  The Scout must have his handbook and be in complete uniform for a board of review.

A board of review is a meeting with a group of at least three members of the troop committee (a subset of the adult leaders). The review is not a test, it is an opportunity for the Scout and the troop committee to discuss advancement progress, the Scout’s plans and goals, any issues he has with the troop and its members and any suggestions he may have for improvements. It provides a way for the Scout to influence the direction of the troop outside of the normal patrol and troop environment. The board of review is typically 15-20 minutes.

At the end of the board of review the adults will date and sign the Scout handbook. The Scout will receive his rank badge at the end of the troop meeting.

The Scout is formally recognized for rank advancements and merit badges in front of family and friends during a court of honor. A court of honor is an awards ceremony. At the court of honor, the Scout is presented with a wallet-sized certificate card for ranks and merit badges. Troop 101 typically schedules four courts of honor each year. Parents/guardians, other family members, and friends are encouraged to attend the court of honor.

After reaching the rank of Life Scout, the Scout should meet with one of the adult leaders in the troop. At this meeting, he will receive the Life to Eagle packet and discuss ideas for an Eagle service project. This project must conform to special guidelines outlined by the Boy Scouts of America. The Scoutmaster, troop advancement chairperson, and a representative of the district advancement committee, as well as the benefiting organization, must approve the project before it can begin.

Merit Badges

Earning merit badges allows the Scout to explore many different areas of interest, helps round out his skills, and introduces him to subjects that will perhaps become lifelong interests or lead to a rewarding career.

The Scout may earn any merit badge at any time (with Scoutmaster or advancement chairperson approval). The Scout can find information about merit badge requirements on meritbadge.com or in the appropriate merit badge pamphlets. Some merit badge pamphlets are available in our troop library. All of them should be available at the Scout Shop or ordered on-line at scoutstuff.org

Steps to earning a merit badge:

§       The Scout should get a blue merit badge card from the advancement chairperson and fill in his name, troop number, and the name of the merit badge. He will also need the name and phone number of the merit badge counselor from the advancement chairperson.

§       The Scout should set an appointment with the merit badge counselor. This can be at any place that is suitable to the counselor and Scout, including a troop meeting. When meeting with a counselor the Scout must have a buddy (another Scout or Scout leader, a family member, or a friend) present at all times. The counselor will explain the requirements for the merit badge and help the Scout get started.

§       The Scout will work on the merit badge requirements until completed, meeting with the counselor (along with a buddy) whenever necessary.

§       The Scout must complete the stated requirements and satisfy the standards of each merit badge.

§       The Scout keeps the merit badge card until he has completed all of the requirements. The counselor should sign and date the card as each requirement is completed. If the Scout loses this card, he may have to start the badge over unless the counselor is willing to vouch for previously completed requirements. Keep the card safe!

§       After the Scout completes all of the requirements, the counselor will sign and date the merit badge card and should indicate that the Scout has completed the merit badge.

§       The Scout should turn in the signed and completed merit badge card to the advancement chairperson.  

§       The Scout will receive his merit badge at the end of the troop meeting. He will receive the wallet-sized certificate card at the following court of honor.

Record Keeping

A Scout will receive three kinds of documents that require safekeeping. These documents are the Scout handbook, merit badge cards, and the wallet-sized certificate cards for rank advancement and merit badge completion. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THESE DOCUMENTS AND KEEP THEM IN A SAFE PLACE.

It is highly recommended that the Scout (or parent/guardian) periodically make a copy of the dated and signed rank requirements page(s) in the Scout handbook. This should be done when the Scout has accomplished several of the requirements, but has not actually completed everything for the rank. When a rank is partially completed, the only record of accomplishments is the book. Without a copy, if the Scout losses the book or it is damaged (i.e. a rainy campout) the requirements may have to be repeated.

The rank requirement page(s) should also be copied after a Scout has completed all the rank requirements and has completed the Scoutmaster conference and board of review.  This obviously documents a completed rank advancement.

The advancement chairperson enters the completed rank advancement and merit badge information into a troop database. As required by BSA, the Capitol Area Council office also receives a copy of the information. Although we strive for accurate documentation and safekeeping if there is a discrepancy or missing records, the Scout’s personal records are invaluable.