ADVANCEMENT
Excerpted from BSA Troop Committee Guidebook
For Successful Troop Operation
Copyright 1998, Boy Scouts of America, ISBN 0-8395-4505-3

ADVANCEMENT
IS THE PROCESS
by which youth members
progress through ranks
in the Scouting program
by the gradual mastery
of Scouting skills.		 Advancement
Ranks are simply a means to an end, not an end in themselves. Everything Scouts do to advance and earn their ranks, from the day they join until they leave the program, should be designed to help them have an exciting and meaningful experience. This means providing your Scouts with a stimulating and active troop program!
Education and fun are functions of Scouting, and they are the basis of the advancement program. In the Scouting program, recognition is gained through leadership in the unit; attending and participating in the activities; living the ideals of Scouting; and developing a proficiency in outdoor living and useful skills.
No council, district, troop, or individual has the authority to add or subtract from any advancement requirement. The advancement requirements have been carefully developed to achieve the aims of Boy Scouting. To alter the requirements would defeat that purpose and would also be unfair to the Scout.
Boy Scout advancement is a four-step process:
1. The Boy Scout learns. A Scout learns by doing. As he learns, he grows in ability to do his part as a member of the patrol and the troop. As he develops knowledge and skill, he is asked to teach others. In this way, he begins to develop leadership.
2. The Boy Scout is tested. A Scout may be tested on requirements by his patrol leader, Scoutmaster, assistant Scoutmaster, a troop committee member, or a member of his troop. The Scoutmaster maintains a list of those qualified to give tests and to pass candidates.
3. The Boy Scout is reviewed. After a Scout has completed all requirements for a rank, he has a board of review. For Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle Palms, the review is conducted by members of the troop committee. The Eagle board of review is conducted in accordance with local council procedures.
4. The Boy Scout is recognized. When the board of review has certified a boy's advancement, he deserves to receive recognition as soon as possible. This should be done at a ceremony at the next troop meeting. The certificate for his new rank may be presented later at a formal court of honor.
The committee member responsible for advancement must become familiar with the video presentation, Boy Scout Advancement, the booklet National BSA Advancement Policies and Procedures, and the booklet Boy Scout Requirements. These three resources are indispensable tools to use in your troop's advancement program. The entire troop committee should review the Boy Scout Advancement video.
Any registered Boy Scout may earn merit badges, badges of rank, and Eagle Palms until his 18th birthday. A Scout with a disability may work toward rank advancement after he is 18 years old (review "Advancement for Youth Members with Special Needs" in National BSA Advancement Policies and Procedures).
If a Scout foresees that he will be unable to complete the requirements for the Eagle rank prior to his 18th birthday, a petition may be filed in writing with the national Boy Scout Committee through the local council for special permission to continue to work toward the award after reaching age 18. The petition must show good and sufficient evidence and detail extenuating circumstances. Extenuating circumstances are defined as conditions or situations that are totally beyond the control of the Scout.
If circumstances should also prevent a Scout from requesting the extension before he is 18, it is still permissible to ask for the extension, detailing the circumstances that prevented him from completing the requirements and from requesting the extension before age 18. A limited extension may be granted by the national Boy Scout Committee.
THE SCOUTMASTER CONFERENCE
You will notice that participation in a Scoutmaster conference is a requirement for every rank. The purpose of the conference is to ensure that the Scout is ready for his board of review. An increasing level of trust between the Scoutmaster and each Scout develops during these conferences. In time, the Scoutmaster is allowed by the Scout to become a positive guide and influence in his life. The conference is also an opportunity for the Scoutmaster to review the Scout's personal growth and set goals for further advancement.
THE MERIT BADGE PROGRAM
The ranks of Star, Life, and Eagle require that a Scout earn a certain number of merit badges. Merit badges are awarded to Scouts for fulfilling requirements in specific fields of interest. The subjects range from American Business to Woodwork and cover areas such as hobbies, careers, sports, science, and Scouting skills. In all, there are more than one hundred merit badges. (See Boy Scout Requirements.)
A Scout, along with a buddy, works closely with a council-approved merit badge counselor to complete the requirements for the merit badge. Each counselor must be a registered adult member of the Boy Scouts of America and an expert in the chosen subject. When a boy feels that he is ready to earn a merit badge, the Scoutmaster will give him the name and telephone number of an approved counselor from the merit badge counselor list, usually provided by the local council or district. Because the Boy Scouts of America does not permit a youth member to work alone with an adult, each Scout must have a "buddy" to accompany him. (See Boy Scout Requirement.)
If an approved list is not provided, or if the Scoutmaster feels that some of the popular merit badges need additional counselors, the troop committee member responsible for advancement has the primary responsibility for developing the troop's own counselor list. Troop merit badge counselors must meet the same qualifications as a person serving district- and councilwide, and they must be approved by the district or council.
The requirements for merit badge counselors are:
1.Be 18 years of age or older and of good character.
2.Be recognized as having sufficient skills and education in the subjects for which they are to serve as merit badge counselors.
3.Be registered as adult members of the Boy Scouts of America.
Potential sources for counselors are parents (review your troop resource survey), former Scouts, committee members, local schoolteachers, government agencies, labor unions, special-interest clubs, technical and industrial organizations, and serious hobbyists. A useful tool is the Work Sheet for Building a Merit Badge Counselor List. Other tools include:
  • Merit Badge Counselor Orientation. A practical training aid for adult leaders.
  • Merit Badge Counselor Information. Qualification and background information for counselors.
  • Recommending Merit Badge Counselors. A forum for suggesting names of potential counselors.
SERVICE PROJECTS
To help foster a sense of responsibility and citizenship, Scouts are required to participate in a service project approved by their Scoutmaster for the ranks of Second Class, Star, Life, and Eagle.
The time of service must be a minimum of one hour for Second Class and six hours for Star and Life ranks. This may be done as an individual project or as a member of a patrol or troop project. Star and Life service projects may be approved for Scouts assisting on Eagle service projects. The Scoutmaster approves the project before it is started.
Eagle Scout. For the Eagle service project, a boy must plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project for any religious institution, school, or his community, while he is a Life Scout.
The Eagle service project provides the opportunity for the Eagle Scout candidate to demonstrate the leadership skills he has learned in Scouting. He does the project outside the sphere of Scouting.
Before any Eagle service project is begun, it must be approved by the district or council advancement chairperson and the recipient of the project.
BOARDS OF REVIEW (EXCEPT FOR EAGLE SCOUT)
When a Scout has completed all requirements for a rank, he appears before a board of review composed of at least three and not more than six committee members.
The review has three purposes:
1.To make sure that the work has been learned and completed.
2.To find out what kind of experience the Scout is having in his patrol and troop.
3.To encourage the Scout to progress further.
The board of review is not a time to retest the Scout, but to determine the Scout's attitude and his acceptance of Scouting ideals. It is also important to review those Scouts who are not advancing. The guidance and care shown could motivate these Scouts to further achievement.
The review should be conducted at a convenient time and location, such as a troop meeting, summer camp, or the home of a member of the troop committee. Scoutmasters and assistant Scoutmasters do not participate in the board of review.
The board of review members should feel free to refer to the Boy Scout Handbook, Scoutmaster Handbook, or any other references during the review.
Because many boys are ill at ease when talking to adults, it is important that the board of review be held in a relaxed atmosphere. A certain amount of formality and meaningful questioning should be used during the review. Use questions that require a narrative answer.
Examples of the kinds of questions that might be asked are:
  • What do you like most in troop outdoor activities?
  • What new things did you do/learn on your latest campout/service project/troop meeting?
  • What did you learn/feel in giving service to others?
  • Why is being a Boy Scout important to you?
  • What are your goals in Scouting?
  • How will fulfilling requirement number ___________ help you?
These types of questions will help the Scout to see the value and practical application of his efforts.
At the conclusion of the review, the board should know whether a Scout is qualified for the rank or Palm. The Scout is asked to leave the room while the board members discuss his achievements. The decision of the board of review is arrived at through discussion and must be unanimous. If members are satisfied that the Scout is ready to advance, he is called in, congratulated, notified as to when he will receive his recognition, and encouraged to continue his advancement or earn the next Palm.
Scouts who are not advancing should also come before the board of review. The board should show interest in these Scouts' rank progress. Ask the kind of questions that may reveal why they are not advancing:
  • Do you enjoy the outings/troop meetings?
  • Which of the requirements are most difficult for you?
  • Do you find that school activities are taking more of your time? Which ones?
Let the Scout know that he has the support of the board of review members and that there is no doubt that he can achieve the next rank. The board's concerns and supportive manner will both help the Scout's confidence and impress upon him the importance of advancement in his Scouting experience.
At the conclusion of every board of review, it is the committee's responsibility to prepare and turn in to the local council office a copy of the Advancement Report, and ensure that the badges earned by the boys are obtained and awarded in a timely fashion.
EAGLE BOARD OF REVIEW
The Boy Scouts of America has placed the Eagle Scout board of review in the hands of either the troop committee or the district or council advancement committee. Your council has determined which method is to be used.
The Eagle board of review is composed of a minimum of three and a maximum of six members. The members do not have to be registered Scouters, but must understand the importance of the rank and the Eagle board of review. At least one district or council advancement representative shall be a member when the board of review is conducted on the troop level.
If a unanimous decision is not reached, a new review may be convened at the request of the applicant, the Scoutmaster, or the troop committee. If the applicant is again turned down, the decision can be appealed to the national Boy Scout Committee. Your district or council representative can help in this process.
COURTS OF HONOR
When a Scout advances, he should be recognized as soon as possible - preferably at the next troop meeting. He is recognized a second time at a public ceremony called a court of honor.
The main purposes of the court of honor are to furnish formal recognition for achievement and to provide incentive for other Scouts to advance.
Formal courts of honor should be conducted at least four times a year. All Scouts who have advanced since the previous court of honor are honored. Their parents and friends should be invited to attend the ceremony.
Suggestions on court of honor agendas and ceremonies are found in Troop Program Resources for Boy Scout Leaders.
Last revised 3/13/04
John D. McCarthy