Advancement
What is Advancement?
Council and district advancement committees implement procedures that help achieve the following advancement principles:
Personal Growth – This is the primary consideration in the advancement program. This growth may be measured by how Boy Scouts live out scouting ideals in their daily lives.
Learning by doing – A Boy Scout has not really learned the skill until he has done it.
Each Boy Scout progresses at his own rate – Scouts must be encouraged to advance steadily and to set their own goals with guidance from their parents and leaders.
A badge is recognition of what a Scout is able to do, not merely a reward for what he has done – The badge is proof of certain abilities, and is not just a reward for the completion of a task.
Advancement encourages scouting ideals – Scouting teaches Boy Scouts to care for themselves and to help others. Advancement should reflect the ideal for the Scout to live the Boy Scout Oath in his daily life. No Troop has the authority to add or subtract to the advancement requirements.
Boy Scout requirements – Rank advancement is the basis for a Boy Scout's progress towards Eagle. There are four steps in the Boy Scout advancement procedure:
- Learning – A Boy Scout learns by doing.
- Testing – a Scout may be tested on rank requirements by his Patrol Leader, Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, a Troop Committee member or a member of his Troop.
- Reviewing – After a Scout has completed all requirements for a rank, he has a board of review.
- Recognition – When the board of review has certified a Scout's advancement, he deserves to receive recognition as soon as possible.
Record keeping – Record keeping and distribution of awards are the responsibilities of the Advancement Chair.
What Is the Purpose of Advancement Training?
Our goal is to have more parents involved with Boy Scout Boards of Review (BOR), to distribute this important task more evenly amongst the parents of the Troop. We will provide the skills to parents so they may more effectively and confidently conduct Boy Scout Boards of review.
Who can participate on a Boy Scout BOR?
The board of review is made up of at least three and not more than six members of the Troop Committee. One of the members serves as chairman, usually the Advancement Chair or any other committee member appointed by the Advancement Chair.
However, no Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster may serve on any BOR, also none of the Scout's relatives or guardians may serve as members on his BOR.
The Purpose of the BOR:
Members of the BOR should have the following objectives in mind when they conduct the review:
- The Boy Scout is nervous. We need to make him feel comfortable during his BOR. Smile and relax. (Icebreaker)
- To make sure the Boy Scout has done what he was supposed to do for the rank. (Scoutcraft)
- To see how the Boy Scout feels about his scouting experience within his unit. (Feedback)
- To encourage the Scout to advance further. (Scout Spirit)
BOR Questions:
BOR questions are asked according to the rank the Scout is earning.
When running a BOR the adult committee will ask the Scout a series of questions:
- Icebreaker – designed to be easy, noncommittal questions to relax the Scout.
- Scoutcraft – designed to reinforce what the Scout has learned by giving him an opportunity to talk about what he has done (first campout experience, how to whip a rope etc.).
- Feedback – These questions provide the Scout with an opportunity to express his opinions on the Troop program.
- Scout Spirit – This is a great opportunity for the BOR committee to ask questions of the Scout and help him grow. A sample question for a Tenderfoot is “ What does it mean to do your best?”
| Rank Advancement and Merit Badge Requirements |
| Soar With the Eagles |
| EagleScout.Org |
| A Guide to Conducting Boards of Review |