Scout Ranks

Even though it's not one of the primary aims of Scouting, advancement is a natural byproduct of the Scouting experience. It's easy to advance by following these four basic steps:

1. Learning
2. Testing
3. Review
4. Recognition

Rank Advancement

The initial ranks, Tenderfoot through First Class, prepare you to take full advantage of Scouting and give you the basis from which to learn leadership. Star, Life, and Eagle requirements bring you leadership opportunites and imbues a sense of service to others.

The Boy Scout Handbook is your go-to source for the requirements for each rank. You can work on requirements with anyone you wish - family, friends, other scouts, scout leaders, etc. This is often done during Troop meetings, campouts, or other scouting activities, but can be done outside of Scouts on your own. You should have a plan as to when you want to achieve your next rank and work on requirements weekly to achieve that goal.

Practice, practice, practice! Learning a know and tying it once is not the mastery that is desired by scouting. You will have many opportunities to practice each skill before it can be "signed off" by another Scout or Scout Leader. Even after having a skill signed-off, you should continue to practice each skill repeatedly to reinforce and solidify your knowledge and to ensure you can teach the next Scouts.

Each requirement must be signed-off in your Scout Book by either a higher ranking Scout or Scout leader. In Boy Scouts, parents cannot sign off on a Scout's requirement. Below lists each Rank and who can sign-off on requirements for that rank:

Rank being worked on	Rank of Scout Signing-off
Scout	Second Class or higher
Tenderfoot	First Class or higher
Second Class	Star or higher
First Class	Life or higher
Star	Eagle, SM, ASM, JASM
Life	SM, ASM, JASM
Eagle	SM, ASM, JASM

Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, and Junior Assistant Scoutmasters can sign-off on any rank, but it's preferred if higher ranking Scouts sign-off on lower ranking Scouts.

It's up to you to take advantage of the advancement opportunities available to you, and to take initiative to ask for someone to test you when you are ready. You are responsible for keeping your own personal advancement record in your handbook. You should also record your service hours, campouts, Troop activities, and leadership positions in your handbook.

You must earn the ranks in order, but you may complete any requirement for Tenderfoot through First Class at any time. (For example, you may complete a First Class requirement before finishing your Tenderfoot requirements, but you must earn Tenderfoot rank before you are awarded Second Class and First Class ranks.)

When you have finished your requirements (or nearly so), you will ask the Scoutmaster for a Scoutmaster conference. The purpose of the Scoutmaster conference is to ensure that all the requirements have been meet and gives the Scoutmaster an opportunity to discusss your likes, dislikes, and goals.

Once the Scoutmaster conference is completed, you will need to meet with the Committee at your Board of Review. Boards of review are held during the 1st meeting every month (or by special arrangement if there is a timing or other issue). The purpose of the Board of Review is for the Committee to determine the quality of the troop experience.

You need to have your Boy Scout Handbook and should be in your field uniform when you appear before a Board of Review. At the beginning of the review, the president of the board will bring you into the room, introduce you to the board, and invite you to be seated. During the review the board will discuss your development along your trail to Eagle, ask you questions about skills that were required for your particular rank, and evaluate you in terms of troop activities and readiness for the next rank. It is also a time for you to ask any questions you might have and to give feedback to the Troop committee about activities and your Scouting experience in your Troop and in your patrol. At the end of the review you will be asked to leave the room while the board discusses your qualifications. The board will then call you back into the room and inform you either that you have been approved for the next rank or what additional actions you must take to qualify.

After passing the Board of Review, you will be recognized in front of the Troop as soon as possible. At this time, you have officially moved up a rank eve if you have not received your patch. At the next Court of Honor, you will be formally recognized for your rank advancements and receive any earned merit badges in front of family and friends. For rank advancements, you will also be presented with your wallet-sized certificate card and a rank pin ("mother's pin"). Our Troop holds a Court of Honor 3 times during the year - In August, at our end of year picnic, in December at our annual camp-in and holiday party, and again in April usually held during a weekly meeting.

After reaching the rank of Life Scout, you will meet with one of the adult leaders in the troop. At this meeting you will receive your Life to Eagle packet and discuss ideas and suggestions for your Eagle Service Project. This project must conform to special guidelines that have been outlined by the Boy Scouts of America. Your Scoutmaster, Troop Advancement Chairman, and a representative of your District Advancement Committee, as well as the benefiting organization, must approve your project before you begin carrying it out.