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The art of meeting a challenge is how some have described the BSA advancement program. You will learn new skills, grow in self confidence, try new activities, and develop a deeper love and concern for our planet.
You will learn skills by being active in troop and patrol meetings, and participating in outdoor events. Your patrol leader, and the PLC will plan activities that will allow you to learn the Scouting skills necessary for advancement.
When your leaders see that you have mastered a given skill and satisfied a requirement, your Scout handbook will be annotated.
After all requirements for a rank are completed you will appear before a "board of review" composed of adult leaders and committee members.
Finally you will be awarded your new badge recognizing your achievement. This is done as soon as a badge can be obtained. You can also expect to be recognized at the next troop Court of Honor.
Whenever you complete the requirements for an award or merit badge be sure that you inform the troop scribe and Committee Advancement Chair.
Each Scout must first earn the Scout award. This teaches the new Scout the basics of the Scouting program.
The Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class requirements are the basic Scoutcraft skills. For each achievement you will need to learn camping and hiking skills, nature skills, first aid, citizenship, be active in the troop, and show Scout spirit.
You may work on requirements for all three awards at the same time, but they must be earned in sequence.
It is your responsibility to let your patrol leader and the troop guide know which requirements you wish to work on. Very often other members of your patrol will wish to work on the same requirements. If the requirements are to be done at camp be sure to have prepared in advance and brought any materials or supplies needed.
You may work on merit badges, but do not let this interfere with the progression on your trail to First Class.
Be sure to let the troop scribe know each time you complete a requirement so the troop records can be updated.
For the Star, Life, and Eagle award, you must earn a certain number of merit badges some of which are from the list required for the Eagle award. You must perform community service and hold a leadership position. In addition you must be active in the troop and show Scout spirit.
By now you should be used to taking the responsibility for your own advancement. As you progress the type of service projects performed will require more input and planning on your part.
As a more experienced Scout you will also be expected to show Scout spirit and set an example for the younger Scouts.
Merit badges are badges awarded for fulfilling requirements in specific fields of interest. There are more than 100 badges a Scout can earn, in subject areas that include careers, sports, hobbies, and Scouting skills.
You earn a merit badge by working with an adult counselor, an expert in the chosen subject, who is on a list provide by the troop. If the counselor is to be met away from the troop meeting you must make an appointment and visit the counselor with a buddy. It may take more than one visit to complete the merit badge requirements and for each visit you must have a buddy attend with you.
It is your responsibility to obtain and have read the merit badge pamphlet for the badge you wish to work on. You also need to acquire a "blue card" from the troop committee advancement chair. This blue card must be filled out with your name, address, and the badge it is for, and approved by the Scoutmaster before you begin work on the merit badge. Among other things the Scoutmaster will want to know what merit badge counselor you intend to work with and who will attend the visit with you.
You should make sure that the merit badge counselor signs off each requirement as you complete them. The only time limit for completion of a merit badge is your 18th birthday.
When you complete a merit badge, have the counselor sign the "blue card." The counselor will keep one portion of the card. The “applicant’s record” portion is signed by the scoutmaster. The third portion is turned into to troop advancement chair.
The portion kept by you is very important and should be stored in a safe place. This is your record that you did complete the merit badge. In case any problems occur with the troop or council records, this may be the only proof that you did complete the merit badge. If you transfer to another troop, or rejoin scouting after an absence this may be the only record of your earning the merit badge. This is very important when you apply for the Eagle award.
Leadership requirements for Star, Life, and Eagle awards must be troop offices, or leadership projects approved by the Scoutmaster. The office of patrol leader does meet this requirement. A list of the qualifying offices is given in the Scout Handbook where the Scout records his progress towards the Eagle rank.
The other patrol offices, including Assistant Patrol Leader, do not meet the requirement unless approved in advance by the Scoutmaster.
You will be expected to do more that just fill a leadership position. You must become a leader. Set the example, make the job your own and become pro-active in your job. After your term in office is completed you may wish to talk to the Scoutmaster about your performance and any ideas you have come up with to help the troop.
For the Second class, Star, and Life awards, you must perform a certain number of service hours. This service must be to the community and not to Scouting. It may be done as part of a troop or patrol service project, or it may be one that you develop and perform on your own.
All service projects must be approved by the Scoutmaster who will ensure that they meet the spirit of the requirements, and that the project will be done in a safe manner consistent with BSA youth protection guidelines.
The troop requires that you do not repeat service projects that you have previously performed for any other award.
For the Eagle project you must plan develop and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community. The project must be approved by your Scoutmaster and troop committee and approved by the council or district before your start. (Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook)
Each award requires that you show Scout spirit in your Scouting activities and non-Scouting life. This is expected to be a continuous attitude and not just in the weeks prior to finishing an award.
What is Scout spirit? It is living by the principles of the Scout oath, law, motto and slogan.
Your Scoutmaster wants to give you plenty of opportunities for growth. When you join the troop and as you complete the requirements for each rank, the Scoutmaster will sit down with you for a friendly visit. These conferences will help your Scoutmaster get to know you better. He will gain a clearer idea of what you can contribute to your patrol and troop. He may also discover new ways that he can bring you the best that Scouting has to offer.
Each Scoutmaster conference is also an opportunity for you to learn more about your Scoutmaster and what is expected of you. This is a good time to bring up any concerns you have about the troop, and to discuss anything you don't understand about the Scout program.
The board of review is conducted by adult troop leaders interested in your progress as a Scout. They want to make sure you really have completed the requirements for a rank. They may also be able to suggest ways you can get more out of Scouting. They will not retest you on the requirements.
The board of review gives you a chance to bring up any questions or problems you may have, and a chance for the board to talk with you about goals, Scout spirit, and personal growth.
The troop committee may also ask you to attend a board of review at times other than the completion of rank. This may be to gain insight to problems in the troop, review your progress in advancement, or simply to congratulate your on some well-done deed.
Boards of Review for the Eagle rank are done on the council or district level.
Troop 612 Handbook