Greeting from Troop 457!  It's been another busy month since my last email.  Here is just a sampling of what we've been up to:
  Worked towards rank advancement and completing merit badges.
  Conducted our Troop Elections to select our youth leaders for the first half of 2024.
  Spent a weekend playing games and launching rockets at Camp Bucoco

In this newsletter, I'd like to invite the Scouts in the Den to join the Troop in a service project this weekend and share a little more information about how advancement works in the Scouts BSA program.  I apologize in advance for the length of the last section, this subject is a little more involved than what we've discussed in the past but it is very important to the program.

 

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

 

Yours in Scouting,

Mr. Maloney

Scoutmaster
YOU'RE INVITED

Santa's House Service Project

 

You're invited to join Troop 457 in our annual service project to get Zelienople ready for the holiday season.
Learn More & RSVP in Scoutbook
HOW ADVANCEMENT WORKS

Advancement is a central part of the Scouting experience.  Scouts are presented with a series of surmountable obstacles and steps to overcome them through the advancement method.  However, advancement is just a means to an end, not an end in itself.  As Scouts work through advancements, they learn and build valuable skills through experiential learning.

 

There are three primary types of advancement in the Scouts BSA program:
  Rank Advancement: There are seven ranks in the Scouts BSA program. Scouts start by completing the Scout Rank (which has the same requirements as the Scouting Adventure your Scouts are working on this year) and work to learn more about Scout skills and themselves in order to achieve the Eagle Scout rank.
  Merit Badges: Scouts can take a deep dive into more than 130 specific subjects through the BSA's Merit Badge program. There they learn more about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers. Scouts are required to earn 14 required merit badges and 7 other merit badges to become an Eagle Scout.
  Other Awards: The BSA has many additional awards Scouts (and leaders) can earn while participating in the program. Each of these awards has their own unique requirements, so I won’t go into them today. You can see a full list of awards and requirements on Scouting.org.

Working to earn ranks, merit badges, and other awards is highly encouraged in the Scouts BSA program, but it isn't required.  Scouts will learn many skills just by participating in meetings, campouts and other events even if they don't want to progress in rank.

 

Here are some important facts about the Scouts BSA Advancement Program:

Advancement is Done Individually

In Cub Scouts, Scouts work together as a Den to complete Adventures and earn a Rank.  Scouts in the Troop will often work together to learn the information needed for rank or merit badge requirements, but they must each demonstrate that knowledge individually for the requirement to be signed off.

Earning Ranks

The first rank a Scout earns (Scout) focuses on teaching the youth how to be a Scout in our program and has the same requirements as the Scouting Adventure your Scout will earn while working on the Arrow of Light rank.  Ideally, your Scout should be able to earn the Scout rank within a month of crossing over the the Troop this spring.

 

The next three ranks (Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class) teach Scouts how to succeed in Scouting.  The will learn and demonstrate skills related to camping, cooking, navigation, physical fitness, first aid, and more.  Scouts can work to complete requirements for these and the Scout rank at the same time, but they must be earned in sequence.

 

The last three ranks (Star, Life and Eagle) focus on preparing Scouts to be successful in life.  These ranks require the Scout to demonstrate leadership, earn merit badges, and participate in (or lead) service projects.

Earning Merit Badges

Scouts can earn merit badges at any time, but many work on merit badges as a group at Troop meetings and at Summer Camp.  Before beginning a merit badge, the Scout must first obtain Scoutmaster approval to work on the badge.  This is to ensure that the Scout is aware of any prerequisites or challenges they may experience when working on the badge.  The Scout then works with a Merit Badge Counselor who has knowledge and skills of the badge's subject matter to complete the requirements to earn the badge.

 

Scouts must earn 14 (of 18) required and an additional 7 merit badges to become an Eagle Scout.  

Wording Matters

The wording of advancement requirements is important.  If a requirement states that a Scout should "discuss" something (like "Discuss how to perform CPR"), they must discuss it with the individual signing off the requirement.  If the requirement says "demonstrate", then the Scout must actually demonstrate what they learned (e.g. actually perform CPR).

 

Leaders, Scouts, and Merit Badge Counselors are not permitted to add, change, or remove requirements.  They must be completed as documented unless approved by our Council (which is very rare).

Who can Sign-Off on Advancement?

Unlike Cub Scouts where parents are permitted to sign off on requirements, the Scouts BSA program limits who can approve completion of an advancement requirement:
  Rank requirements can only be signed off by an adult leader (who is not the Scout's parent) in the Troop or a Scout who has earned two ranks higher than the requirement being approved (so Scout rank requirements can be signed off by a Scout who holds the Second Class rank or higher).
  Merit Badge requirements can only be signed off by a registered Merit Badge Counselor. A parent can be a merit badge counselor for their own Scout.

The Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review

Ranks include requirements for two discussions between a Scout and adult leadership:
  Scoutmaster Conference (all ranks) where the Scout meets with the Scoutmaster to review the Scout’s growth and knowledge of Scout skills and how to work on achieving their next rank.
  Board of Review (all ranks except Scout) where adult leaders (other than the Scoutmaster) determine the quality of the Scout’s experience and decide whether the requirements for the rank have been fulfilled.

There is Only One Due Date

The Ranks and Adventures in Cub Scouts are developed specifically for the Scout's age and must be earned within the Scouting Year (usually June - May).  In the Scouts BSA program, there is only one deadline: advancement must be completed by the Scout's 18th birthday.

 

Ranks and merit badges do have some "timeline" requirements (i.e. hold a Troop Leadership position for at least 6 months, keep a budget for 12 weeks) that should also be considered to ensure all the Scout's Eagle requirements can be completed by the deadline.

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