Rank Advancement

Steps

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 requirements for the various ranks can be found in the Boy Scout Handbook under the title "My Trail to Eagle." The goal for new Scouts is to reach the rank of First Class one year after joining Troop 16. The Troop Advancement Chair maintains all advancement records in a Patrol Book, 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 entered in the book 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. Doing your share also means paying your dues. In order to advance in rank, a Scout’s dues must be paid up-to-date. In general, the Troop expects each Scout to live his life in and outside Scouting according the Scout Oath and the Scout Law (refer to the Boy Scout Handbook for a more complete understanding of the Oath and the Law). Every Scout is expected to respect his leaders and follow their instructions. These leaders may be adults, senior patrol leaders, or patrol leaders.

Advancement is a five step process:

2)      Learning

3)      Testing

4)      Reviewing

5)      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 skills 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 16 Committee has discussed this requirement many times over several years.  In the past, this has been based on participation in meetings and campouts. However, many adult leaders have felt this is “adding” an additional requirement above and beyond those spelled out in the Boy Scout Handbook. 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 (as appropriate for the leadership position), 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 Camp, and newly elected Patrol Leaders will be expected to attend a Troop Junior Leader Training session. We will try to schedule the latter during Troop meetings.

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 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 Scoutcraft 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 for a Merit Badge Card 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, by the way, is an excellent opportunity for parents of Troop 16 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 Chairman. The Scout has 1 year to complete the requirements necessary to earn the merit badge. Failure to earn the badge within 1 year requires that the Scout repeat all requirements the next time he participates in the merit badge. Many Merit Badges can be earned at summer camps. Please encourage your son to check to see if there are any requirements for Merit Badges offered at summer camp that have to be completed BEFORE camp.

Other awards may be earned by Boy Scouts. Of particular importance for the 12th Point of the Scout Law (a Scout is Reverent) are Religious Awards. All religious denominations provide a religious emblem program for Scouts, and Scouts are urged to work toward earning these emblems. The Catholic Church awards the Ad Altare Dei Award for younger Scouts and the Pope Pius XII Award for older Scouts. Information about these programs is provided upon request, but adults of the Catholic Churches in the Cape Girardeau Area offer these awards every 1-2 years. The Scout's church presents the award, not the Troop. Some boys in Troop 16 represent other religious denominations, however, and the Scout should request specific information from the Scout Office or their church.

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 after the Scout successfully completes the Scoutmaster Conference, the Scout must pass a Board of Review. This a review board consisting of 3 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, usually at a ceremony before the entire Troop. These are presented periodically 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. Twice a year, Troop 16 conducts a Troop Court of Honor at the Elks’ Lodge in Cape Girardeau. Parents are not only cordially invited, but they are urged to attend. Siblings, grandparents, and friends are welcome. During a Court of Honor, appropriate ceremonies are conducted after a meal is furnished by the Elks. The purpose of the Court of Honor is to recognize Scouts for individual and group accomplishments, and advancement. The highlight of a Court of Honor is the conferring of the rank of Eagle on boys who have attained it in the previous six months. Courts of Honor are normally held in October and April and take the place of the regularly scheduled troop meeting.

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Steps to Rank Advancement:

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