Advancement Guidelines

Troop 82 has had many Scouts attain the rank of Eagle during its 50+ year history. Most every one of those boys had one thing in common - a parent or other significant adult to motivate, inspire and mentor them toward that goal. This person was involved in the Scouting experience with that boy in the capacity of Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop Committee Member, Merit Badge Counselor, or one of those special people who volunteered in the background to help with transportation, fund raising, ceremonies, service projects, etc. It is very rare that a boy will effectively advance in Scouting, much less reach the rank of Eagle Scout, without help from parents and adult mentors.

You can drop your boy off before the meetings, pick him up afterwards, and see that he goes on an occasional campout and he will be a Boy Scout, but you likely never have an Eagle Scout. You must be there for him and with him if you expect those results. We expect at least one parent from each family to be involved in the operation of this troop and in their sons' advancement.

Here we have attempted to summarize the requirements for rank advancement, but the National BSA Advancement Policies and Procedures book (No. 33088A) will be considered as the final authority in our troop's advancement policy. Like your son, we expect parents to read and rely on the Boy Scout Handbook for direction in the Scouting experience. The requirements for each rank are outlined in the Boy Scout Handbook. You can work on advancement requirements with your parents, family members, with other Scouts and with adult Scout leaders. This can be done on your own, in patrol and troop meetings, or during other troop functions such as campouts.

It is the policy of Troop 82 that Scouts have their Boy Scout Handbook with them at all troop meetings and outings until they attain First Class rank.

Generally, there are five steps that must be completed to advance in rank:

1. Complete all the skill requirements for the rank.
2. Complete the required service hours/project for the rank.
3. Serve actively in an approved leadership capacity for the required time for the rank.
4. Schedule and participate in a Scoutmaster Conference.
5. Schedule and participate in a Board of Review.

Service Projects

For advancement to Second Class Rank, a Scout must participate in a service project, approved by his Scoutmaster, for a minimum of one hour. This project prepares a Scout for the more involved service projects he must perform for the Star, Life, and Eagle Scout Ranks. For Star and Life Ranks, a Scout must perform six hours of service to others for each rank. This may be done as an individual project or as a member of a patrol or troop. These hours must be served after receiving your last rank advancement. This means, for instance, that you cannot count service hours you performed as a First Class Scout towards the Life advancement requirement.

Before you begin your service, you must get approval from the Scoutmaster or an Assistant Scoutmaster. This is done by filling out a Service Record form which is available in the file cabinet in the scout room or on the Forms page at the Troop 82 website. Getting pre-approval insures that the service is appropriate and helps a Scout prepare for the more rigorous approval process for an Eagle Leadership Service Project. Service work done in advance of approval will not be accepted.

Routine labor, a job or service normally rendered, should not be considered. The service time served must benefit an organization other than Boy Scouting. It could be for any legitimate non-profit organization, church, governmental entity. etc. The service projects may not be performed for a business, or be of a commercial nature, or be a fund-raiser. Work done for family members, relatives, or close personal family friends typically will not be accepted for service hours. Also, there is no "double dipping". If you are required to perform service for your church (confirmation), school or other organization you can count service hours for only one organization. You can split up the hours between organizations. If, for instance, after you obtain pre-approval you perform service for 8 hours, you could count 6 hours towards your Boy Scout rank advancement and 2 hours toward confirmation. All work performed must be done under the auspices of Boy Scouting.

When your service is complete get the recipient of the service to sign the Troop 82 Service Record card. Each Scout is responsible for recording the time and description of service projects performed on a Service Record form and then keeping the card in their Boy Scout Handbook.

Leadership

Boy Scouts is structured to create opportunities for boys to experience leadership. The skills learned, the forced interaction with adults and the seemingly bureaucratic procedures asked of younger scouts are practice for their later roles as leaders in their patrol and troop. To advance to the rank of Star, Life or Eagle a Scout needs to serve actively as a leader in the troop for 6 months. (The requirement for Star is actually 4 months.) To facilitate this requirement, there are two 6 months terms for leadership positions in Troop 82 each year. The first term is from the end of February through summer camp.  The second term is from right after summer camp until the end of February.  

The position of Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and each Patrol Leader (PL) is an elected position. Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL) may also be elected. The remaining leadership positions are appointed by the Scoutmaster with the assistance of the elected SPL.

If your Scout needs a leadership position to complete the requirements for rank advancement it is his responsibility to make that desire known to the Scoutmaster and SPL. The Scoutmaster will work to make leadership opportunities available, but there is no guarantee that just because a Scout needs leadership, that a position will be available to him.  

Actively Serving in a leadership position means performing the duties of the office. You will not get credit for being Bugler if you never blow revelry or taps at camp. And of course, you cannot perform the required duties if you do not regularly attend meetings and camps during your tenure. The SPL and Patrol Leaders must be represented at all activities. In this case, "actively serving" means that you need to find a substitute if you cannot attend a meeting or camp.

Credit for nights of camping

The Scoutmaster for Troop 82 keeps a tally (Camping Log) of the number of nights each Scout has camped. The ranks of Second Class and First Class Scout; Camping Merit Badge (a requirement for Eagle rank) and Order of the Arrow membership all require overnight camping. Boy Scouts camp in order to develop outdoor skills such as setting up camp, meal preparation, nature identification, etc. It is also a time to develop teamwork and leadership skills. For a camping experience to be counted in the log, a Scout must participate in as least one meal for each tallied day. Every attempt should be made to fully participate in the activities planned for the outing.

Besides troop campouts, district, council or OA camping activities can count towards logged nights camping. To qualify, you must be a registered member of the troop while participating in the camp and the event must be a Scouting activity. This means that family camping does not qualify. Also, indoor overnight troop activities such as a lock-in are not tallied.

Scoutmaster Conferences

You should meet regularly with the Scoutmaster to discuss your activity in the troop and your understanding and practice of the ideals of Scouting. To get a Scoutmaster Conference scheduled, you must make an appointment with the Scoutmaster. There is limited time to do Scoutmaster Conferences during Troop meetings. Good times to schedule a conference are right before or right after troop meetings, during the troop meeting inter-patrol activity time or during a monthly campout. Plan about 20 minutes for the conference. Scout must have their Scout Handbook and be in full uniform for a Scoutmaster conference to occur. If you are not in full uniform you will have to re-schedule the conference. You do not have to wait until you have completed the requirements for a rank in order to ask for a Scoutmaster conference. You are welcome to discuss your progress with the Scoutmaster at any time. You will still need to schedule the time with the Scoutmaster.

Eagle Scout candidates need to arrange a Scoutmaster Conference outside of the normal troop schedule for their Eagle rank Scoutmaster conference. This conference will last from 45 to 60 minutes. Troop camps would be an excellent time to schedule these conferences, but the Scoutmaster can be flexible in meeting with the Eagle candidate at other times.

Steps for Rank Advancement in Troop 82

1. Have all rank advancement requirements completed and signed off by the Scoutmaster or other trained troop leader in the back of your Scout Handbook (pp. 438-449).
2. Review your Scout Handbook with your Patrol’s assigned Assistant Scoutmaster to verify that all of the requirements, merit badges, and service hours have been completed and recorded.
3. Request and complete a Scoutmaster Conference in your full class ‘A’ uniform. A full uniform includes shirt, pants, neckerchief and neckerchief slide. Star and Life Scouts must also wear their merit badge sash. Be sure to bring your Scout Handbook. Be prepared to discuss what you did to complete any of the requirements for the rank you are pursuing. A Scoutmaster conference should last about 15 minutes (except for Eagle). The goal of this discussion is to make sure that the Scout is ready to stand before a Board of Review. Towards that end, the Scoutmaster may ask you to review some material before he signs off on the Scoutmaster Conference.
4. If the Scoutmaster determines that you have a satisfactory knowledge of the pertinent material in the Scout Handbook and that you live up to the ideals of the Scout Oath and Law, he will sign off the Scoutmaster Conference requirement in your handbook. You must then contact the troop’s Advancement Chairman to request a Board of Review with the troop committee (usually 3 members).
   Boards of Review are normally scheduled during troop meetings in the weeks leading up to a Court of Honor. Alternate times are possible if the Advancement Chairman is given enough time to make the arrangements. (Minimum of 5 days.) A typical Board of Review takes 20-30 minutes. Be sure to wear your complete uniform, including merit badge sash, and bring your handbook. The purpose of the Board of Review is not to retest you but rather to 1) ensure that you have completed all of the requirements, 2) to determine the quality of your troop experience, and 3) to encourage you to advance toward the next rank. It is also a time for you to ask any questions you might have and to give feedback to the troop committee about activities and your Scouting experience in your troop and your patrol. Parents are not allowed to sit in on a Board of Review.
   At the end of the review, you will be asked to leave the room while the board discusses your qualifications. The board will then call you back into the room and inform either that you have been approved for the next rank or what additional actions you must take to qualify.
5. After passing the Board of Review, you will be recognized in front of the troop as soon as possible. You will receive your new rank patch shortly after, usually at the next troop meeting. You will be formally recognized for your rank advancements and merit badges in front of family and friends during a ceremony at a quarterly Court of Honor. At this time you will be presented with your wallet-sized certificate card. Your parents, other family members, and friends are invited and encouraged to attend all Courts of Honor.
6. After reaching the rank of Life Scout and upon setting a goal of becoming an Eagle Scout, you will meet with the Scoutmaster. This person will serve as your mentor and counselor and guide you through the steps to the rank of Eagle Scout. At this meeting you will receive your Life to Eagle packet and discuss ideas and suggestions for your Eagle Service Project. This project must conform to special guidelines that have been outlined by the Boys Scouts of America. Your Scoutmaster, Troop Committee, and a representative of your District Advancement Committee, as well as the benefiting organization must approve your project before you begin carrying it out.

Merit Badges

Earning merit badges allows you to explore many fields, helps you to round out your skills, and introduces you to subjects that will perhaps become life-long interests or a rewarding career.

There are more than 130 merit badges for you to choose from. You may earn any merit badge at any time, with the Scoutmaster’s approval. Don’t wait for someone to tell you what merit badge to work on. You don’t need to reach a certain rank in order to be eligible. However, you should concentrate on achieving the rank of First Class before devoting a lot of time to working on merit badges. You can find information about merit badge requirements in the appropriate merit badge book, in the current Boys Scout Requirement Book or on the Internet

We highly recommend that Scouts take Eagle-required merit badge classes, when they are offered. All merit badges must be worn on the official Boy Scout merit badge sash. The sash must be purchased by the Scout.

Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to complete too many merit badges at one time. We recommend that you actively work on no more than two at one time until you reach the rank of First Class, and than no more than four or five at a time thereafter.

Steps to complete a merit badge:

1. Choose a merit badge as discussed above.
2. Fill out a "blue card" (Application for Merit Badge, No. 34124A) and obtain pre-approval from the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster. Some merit badges are difficult to complete for younger scouts and the adult leader may ask you to choose another merit badge to work on first.
3. Obtain a booklet for the merit badge. The Troop Librarian maintains a library of merit badge books. If the troop does not have a current booklet you will need to purchase one from the Council Service Center or another source
4. It is the policy of Troop 82 to comply with the BSA’s two-deep leadership policy for youth protection – that is two youth and one adult or two adults and one youth. To satisfy this requirement, it is often easier to work on a merit badge with a buddy or in a small group. If you can find another Scout (or family member, or friend) that wants to pursue the merit badge it will help both you and the merit badge councilor.
5. Contact a registered Merit Badge Councilor* for that merit badge. Except for Camping merit badge, the Scoutmaster staff is generally not registered as merit badge councilors.
6. Work on the badge requirements until you complete them, meeting with the counselor (along with your buddy) whenever necessary. There is no specified time limit for finishing a merit badge, but if you lose your blue card or the merit badge councilor does not renew their registration you will likely be asked to start over.
7. Complete the requirements for the merit badge and obtain the signature of the merit badge councilor. The councilor will keep 1/3 of the card for their records.
8. Present the completed blue card to a Scoutmaster for their signature. The scoutmaster will give you 1/3 of the card and give the last 1/3 to the Advancement Chairman.
9. When you are finished using the merit badge books that you own, please consider donating them to the troop library so that others may use them.

Record-Keeping

Your advancement records are kept in three places – the Council Service Center, the troop Advancement Chairman, and yourself. The Council office keeps records supplied to them by the troop Advancement Chairman, who also keeps records of these awards for the troop. Troop 82 maintains its advancement information on computer. To protect the confidentiality and the integrity of the information on the computer, only the current Advancement Committee Chairman and the Scoutmasters shall be authorized to add, edit, or delete information in the troop records.

You will receive four kinds of documents that you need to KEEP IN A SAFE PLACE UNTIL AFTER YOU TURN 18 (or receive your Eagle Scout Award, whichever is later). These documents are: Scout Handbook with requirements signed off, your portion of the completed merit badge cards, and the wallet-sized certificate cards for rank advancement and merit badge completion, and computer print-outs of your records you may request from the troop Advancement Chairman. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU KEEP THESE DOCUMENTS IN A SAFE PLACE AND DO NOT LOSE THEM!!! If it should happen that there is a discrepancy or missing records, your personal records are your most important ally in proving what you completed and when.