How Advancement Works in Troop 73

Advancement in Troop 73 works just like any other troop should. The working on ranks Tenderfoot through First class should be working on the tasks in their books. The Life Scouts and above plus instructors plus adult scouters are allowed to sign off the requirements in the scout’s handbook. Upon completing all the achievements, the scout will have a Scoutmaster Conference with the Scoutmaster. Upon completion of this, they will go before the board of review. The date of the board of review, is the date of rank for the scout.

For Star through Eagle, things are a little different. Scouts must earn merit badges, provide leadership through one of the Troop Leadership Positions in the Troop and they must do service work. Some of the merit badges must be of the Eagle Required merit badges, while some are electives. This is quite different for the scouts that have been used to the Tenderfoot through First class ranks.

Average advancement schedule :

Ranks

In the back of the Scout Book are the requirements a scout must perform to get his rank.  When each task is completed, it gets checked off and signed by the leader.

THE SCOUT BOOK IS YOUR PERMANENT RECORD!  DO NOT LOOSE IT. 

Merit Badges

A scout may work on any merit badge at any rank in his career.  The steps usually are:

1.       A scout tells a leader he wishes to work on  the [XX] merit badge.

2.       He is given a list of merit badge councilors for that badge.

3.       He contacts the councelor and downloads the merit badge workbook.     (see:  http://usscouts.org/usscouts/meritbadges.asp)

4.       When scout finishes, the councilor will issue him an official document ‘blue card’ of the badge, signed by the councilor  that the scout has completed (or got a parital) on the badge.  These accomplishments are permanent and have no expiration date.  DO NOT LOOSE THIS CARD. The councilor gets a copy so he can confirm the scout finished it.

5.       The scout then asks a leader for a Board of Review.  The completed card is presented before the board.   The scout gets a copy, the board gets a copy.  The Review sheet is turned in to the office for the merit badge.

KEEP YOUR SCOUT RECORDS

1. Blue Card:  When a scout completes a merit badge, his councilor will hand him a blue card.  This is the official BSA document the says he completed the badge. It has 3 parts, do not separate them.  (the merit badge councilor may keep 1 for his/her records, thus 2 card remain)

2. Board of Review:  He takes the card, in whole, to a Board of Review.  A panel of adult leaders then reviews the requirements then separate the cards; 1 for the scout, 1 for troop, 1 for the councilor (which may already be missing)  This is turned into the Scout Office to receive the badges.

3. Store the blue card: Keep all the blue cards as a permanent record in case the badge is not given to the scout.  Plasic sheets that hold baseball cards work well.

4. Court of Honor: The scout is presented with the merit badge and/or Ranks.

SCOUT'S PERSONAL SECTION OF CARD	PUT THE BLUE CARD IN PLASTIC CARD SHEET	PUT THE SHEETS IN A 3 RING NOTEBOOK

KEEP ALL TOGETHER