Youth and Adult members of the Troop can hold leadership positions.  In this lesson, we’ll introduce the various Troop positions for Scouts and Adults and explain the Troop chain-of-command.

SCOUT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

Scout leadership positions are an important part of the youth-led Troop.  In fact, Scouts must hold a Troop leadership position in order to complete requirements for the Star, Life, and Eagle Scout ranks. There are three core leadership positions filled by Scouts in the Troop:

• Senior Patrol Leader (“SPL”) – The SPL is the highest youth leadership position in the Troop.  The Scout in this role is the primary link between the Scouts and the Troop’s adult leaders.  He is responsible for leading meetings, events, activities, and the Patrol Leaders’ Council.
• Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (“ASPL”) – The ASPL is the second highest youth leadership position in the Troop and works closely with the SPL.  The Scout in this role acts as the SPL in his absence and provides leadership to other youth leaders in the Troop.
• Patrol Leader (“PL”) / Assistant Patrol Leader – The Patrol Leader leads his individual patrol’s meetings and activities and represents the patrol in the Patrol Leaders’ Council.  He is assisted by the Assistant Patrol Leader.

These leaders are supported by additional leadership positions.

• Quartermaster – Troop’s supply boss who keeps an inventory of Troop equipment and making sure it is all in good condition.
• Scribe / Webmaster – The Troop’s secretary who takes attendance, records discussions at the Patrol Leader’s Council meetings, and updating information in TroopTrack.
• Chaplain Aide – Serves the religious needs of the Troop including leading the closing prayer and mealtime blessings.
• Librarian – Maintains the Troop’s library of merit badge pamphlets and other literature and tracking who has borrowed them.
• Troop Guide – Helps to lead and mentor new Scouts when they join the Troop.
• Den Chief – Helps assist Den Leaders from our Cub Scout Pack and encourages Cub Scouts to continue in the Troop after crossing over.
• Historian – Collects and preserves Troop photographs, news stories, and other memorabilia.
• Instructor – An older Scout who helps teach skills to others.
• Bugler – A Scout who plays a bugle or similar instrument to mark key moments in troop meetings and activities.
• Order of the Arrow Representative – Act as a communication link and membership promotor between the Troop and our local Order of the Arrow lodge.
• Outdoor Ethics Guide – Promotes following the Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly! Principles and helps the Troop to enact these principles at Troop activities and events.
• Junior Assistant Scoutmaster – An older Scout with outstanding leadership skills that acts as an Assistant Scoutmaster.

In Troop 457, all positions except for Junior Assistant Scoutmaster and Den Chief are elected by the Troop’s youth members for a six month term during elections in April/May and October/November.  The Junior Assistant Scoutmaster and Den Chief positions are appointed by the Scoutmaster for the same six month term.

The Troop’s Scout leaders meet monthly during the Patrol Leaders’ Council (“PLC”) meeting.  The PLC is made up of the Senior Patrol Leader, who presides over the meetings; the Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders, all Patrol Leaders, and any Troop Guides. The PLC also plans the yearly Troop program at the annual Troop program planning conference. It then meets monthly to fine-tune the plans for the upcoming month.  Troop 457’s PLC meeting takes place at 6PM on the third-Tuesday of the month.

ADULT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

Our Scouts and Scout leaders are supported by adults in a various positions, including:

• Scoutmaster / Assistant Scoutmaster – These adults are responsible for working directly with the Scouts providing direction, coaching, and support.  The Scoutmaster has ultimate responsibility for delivering these responsibilities and is assisted by one or more Assistant Scoutmasters.  Adults in these positions have three basic roles:
  1. Providing the the junior leaders with the tools and skills so they can run the troop
  2. The Scoutmaster making sure the rules of the BSA and chartered partner are followed
  3. Being a good mentor and positive role model
• Committee Chair / Member – The troop committee is a cross between a board of directors and a parent support group. It sets troop policies and handles administrative functions, allowing the Scoutmaster and assistant Scoutmasters to focus on working directly with the Scouts.  The troop committee is led by the Committee Chair.
• Chartered Organization Representative (COR) – The direct contact between the unit and the Chartered Organization.

Adult leaders meeting monthly for the Parents Meeting which typically takes place immediately after the PLC meeting is completed.

THE TROOP CHAIN OF COMMAND

Scouts are encouraged to escalate issues or problems up the Scout chain of command before taking the issue to an adult.  Scouts should start with their Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, or other youth-leader a question before it is escalated to the adults.

Anyone seeing issues of health and safety, including youth protection issues, should IMMEDIATELY escalate those issues to the Scoutmaster, Committee Chair, or any registered adult. These issues do not need to go through the Scout chain of command.

There is also a chain of command for adults. Questions or comments about the Scouting program should be escalated to the Scoutmaster or an Assistant Scoutmaster.  Questions or comments about logistics, funding, and other administrative items should be directed to the Troop Committee.

REFERENCE INFORMATION

• Troop 457 Leadership Hub
• Current Troop 457 Leadership