Advancement

A Scout’s Guide to Rank Advancement

Scouting provides an advancement review process that allows a scout’s progress to be assessed. The process also allows the scout to assess the Troop, providing feedback to the Scoutmaster and board of review members. This review process is described in the Orientation Guide. Here are the steps:

1. Scouts can work on advancement requirements by themselves, with their patrol, or at larger scouting events. They should get sign offs in their Scout Handbook as they complete the items (see: Who can sign off on requirements below).
2. When scouts feel they have completed all requirements for rank except for the Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review, they should bring their paper Scout Handbook to Mr. Moore at a meeting to request a Scoutmaster Conference.
3. Mr. Moore will transfer all records from the Scout Handbook to the online tracking system, ensure requirements for rank have been met, and schedule a Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review. This process may up to 3 weeks, so plan ahead to earn ranks before Court of Honor ceremony deadlines.
4. Scouts attend the Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review in class A uniform to discuss their progress, their goals, their challenges, and their feedback for the Troop. These meetings are not to review the rank requirements. This is why it is important that anyone signing of on a rank requirement verifies that the scout actually knows the material and can demonstrate it.

Frequently asked questions:

• Who can sign off on the requirements in the Scout Manual as a scout completes the requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class?
  • Answer: Any scout that is “Trained”, that is, any scout that has completed JLT (Junior Leader Training), can sign off the Check List. The scouts that are trained are the Senior Patrol Leader, any Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, any Patrol Leader, any Troop Guide or any scout that has served in one of these positions and has a “Trained” patch on his uniform sleeve.  If a situation comes up where there isn’t enough time to get a Scout to sign off, either an adult leader or a parent may sign off after verifying the requirements have been met.
•  When will my Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review be held?
  • They are held during meetings and will be scheduled for a time when enough adult leaders are available to attend.  Scouts must wear a Class A uniform for these meetings.
• My rank requires Service Hours, how do I earn them?
  • Any service events planned by the Troop will qualify for service hours.  It is up to the scout to sign up, attend, and ensure their attendance is recorded at the event.
  • Scouts may seek out other service opportunities but in order for them to qualify for scout service hours, they must first get approval from the Scoutmaster and turn in their hours using a log such as: Service Hours Form
• My rank requires a leadership position, how do I get one?
  • Advancement into the upper ranks involves a position of responsibility.  Current and future scout leaders can review each position’s requirements in the Junior Leadership Booklet
• My rank requires merit badges, how do I get them?
  • All merit badges must first start by requesting that Mr Moore signs you up for it and gives feedback on a counselor.  Sometimes the troop may be planning a troop-wide session on a particular merit badge or there may be an event coming up that will teach it.  Always seek the advice of Mr Moore and troop leadership before starting a merit badge.

Rank-specific Notes:

Scout rank: Parent/guardian should sign off “How to Protect Your Child from Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide” requirement

Tenderfoot rank: Parent/guardian should sign off Substance Abuse requirement #8

Second Class rank: Only Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster may sign off the “Lighting a Stove” requirement

Second Class and First Class Orienteering: Only the adult leaders of the Orienteering hikes/activities may sign off the requirements

Eagle Candidates