Troop Organization

The troop is run by the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL), who is an older Scout elected by the entire troop membership. Elections are held in May and January. The SPL appoints a staff to help him in his job, consisting of one or more Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders (ASPL), a Scribe (SCR), a Quartermaster (QM) and a Librarian (LIB). The Senior Patrol Leader leads opening and closing ceremonies at all troop meetings. He assigns specific responsibilities as deemed appropriate, and works on planning troop meeting activities. The ASPL assists the senior patrol leader in conducting meetings and acts as the senior patrol leader in the senior patrol leader's absence. He is responsible for training and giving direction to the quartermaster, scribe, troop historian, librarian and instructors. Each Scout running for the office of senior patrol leader must be a First Class Scout, must have served as a patrol leader, must be 14 years of age and must have attended (or agree to attend) junior leader training.

A troop guide is an older, experienced Scout appointed by the Scoutmaster and the Assistant Scoutmaster. He helps younger Scouts, as assigned by Assistant Scoutmaster (New Scouts), progress through the ranks of Scouting. The Scouts are divided into patrols of 6-10 members. Each patrol elects a Patrol Leader (PL) to run the patrol. He appoints an Assistant Patrol Leader (APL), and other positions as he sees fit. Patrol Leaders are responsible for their individual patrols at all times. They preside at patrol meetings, as well as control their patrol during troop functions. They represent their patrol at Patrol Leaders Council meetings and report to the senior patrol leader for all matters concerning their patrol. Each Scout running for the office of patrol leader must be at least Second Class Scout except in the New-Scout Patrol. Other junior leader positions include:

•     Junior Assistant Scoutmaster -- Appointed by the Scoutmaster
  

•    Chaplain's aide -- Appointed by the senior patrol leader
  

•    Historian -- Appointed by the senior patrol leader
  

•    Patrol scribe -- Appointed by the patrol leader
  

•    Patrol quartermaster -- Appointed by the patrol leader

The Patrol Leaders' Council consists of the Senior Patrol Leader, the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, the Scribe and the Patrol Leaders. They meet annually to plan the yearly calendar, and monthly to make detailed plans for the following month's meetings. Patrol Leaders Council meetings are held on the first Thursday evening of the month at 7 p.m. at the DePaul Center. The purpose of these meetings to select and schedule future meeting merit badge sessions, skill building exercises, and games. The Troop Committee interacts with the Patrol Leaders' Council through the Scoutmaster.

The "patrol method" gives Scouts an experience in group living and citizenship. It places a certain amount of responsibility on young shoulders and teaches boys how to accept it. The patrol method builds patrols into strong active units. This is best accomplished through long-term association with shared, common experiences from camping or special events. Troop 16's goal is to maintain a patrol's integrity through as much of a Scout's career as possible. Given the dynamics of the people of our community that is not always possible. If it becomes necessary to reorganize patrols as a result of attrition, then the Scoutmaster and adult leadership will determine new patrol organization.

When instructors are available, the troop offers a Junior Leader Training (JLT) course twice per year in April and October. In addition, the Greater St. Louis Area Council usually offers JLTC as part of the summer camp program. The Elks Club pays camping fees for the troop's quota (usually two boys) to this council course. For a Scout to be eligible to hold a troop leadership position he must have attended at least one of these above mentioned courses or agree to attend the next available course.