Advancement
What is Advancement?
Advancement is the process by which youth members of the Boy Scouts of America progress from rank to rank in the Scouting program. Advancement is simply a means to an end, not an end in itself. Everything done to advance and earn these ranks, from joining until leaving the program, should be designed to help the young person have an exciting and meaningful experience.
Education and fun are functions of the Scouting movement, providing the basis of the advancement program. Advancement in the Boy Scouts of America emphasizes the growth a young person experiences as a result of participation in unit programs.
The Boy Scout advancement process seems, to a new Scout, like a pretty straight-forward process. The Scout`s handbook details the things to be done. The Scout does them, gets them signed off, and gets recognized for his achievements.
A new adult unit leader may find the process a bit more intimidating, as there are few written guidelines to explain the adult Scouter`s responsibility for advancement in the unit. Indeed, advancement on the unit level involves all of the adults in one aspect or another. Each adult has a responsibility, however, indirect to insure that the each boy advances.
Advancement News
A new Merit Badge Counselor Information sheet, No.34405WEB, released in February, is now available online at www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34405.pdf . This user-friendly, fillable-PDF form will enhance the entire merit badge process for unit leaders, parents, and most of all, Scouts. Although at first glance it may appear similar to its predecessor, the new form affords more space for gathering vital information such as Youth Protection training, email contact information, and up to three telephone numbers. There is also more room for individuals to list the specific qualifications they have to counsel a particular badge. The back of the form now provides both general and specific information on the program to counselors and unit leaders, with special emphasis on Youth Protection and useful references for additional information. By providing more information, the new form can help councils and districts create more comprehensive and more detailed merit badge counselor lists. This in turn can provide unit leaders with a better tool for matching Scouts to the best counselor for a given badge.
Advancement Resources
Eagle Scout
EAGLE SCOUT ADVANCEMENT INFORMATION
Eagle Scout Applicants ~ Eagle_Rank_Application_2014_fillable
Eagle Scout ~ Project Workbook
Contacts for Possible ~ Eagle_Project_Contacts
Check out these successful Eagle Projects for ideas for your ~ Eagle Project Ideas
Life to Eagle ~ Life to Eagle Process
Addresses for Eagle Scouts to write to for Congratulatory Letters.
Eagle Scouts, you can contact the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. They will come to your Eagle Ceremony in Revolutionary regalia and present a certificate. Contact William (Bill) Aurand, the Scouting Liaison for the Tucson Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, e-mail
The Sons of the American Revolution also offer an Eagle Scout Essay Scholarship Contest, open to all Eagles. This is a lightly used contest currently so the odds of winning significant Cash Awards at the State and National level are quite good. The winner is invited to present their essay at a Chapter or State meeting as a guest of the local SAR chapter. It is open to all Eagle Scouts who are currently registered in an active unit and have not reached their 19th birthday during the year of application. (The application year is the calendar year, 01 Jan. to 31 Dec.) The year that Eagle was awarded is not restricted. College plans do not need to be completed in order to receive the cash scholarship. Three cash scholarship awards are given: As the National First Place winner – $8,000.00; Runner-up – $4,000.00; 2nd runner-up – $2,000.00. You may apply more than one year if you meet the age requirements but no more than $8,000.00 total may be granted to any one Eagle Scout. The application is here:Arthur M. & Berdena King Eagle Scout Scholarship Rules and forms can be found at http://www.sar.org/node/39
To schedule an Eagle Board of Review, contact the Council Registrar ~ Audrone Tarleton, 520-750-0385 ext 11, E-Mail
For any questions about Eagle Projects, boards of review, etc., please check our your respective District Advancement Page for more information.
Scholarship Links:
http://www.sar.org/node/39 Sons of the American Revolution
http://nesa.org/scholarships.html NESA Scholarship Page
http://www.scouting.org/About/FactSheets/scholarships.aspx BSA Eagle Scout Scholarships
MB Counselor
Here is a LINK to the Merit Badge Counselor Registration and Training
Merit Badge Counselor Training is now available here: MB_Counselor_Training_2015 . All Merit Badge Counselors are requested to go through this training and then take a quiz to maintain their qualification.
All Merit Badge Counselors MUST have current BSA Youth Protection Training.
- Please check that your training is current by logging on to myscouting.scouting.org
- The training is only 30 minutes and is available at the same site: myscouting.scouting.org
- You can also check by contacting the Council Registrar: Audrone Tarleton, 520-750-0385 ext 11, E-Mail
2016 Boy Scout Advancement Changes
Based on the work of the Strategic Plan Goal 411 Task Force, a new set of Boy Scout requirements will become effective on January 1st, 2016. Timing for the release and implementation of the new requirements will be as follows:
- May 2015- New Boy Scout requirements released (at National Annual Meeting)
- Summer 2015- New requirements will be reviewed in detail in Philmont Training Center conferences (schedule TBA)
- Fall 2015- New requirement information and interpretation shared via Advancement News, roundtables, etc.
- January 2016 2016 Boy Scout Requirements book release, 2016 Boy Scout Handbook released, New requirements become effective
The release of the new requirements in May 2015 is to allow unit leaders adequate time to plan their Scouts’ transition. Beginning work in the new requirements will be determined by the Scout’s joining date or current rank as of January 1, 2016:
For 2016:
- Boys joining on or after Jan. 1, 2016 MUST use the new requirements.
- Boys who have joined prior to Jan. 1, 2016:
- Who are working on the Scout badge MAY continue to work on the existing requirements, but MUST convert to the new requirements upon completion of the Scout badge.
- Who are working on Tenderfoot through First Class MAY continue to work on the existing requirements, but MUST convert to the new requirements upon attaining First Class.
- Who have completed First Class MAY complete the rank they are currently working on in the existing requirements, but then MUST convert to the new requirements for subsequent ranks.
For 2017: All Scouts MUST use the new requirements regardless of rank.
Questions related to transition timing or process may be directed to either of the following: 411@scouting.org or advancement.team@scouting.org
2016 Boy Scout Requirements 8.14.2015
