Advancement

Scout through First Class

A scout’s advancement is the natural outcome of regular Scouting activities. From the time the scout enters the troop through Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class, the scout is learning basic skills to enable him to camp, hike, swim, cook, tie knots, administer first aid, practice citizenship, learn scout spirit, and work as a member of a team.

When a Scout has mastered a given skill and has satisfied a given requirement, the scout asks a leader or a designated scout of higher rank to observe his skill and initial the requirement in the scout’s handbook as acknowledgment of the scout’s achievement. Parents are not permitted to sign off or initial their own child’s requirement completion.

It is recommended that an occasional copy of the advancement pages be made, in case the book is lost. Taking a picture on a phone is a great way to easily save a copy of the advancement pages. The Troop’s Advancement Coordinator then records this information so that the scout’s achievement may be properly recognized. Advancement and merit badge records can be checked and updated online at scoutbook.com.

A scout may work on the skills for Tenderfoot, Second Class, or First Class at the same time. However, each rank must be completed in sequence.

First Class to Eagle

Greater challenges await the scout in pursuing the ranks of Star, Life, and Eagle. The Scout must earn a certain number of merit badges for each of these ranks. Merit badges require a greater amount of initiative and independent work on the part of the scout. A scout also must exhibit greater responsibility in the areas of leadership and citizenship.

Merit Badges

The goal of the merit badge program is to expand a scout’s area of interest and to encourage the scout to meet and work with adults who are experts in a chosen subject. Because of youth protection requirements, scouts are not allowed to work alone with merit badge counselors. Each scout must have a “buddy” accompany him to all sessions. This person can be your parent or legal guardian, or another registered adult. 

A scout works with a council-approved merit badge counselor to complete the requirements for the merit badge. The steps of the process are as follows:

  1. The scout consults with the Scoutmaster to select a merit badge counselor. The Scoutmaster signs and gives the scout an Application for Merit Badge form, commonly called the blue card. The signature indicates that the Scoutmaster believes that the scout is ready to work on the merit badge.
  2. The scout obtains the merit badge pamphlet and contacts the counselor to discuss requirements and to arrange times and places for meeting. Depending on requirements and the scout’s skills, there may be several meetings with the merit badge counselor. 
  3. Once the scout has satisfactorily completed the requirements, the merit badge counselor will sign the blue card, keeping one part for his or her records. The scout returns the two remaining parts to the Advancement Coordinator who will obtain the badge and record the completion in Scoutbook.
  4. The Troop will present the badge at the next Court of Honor.

To attain Eagle, the Scout must earn 21 merit badges, 14 of which are required, and 7 of which may be chosen by the scout from over 100 badges. These are checked carefully when a scout is a candidate for Eagle. The Troop records only COMPLETED merit badges in Scoutbook. Merit Badge counselors may add partially completed merit badges to Scoutbook or use the merit badge blue card. However, it is the responsibility of the scout to maintain their merit badge achievements, including any partially completed blue cards.

The Advancement Coordinator maintains troop records in Scoutbook. Scouts should keep their copy of the blue card for future reference. A plastic baseball card page works well to keep these records.

The Troop is here to support scouts in merit badges and will periodically check in with the scouts but the initiation, perseverance and completion is the responsibility of the scout.

Scouts can find merit badge requirements on scouting.org and may also borrow merit badge books from the troop library.