How Scouts Advance
Boy Scout advancement requires much individual effort and initiative on the individual scout. Advancement emphasizes leadership and service as much as merit badges and scout skills.
A Boy Scout has almost total control over his own advancement, which he will do mostly on an individual basis with senior Scouts and with a number of different adults.within a year. And becoming an Eagle Scout is a crowning achievement of youth earned by fewer than 4% of all Scouts.
Advancement requirements start on Handbook page 438 (See below). To advance, a Scout must be active, must do his best to live by the Scout Law and Oath.
The Scout Promise, practice leadership, give service to others, learn Scout skills (mostly in the outdoors), and earn merit badges (primarily from adult counselors other than his parents). After completing all requirements for a rank, a Scout meets with one of the uniformed adult leaders in a "Scoutmaster Conference." Finally, he schedules a Board of Review with the Advancement Chair.
What can you do to help your son take full advantage of the Boy Scout Advancement method? Make sure your son attends our meetings, camps, outings and summer camp! Offer encouragement and support. Know what your son needs for his next rank. Be active in Scouting with him, and strongly encourage him to attend as many Scout activities as possible, because only active Scouts advance. In the beginning, you may need to remind your son to get out his handbook or merit badge book. Help him to find the time to work on advancement and scouting skills. Discuss with your son his goals for Scouting. Help him to realize those goals as he makes his choices in Scouting.
The
BLUE CARD
You must fill out the following
Your Scoutmaster must sign
The Counselor will fill out
Upon completing the merit badge,