Advancing through the Ranks

Rank Advancement is the process by which Youth Members progress through Ranks in the Scouting Program by the gradual mastery of Scouting skills and personal growth. By advancing, the interest of the Scout in the Program is maintained and he experiences personal growth and a feeling of accomplishment. There are six Ranks of Boy Scouting: Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle. In addition, there is an introductory level of Boy Scout; this is not an official Rank, but it gets the Boy off to a good and easy start.

The goal for new Scouts is to reach the Rank of First Class one year after joining the Troop. The Troop Advancement Coordinator maintains all Advancement records in TroopMaster™ , with a page for each Boy spelling out requirements for his next Rank, and dates he met those requirements. Please encourage your son to check to make sure all requirements are completed and accurate within TroopMaster™ before he seeks a Scoutmaster Conference. The Adult Leaders are always ready to assist a Boy in any way possible along his Trail to Eagle.

Along with Advancement in Rank comes Advancement in Leadership opportunity. Everything is designed to help Boys have an exciting and meaningful experience. Education and fun are the functions of Scouting, and they are the basis of the Advancement Program.

In general, the Troop expects each Scout to live his life in and outside Scouting according the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. Every Scout is expected to respect his Leaders and follow their instructions. These Leaders may be Adults, Senior Patrol Leaders, or Patrol Leaders.

Requirements

Encourage your Scout to check to make sure all requirements are completed and accurate within TroopMaster™ before he seeks a Scoutmaster Conference. The Adult Leaders are always ready to assist a Boy in any way possible along his Trail to Eagle.

Rank of Scout
Rank of Tenderfoot
Rank of Second Class
Rank of First Class
Rank of Star
Rank of Life
Rank of Eagle
Eagle Palms

Advancement is a five step process

Participation
Learning
Testing
Reviewing
Recognition

Participation: beginning with the First Class Rank, and continuing through Life and Eagle, a Scout must demonstrate participation in increasingly more responsible Service Projects. At these levels, he must also demonstrate Leadership Sills by holding one or more specific Youth Leadership Positions in his Patrol and/or Troop. One of the requirements for each Rank Advancement, is to "Show Scout Spirit". The Troop 152 Committee has discussed this requirement many times over several years. In the past, this has been based on participation in Meetings and Campouts. Accordingly, the Troop Committee has decided to define “Scout Spirit” as “satisfactory or exceptional performance in assigned Troop or Patrol Leadership Position”. This definition will also reinforce the importance of learning Leadership skills for the Boys, and will improve the operation of the Troop.

The duties of each Boy Leadership Position are defined in the Boy Scout Handbook. When new Boy Leaders are elected or appointed, the Scoutmaster will discuss their responsibilities with them and define what they must do to attain satisfactory performance of their duties in that Position. Senior Patrol Leaders and Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders must have attended Junior Leader Training and newly elected Patrol Leaders will be expected to attend a Troop Junior Leader Training session.

Should the Scoutmaster deem that a Boy has not been performing his Leadership Position in a satisfactory manner, then he will discuss this with the Boy as needed, or when he schedules a Scoutmaster Conference prior to Advancement. Please try and work with your son to insure that they accomplish the duties of their Leadership Position. Please also be aware that in order to perform the duties of most Leadership Positions, Boys should be able to attend the majority of Campouts and other Troop Activities, which emphasizes the importance of participation.

The Troop Committee knows that Training Junior Leaders should be a major emphasis for Scouting. We want to make it clear that we have been following, and are continuing to follow BSA requirements for Advancement.

Learning: much learning comes from other Boys in his Patrol or Troop. The Troop Program also helps. The Boy’s Patrol Activities are directed toward the skills he needs. Every Troop hike, camping trip or other activity offers potential learning experiences. A Scout learns to pitch a tent by pitching one, to use a compass by finding directions and to cook a meal by having to prepare and eat it with his Patrol Members. The Patrol Leaders Council, the Scoutmasters and the Troop Leaders plan the Meetings to include learning specific skills to help Scouts advance through the Ranks.

Merit Badges are also an important component of learning. Merit Badges signify the mastery of certain Scout craft skills as well as serving to increase skill in various areas of personal interest. Of the more than 220 Merit Badges available, 21 must be earned to qualify for Eagle. There are twelve which are specifically required.

When a Boy chooses a Merit Badge to work on, whether it is a required one or one in his particular area of interest, he must obtain the Merit Badge Book for that Badge from the Scout Shop or the Troop Library, then see the Scoutmaster authorizing him to work on that badge. It is the National Boy Scouts of America policy that a Boy work only with an approved Merit Badge Counselor.

Each Counselor must be registered with the Council office. There is no fee for a Counselor to be registered. This, is an excellent opportunity for Parents of Troop 152 Scouts to become involved in the Program. If you have expertise or interest in a particular area and would like to become a Merit Badge Counselor, please see the Scoutmaster of Troop Committee Chair.

Testing: the specific requirements determine the kind of testing. Verbal testing is sufficient in some instances. In other instances, a Scout must demonstrate his skills by doing.

Reviewing: reviewing is a two-step process. First, the Scout takes part in a Scoutmaster Conference. These Conferences take place at every level of Advancement and are designed to help the Scout set goals for himself in line with his individual talents and abilities. At each Conference, the Scoutmaster helps him evaluate how close he came to accomplishing his present goal and then helps him to set a new goal.

The week of or after the Scout successfully completes the Scoutmaster Conference, the Scout must pass a Board of Review. This a Review Board consisting of three Members of the Troop Committee and Parents. They interview the Scout to ensure he has passed all requirements. It is a discussion of what the Scout has learned, how he feels about the Troop, and what the Troop can do better. For Eagle Scout candidates, the full Troop Committee conducts the review. The Boy must then be approved by the District, Local Council and, finally, the National Council.

Recognition: the final step in Advancement involves presentation of the Badge of Rank, presented at regular Troop Meetings, however, public recognition with their Parents attending is a very important part of the goal setting and personal growth process for the Boys.

Three times a year, Troop 152 conducts a Troop Court of Honor. Parents are not only cordially invited, but they are urged to attend. Siblings, Grand Parents, and friends are welcome. During a Court of Honor, appropriate ceremonies are conducted after a meal is furnished by the Scouts. The purpose of the Court of Honor is to recognize Scouts for individual and group accomplishments, and Advancement.

Court of Honors will be held three times per Scout year, and scheduled by the Troop Committee.