Rank Advancement Procedure

As the troop grows in size and scouts progress at various rates, it is important that we have a well-established set of guidelines to handle rank advancement process.    Advancement is an important part of the scout program.  The requirements of advancement are well defined for each level of progress.  Our procedures for administering the advancement process should also be well defined and adhered to so that we can recognize the achievements of all scouts in a timely and dignified way.

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO RANK ADVANCEMENT!!!

BSA Advancement Principles

 

  1. Personal growth is the prime consideration in the advancement program.

  2. Learning by doing.

  3. Each youth progresses at his or her own rate.

  4. A badge is recognition of what a young person is able to do, not merely a reward

for what he has done.

  1. Advancement encourages Scouting ideals.

 

 

BSA Four Steps of Advancement

 

A scout learns

A scout is tested

A scout is reviewed

A scout is recognized

 

 

Scoutmaster Conferences

 

Robert Lambert is scheduling all Scoutmaster conferences.  He will need confirmation that all requirements have been met (including all required documents/forms), dues are paid and the troop participation/attendance requirement has been met before scheduling the conference.

 

Robert Lambert will notify Roy Padgett when a Scout is ready for a Board of Review and forward his paperwork.  To assist Robert, we will revise the current scheduling/sign-off form to match the new process.  In addition, once a week the Troop Scribe, Andrew Lambert, will update the attendance roster and distribute it electronically to the SPL, ASPLs, Scoutmaster, Senior Assistant Scoutmaster, Committee Chair and Advancement Coordinator.

 

In an earlier message, I mentioned that attendance files for a six- to seven-month period are missing.  Because of this loss, attendance records will have to be reconstructed based on Scout’s Honor and a parent’s review.  To accomplish this, we will forward an Excel file with dates for the missing attendance data for each Scout planning to rank advance in the next six months to complete and return to the Scribe.

 

 

Boards of Review

 

We are working to schedule two regular Thursday nights each month for Boards of Review.  Between now and the Court of Honor we will hold them on as many Thursday nights as possible.  Roy Padgett will notify the Scout via email as to what night and time his Board of Review is scheduled.

 

The Scout should appear before the Board of Review in full formal uniform, including merit badge sash, hat and neckerchief and with his Scout Handbook.

 

Boards of Review will be comprised of Committee Members.  Star, Life and Eagle boards will be staffed by Ron Stewart, Jim Sutton, Steve Onxley, Tripp Gabriel, Steve Groves, Bill Macurda Sr., Greg Catledge, Terry Dixon and Roy Padgett.  One of them will also be a member of all boards for Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class.  Our troop is blessed to have this many experienced Scouters who are willing to devote their personal time to the growth and advancement of our sons. 

 

 

Eagle Required Merit Badges for the
October 2011 Court of Honor

 

As Kurt Fruendt announced to the Scouts before we left for summer camp, all Scouts that completed an Eagle required merit badge will be asked three general questions from the specific requirements for that merit badge to confirm the Scout understands the material.  A Scout will also need to confirm that he completed all the requirements.  If a Scout is unable to discuss the merit badge, he will be asked to try again after he has reviewed the merit badge pamphlet. This process will apply only to Eagle required merit badges completed since the last Court of Honor.

 

Because of the large number Scouts that have completed an Eagle required merit badge since the last Court of Honor, we will meet with the Scouts during several Thursday night meetings and on the whitewater trip.  Kurt Fruendt and Robert Lambert will handle the Scouts they meet with for a Scoutmaster Conference.  To help with the Scouts not participating in a Scoutmaster Conference, between now and the end of October we will also enlist Ron Stewart, Jim Sutton, Steve Onxley, Tripp Gabriel, Steve Groves, Bill Macurda Sr., Greg Catledge and Terry Dixon to assist Roy Padgett as Unit Leaders for the Eagle required merit badges.

 

Eagle required merit badges include: First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Environmental Science, Personal Fitness, Camping, Family Life, Personal Management, Emergency Preparedness (or Lifesaving), Cycling (or Hiking or Swimming).

 

If a Scout does not have the merit badge pamphlet to bring to the meeting, he needs to print the requirements for his Eagle required merit badges, review them and bring them to the meeting with one of the men listed above.  The badge requirements can be found at:

 

 

 

All Merit Badges Completed after the
October 2011 Court of Honor

 

After our October, 2011 Court of Honor, before the Unit Leader, Roy Padgett, signs off on the blue card for any merit badge, the Scout will be asked three general questions from the specific requirements for that merit badge to confirm the Scout understands the material.  The Scout will need to bring the merit badge pamphlet to the meeting with the Unit Leader.

 

A Scout will also need to confirm that he read the merit badge pamphlet and completed all the requirements.  If a Scout is unable to discuss the merit badge, he will be asked to try again after he has reviewed the merit badge pamphlet.

 

Additional information regarding advancement and merit badges is available in the Troop 413 Guidebook, which is available on the Troop website.

 

 

 

The following procedure applies to advancement for ALL ranks:

Scout must have all requirements completed and signed off in their scout handbook. 

Scout should obtain a Rank Advancement/Pass-Off Form from an Asst. Scoutmaster or Advancement Chairman, Roy Padgett

Scout should complete all his sections first:

  1. Scout should get the form signed off by the Treasurer, indicating that scout fees and dues are up-to-date and that attendance has been 75% or greater for the previous 6 months. 

  2. Scout should then get an Asst. Scoutmaster to review this form for accuracy and to initial it in the identified places.  

  3. Scout should have 4 Scout Spirit Appraisal Forms completed. 
    (These forms may also be obtained from the Advancement Chairman or any Asst. Scoutmaster.)                               
    ***These forms may have instructions and may be distributed to appropriate individuals for completion even before all scout handbook requirements for the rank have been completed.         

Scoutmaster Conference:      

Following steps 1, 2 and 3 the Scout should then schedule his Scoutmaster Conference.           The Scout should take the following with him to the conference: 

  • Rank Advancement/Pass-Off Form

  • Scout handbook

  • Compass

  • Topographical Map

  • Rope for knot tying  and lashing materials

  • Scout Spirit Forms

  • Wear full Class A uniform!              

Board of Reviews:
Following successful Scoutmaster Conference, scout should schedule his Board of Review by contacting Advancement Chairman: 

Take the following materials with you to your Board of Review:

  • Fully completed Rank Advancement Form

  • Completed Scoutmaster Conference Checklist

  • All completed Scout Spirit Forms    

  • Scout handbook

  • Blue cards for merit badges for rank (if applicable) 

  • Wear full Class A uniform w/ merit badge sash

 

 

 


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