Scouts BSA Rank Advancement:

The pace of boy scout rank advancement is owned by the scout – it is not driven by age, grade or years in scouting. It is also not owned by the scout leaders. It is the responsibility of each scout to own their own advancement.

Each scout should get a copy of the Boy Scout Handbook that contains detailed information on a variety of skills that scouts need to demonstrate to advance in rank. That book should be brought to every meeting or camp out and is critical to a scout’s records. We strongly suggest protective covers and making copies of signed off pages in case of loss or damage. The specific skills for each rank are listed in the back of the book with places indicated next to each for sign off by scout leaders. Certain of those skills should be demonstrated on camp outs or other outdoor settings, others can be demonstrated indoors.

Each scout is responsible for preparing and mastering the skills. To do that they can ask for assistance from others in the Troop. Each troop has at least one troop guide, who has a role in assisting younger scouts. But scouts should be comfortable asking patrol leaders or any other scout for assistance. They can also ask for advice from scout leaders. Ultimately when a scout is comfortable that they have mastered a skill, they should talk with a scout leader and make the time to demonstrate the mastery of that skill. Leaders will evaluate if a scout has successfully demonstrated the skill and sign the scout’s books (they will also sign off the same step in the electronic record maintained in “TroopTrack”). If mastery has not been demonstrated, the leader will provide feedback on what needs to be done better and will be available to re-review with the scout at a later date. Camp outs and troop meetings are good times to get requirements signed off. Leaders are also available (by appointment to be made by the scout, not the parent) on weekends and evenings with sufficient advance notice. Note that on regular Monday meetings, we will make every effort to have at least one scout leader available at 7:00 and at least one scout leader available to stay a few minutes after the regular meeting, that way the scout can participate in the meeting.

As a scout reaches a point where they have completed all requirements for rank advancement, they should contact the Scoutmaster to complete a conference which will also cover the scout spirit requirement. Then they will need to set up a Board of Review with 3 adult leaders.

Scout Rank Requirements: Scout has a total of 7 requirements and is earned when the scout demonstrates a rudimentary knowledge of the Scouting ideals such as tying a square knot and knowing the Scout oath, law, motto, and slogan and completes a Scoutmaster conference.
Tenderfoot Rank Requirements: Tenderfoot has a total of 9 requirements (knowledge in Camping and Outdoor Ethics, Cooking, Tools, First Aid and Nature, Hiking, Fitness, Citizenship, Leadership, and Scout Spirit) for the badge including the Scoutmaster's conference and board of review.
Second Class Rank Requirements: Second Class has a total of 10 requirements (knowledge in Camping and Outdoor Ethics, Cooking and Tools, Navigation, Nature, Aquatics, First Aid and Emergency Preparedness, Fitness, Citizenship, Personal Safety Awareness, and Scout Spirit) for the badge including the Scoutmaster's conference and board of review.
First Class Rank Requirements: First Class has a total of 11 requirements (knowledge in Camping and Outdoor Ethics, Cooking, Tools, Navigation, Nature, Aquatics, First Aid and Emergency Preparedness, Fitness, Citizenship, Leadership, and Scout Spirit) for the badge including the Scoutmaster's conference and board of review.
Star Rank Requirements: Star rank requires active participation in the troop for at least 4 months, demonstrating the Scout Oath, Scout Law, earning 6 merit badges including 4 Eagle required ones, 6 hours of community service, serve actively in a leadership role, participate in a Scoutmaster conference and board of review.
Life Rank Requirements: Life Rank requires active participation in the troop for at least 6 months as a Star Scout. As Star Scout, demonstrate Scout spirit, duty to God, leadership within the troop & community service. Earn five more merit badges, including three Eagle required. While a Star Scout use the Teaching EDGE method to teach another Scout (preferably younger) scout skills. While a Star Class Scout, participate in a Scoutmaster conference and successfully complete your board of review for the Life rank.
Eagle Rank Requirements: Eagle Rank require active participation in the troop for at least 6 months as a Life Scout. As Life Scout, demonstrate Scout Oath & Law in daily life and include references. Earn 21 merit badges including 14 required ones. Provide leadership within the troop. Plan, develop, & give leadership to your Eagle Scout project. While a Life Scout, participate in a unit leader conference and successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review.

Attendance:

In order to be making rank, there is an expectation that scouts are active in the troop and regularly attending events and meetings. We understand that from time to time, other activities and life in general make attendance difficult. We also know that many of the boys have seasons of the year, where they have more demands on their schedule than time will allow. Attendance every week is not required, but we do have a 50% minimum in order to rank advance – that’s 50% over the time since last rank advancement and not measured monthly. If a Scout can not meet this minimum requirement, please schedule an appointment with the Scoutmaster to figure out a way in which the boy can avoid losing out.

Service Hours:

In order to obtain rank, most ranks require service hours. The troop will have regular service projects scheduled throughout the year, but outside service hours are also permitted. If using outside service hours, please provide a written note outlining what was done, who benefited, how many hours and signed off (with contact info) by an adult responsible for the project. Note that service hours for some ranks require a minimum number of conservation related hours. In the back of the Boy Scout Handbook is a place to track service hours.

Camping and the Outdoors:

There are plenty of camping opportunities available for scouts throughout the year, including summer camp. While it is not expected that all scouts attend all camp outs, certain requirements for rank advancement can not be performed outside of a camping setting. If a scout or a parent is uncomfortable with camping, we suggest that they schedule a scoutmaster conference to discuss. In the back of the Boy Scout Handbook is a place to track camping nights.

Patrol campouts are encouraged as a way for your group to work on various rank advancement and even merit badge requirements. They are also a good way of getting the number of camping nights in that your scout will need. You can schedule these through TroopTrack and/or the scoutmaster.

Timing:

How quickly a scout moves through the ranks is entirely up to them. We are committed to giving every opportunity possible for advancement and success. That said, we are still constantly asked is my scout advancing quickly enough. Here is the Troop 202 view: Not every scout will make Eagle and it should not be looked as negatively if a scout chooses not to make Eagle. The scouting program is about life skills and life lessons. There is no other program like it. Here are some additional thoughts and guidelines:

The more active a scout is in their first year, the better. They will have a better experience, adjust more quickly to being a part of the troop and rank up that much faster.
There is a slogan that you may hear in various scouting circles “First Class in a Year”. The idea is that within a year or so (generally measured as the end of the 6th grade), a scout has achieved the rank of First Class. In reality, this almost never happens, but if a scout wants a stretch goal, go for it!
We normally expect that an active scout, particularly one that attends spring campouts their first year, will complete the scout rank and the tenderfoot rank and be well on their way to second class by the end of 6th grade.
First class can be achieved in 7th grade; 8th grade Star and 9th Grade Life.
That means most boys will be trying for Eagle in their sophomore or junior years in high school.
We have had scouts make Eagle as Freshman (rarely) and we have had them do it as Seniors (frequently). There is no hard and fast rule. What we have found is that as scouts get into high school, the workload increases and the distractions and other activities take on an increasing amount of their time. So the more they can do to advance their scout career in middle school, the better.
Last point on this, most scouts go in spurts - that is they get a lot accomplished in short periods and then seem to stagnate for a while. This is normal and very recoverable.