Troop 160 Lexington

Advancement is the process by which Scouts progress from rank to rank in the Scouting program.  Advancement is simply a means to an end, not an end in itself.  Everything done to advance and earn these ranks, from joining until leaving the program, should be designed to help the Scout have an exciting and meaningful experience.

The Boy Scout requirements for rank are the basis for a Boy Scout’s advancement.  There are four steps in the Boy Scout advancement procedure: learning, testing, reviewing and recognition.  Boy Scouting has the following ranks: Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle.  The requirements for each rank are those authorized by the National Executive Board and set forth in the Boy Scout Handbook and the current Boy Scout Requirements book.

• When a badge and certificate are awarded to a Boy Scout to recognize that he has achieved a rank, they represent that a young man has:
• Been an active participant in his troop and patrol.
• Demonstrated living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Law in his daily life.
• Met the other requirements and/or earned the merit badges for the rank.
• Participated in a Scoutmaster conference
• Satisfactorily appeared before a board of review.

In the advanced ranks (Star, Life and Eagle), the badge represents that the Scout has also:

• Served in a position of responsibility in the troop
• Performed service to others.

Record Keeping:  Each Scout should maintain his own record of advancement in his personal copy of the Boy Scout Handbook.  Additionally, the troop maintains a set of records for each scout.  See Andy Dixon at the scout meetings to note your progress. For merit badges, Scouts should prepare, complete and retain a “blue card” for each badge.

Scoutmaster Conferences:  Once the advancement requirements are complete for each rank, the Scout should schedule a Scoutmaster conference by contacting Andy Dixon.  The conference helps the Scout evaluate his accomplishments and to set new goals with the Scoutmaster.  Goal setting by the Scout makes it possible for the Scoutmaster to help the Scout with his weaknesses and encourage him to use his strengths.

Boards of Review:  After the Scoutmaster conference, the Scout will meet with a group of at least three adult leaders from the troop.  The members of the board of review should have the following objectives in mind when they conduct the review:

• To make sure the Scout has done what he was supposed to do for the rank.
• To see how good an experience the Scout is having in the unit.
• The review is not an examination; the board does not retest the candidate.  Rather, the board should attempt to determine the Scout’s attitude and his acceptance of Scouting’s ideals.

Boards of Review are conducted on regular meeting nights during the year.  See the troop calendar for a detailed schedule.  Eagle candidates have a different review process.  Please refer to the troop calendar for a schedule of “Life to Eagle” seminars to learn more.

Source: Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures, Boy Scouts of America, 1999.