The following policies have been
established by the Troop Committee.
Any questions should be directed to the Troop Advancement Chairperson.
All Rank advancement should be recorded in the BSA Handbook. The Scoutmaster and Advancement Chair have a computer program to track each Scouts progress, BUT he is responsible for the entries into his book.
Please bring any and all questions to the Troop Advancement Chairperson. It is preferable that the Scout himself asks the questions. Please see certain definitions; listed below.
Scout Rank:
Simply read the joining requirements and present yourself to an Adult Leader for a “Scoutmaster’s Conference”. This is all that is required to receive this badge.
Tenderfoot thru First Class Ranks:
In Boy Scouts, parents cannot sign off requirements. The requirements for these ranks should be signed off by a Scout of First Class Rank or higher (with those *exceptions noted below). These requirements can be earned in any order. For example, a Scout may complete a requirement towards First Class while still working towards his Tenderfoot Rank. However, he must earn the Ranks in order. Once a Scout has completed all requirements for a Rank (except "Scout Spirit", Scoutmaster Conference & Board of Review) he should request the Advancement Chairperson’s signature for the “Demonstrate Scout Spirit…” requirement. He will then be ready for a Scoutmaster’s Conference.
NOTE: (*exceptions)
Star, Life and Eagle Scout Ranks:
These requirements should ONLY be entered in the Scout Handbook by the Troop Advancement Chairperson. The Troop computer program enters these in a certain order.
These Ranks require 7 steps:
Activities
Campouts, Courts of Honor, Troop Service Projects, and Help on Eagle Projects count towards Second Class #2a and First Class #3 activities requirements.
Scout Spirit
The objective criteria of Troop 525 Scout Spirit attendance measurements are to have scouts demonstrate “current involvement” in Troop 525 functions. The Troop 525 leadership has defined “current involvement” as being in attendance at least 60% of Troop Activities within the shorter of: the previous 6 months, or the period of time since the last rank advancement. Some leadership positions require a greater involvement in the Troops activities because of the nature of the job, i.e. ….patrol leader, assistant SPL or SPL for example. The 60% threshold is the bare minimum.
Scout Spirit is the final rank requirement to be signed off prior to the Scoutmaster Conference. The Scout should see the Advancement Chairman to get an attendance report that indicates his “current involvement” in the Troop. The Scout then presents the report to the Scoutmaster. The Scoutmaster will consider the Subjective Scout Spirit criteria along with the attendance report to determine whether or not the Scout has met the requirements for Scout Spirit. The Scoutmaster will then sign off the Scout Spirit requirement and schedule a Scoutmaster Conference.
Scoutmaster's Conference
This is the step in
advancement that a trained leader thoroughly "tests" the Scout on
Scout Skills for that rank and "re-tests" on Scout Skills for all
previous ranks. There will not be any further "testing" at the Board
of Review level. Therefore, a Scout must be able to convince the leader that he
has mastered the requirements and is ready for his Board of Review. If he is
not fully prepared, the leader will ask him to look over the material again and
return at a later date to complete the Scoutmaster's Conference. The Field
Uniform is required (except if done at a campout). The Advancement
Chairperson’s signature is required prior to a Scout requesting a Scoutmaster’s
Conference. The Eagle Scout Conference
is done with the current Scoutmaster & is done by appointment only.
Board of Review
This board of review is made up of at least three members of the troop. This can include parents and other adults. One member must be a registered Troop leader and serves as the Board Chairperson. Relatives, guardians and the Leader that performed his Scoutmaster's Conference may not serve as members of a Scout's board of review. This Board will not be for the purpose of testing Scouts on Scout Skills. This is the opportunity for the Scout to review his advancement and progress in the Troop as well as the community and for him to review the performance of the Troop and its leaders. The Field Uniform is required (except if done at a campout). Once a Scout has completed his Board of Review he must have it recorded in the records of the Advancement Chairperson. (The Eagle Scout Board is done through the District Advancement Committee)
Eagle Scout Service Project
This is a topic all of its own. When ready a Scout can check with the Troop Eagle Scout Coordinator Also visit the Life-To-Eagle Page on the Council site.
Court of Honor
The Troop holds “Courts of Honor” every 4-6 months. This is the time when all Rank Advancements, Merit Badges and other Awards are presented. The CUT-OFF DATE is one week before. Scouts need to check “preliminary reports” to assure they are correct. Scouts need to plan in advance; he may not sit for a Scoutmaster’s Conference and a Board of Review at the same Troop Meeting. Please note that campouts are an excellent time for Scouts to have requirements signed off and sit for Scoutmaster’s Conferences and Boards of Review. Eagle Scouts are honored at separate functions. Scout attendance is required at ALL Courts or Honor unless excused, in advance, by the Scoutmaster.
Merit Badges
These can be earned at anytime. Even a new scout can begin to earn Merit Badges. Troop 525 will offer several of the “Eagle Required” Merit Badges throughout the school year. These classes are usually limited to at least First Class Scouts and sometimes even higher ranks. A Scout may earn any Merit Badge on his own at any time.
A list of Troop 525
Merit Badge Counselors is available. See the Advancement Chair or the SM.