Leadership 

POSITION OF RESPONSIBILITY

Although the word “leadership” doesn’t appear in the Scout Oath, Scout Law or the BSA mission statement, developing leaders is an important aspect of Scouting. In the Scouts BSA advancement program, showing leadership is a key requirement for the ranks of Star, Life and Eagle. 

Scouting teaches responsibility. It teaches scouts to take on a role in which they’re accountable to their fellow Scouts. This role is known as a position of responsibility. As the scout advances toward becoming an Eagle Scout, they’re required to take on one of these roles. By the time they become an Eagle Scout, a young person will have served at least 16 months in a position of responsibility. 

When a Scout assumes a position of responsibility, they are required to set goals, receive approval for the goals they have proposed and work with a mentor to help them accomplish the goals they set for their leadership period. 

It is the scout's responsibility to contact the Scoutmaster to obtain a mentor and to schedule regular meetings with their mentor to discuss their progress toward meeting their goals. 

It is a disservice to the Scout and to the unit to reward work that has not been done. 

Scouts will discuss what they accomplished through the goals they set when they participate in their Scoutmaster conference.  

The expectation is that they will work toward the desired results which should benefit the troop and their fellow scouts.  Holding a position and doing nothing, producing no results, is unacceptable. 

What are the position of responsibility requirements?

• Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class: No position of responsibility requirements

• Star requirement 5: While a First Class Scout, a young person must serve actively for four months in one or more of the acceptable positions of responsibility. 

  • Scouts BSA troop: Patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, troop guide, Order of the Arrow troop representative, den chief, scribe, librarian, historian, quartermaster, bugler, junior assistant Scoutmaster, chaplain aide, instructor, webmaster or outdoor ethics guide.

• Life requirement 5: While a Star Scout, a young person must serve actively for six months in one or more of the acceptable positions of responsibility.

  • Scouts BSA troop: Patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, troop guide, Order of the Arrow troop representative, den chief, scribe, librarian, historian, quartermaster, bugler, junior assistant Scoutmaster, chaplain aide, instructor, webmaster or outdoor ethics guide.

• Eagle Scout requirement 4: While a Life Scout, a young person must serve actively for six months in one or more of the acceptable positions of responsibility.

  • Scouts BSA troop: Patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, troop guide, Order of the Arrow troop representative, den chief, scribe, librarian, historian, quartermaster, junior assistant Scoutmaster, chaplain aide, instructor, webmaster, or outdoor ethics guide.

Scout Positions of Responsibility

The troop and patrols provide a variety of jobs for the boys to learn and lead. Young or new scouts can begin with easier tasks, while experienced scouts may have more advanced roles. There are no official BSA rules on age or rank for holding a position. Responsibilities may increase as the Boy Scout grows. 

A scout in a position of responsibility will be assigned a mentor by the Scoutmaster, the scout will meet with mentor initially to define the goals the scout will work toward, once the goals are approved, the scout will discuss how they intend to meet their goals and should meet with their mentor regularly to discuss the scout's progress.  The mentor is there to help guide the scout but they are also there to hold the scout accountable for meeting the goals they set for the leadership period.  

The scout is responsible for keeping records and scheduling meetings with their mentor, if the scout fails to meet with their counselor or they fail to maintain any necessary documentation to confirm that they met their goals, the mentor may determine that that the scout failed to meet the expectations of the role or failed to preform the position they held for the leadership period, they scout may be encouraged to choose a new position of responsibility or they may start over in the same role.

Scouts may not change their goals without discussing it and receiving approval from their mentor. 

While a parent will may attend the meetings with the mentor to meet YPT guidelines, the parent is reminded that the meeting is for the mentor and the scout, so the parent may not participate in the discussion, take over for their scout or attend on their scout's behalf. 

Should the parent disagree with the mentor, they may voice their concern to the Scoutmaster and the Scoutmaster will review the concern and make final the decision.  Our mentors are volunteers who have given their time to support the troop, parent's are discouraged from contacting the mentor to complain or make requests of them on their scout's behalf.

The common positions follow:

Senior Patrol Leader (SPL)

The Senior Patrol Leader is the head youth leader and commonly runs all troop meetings and activities. With the counsel of the Scoutmaster, the SPL may assign other youth leadership positions. He is also the chairman of the Patrol Leaders' Council (PLC). The SPL, PLC, and Scoutmaster work together to plan troop activities and programs.

The SPL is usually elected to his position by the scouts in the troop. During the time as an SPL, the scout is generally not a member of a patrol.

Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL)

The ASPL is the SPL's assistant. He is appointed to his position by the SPL (with Scoutmaster approval). When the SPL is absent from a meeting or activity, the ASPL will take his place. The ASPL may be assigned to work with specific youth leaders, patrols, or projects. The ASPL is also not a member of a specific patrol.

Patrol Leader(s)

Every patrol has a Patrol Leader who helps plan and lead patrol meetings, keeps patrol members informed about activities, and delegates patrol duties. Members of each patrol in the troop vote for their Patrol Leader, usually for six months. The Patrol Leader represents the patrol at PLC meetings. The Patrol Leader may appoint an Assistant Patrol Leader.

The Patrol Leader should be considered the most important position -- since the patrol is the fundamental unit of scouting.

Troop Guide

The Troop Guide mentors new scouts during their first year in Boy Scouts. He is usually an older scout and should have attained the rank of First Class or higher. He works with the Patrol Leader of the New Scout Patrol and provides instruction in the scout skills that are required for rank advancement.

Quartermaster

The Quartermaster is responsible for troop supplies and equipment. He helps make sure each patrol has the equipment it needs and that they keep the gear clean and in good repair. The Quartermaster often works with an Assistant Scoutmaster or committee member who helps purchase, maintain, and store the troop's camping equipment. 

• Issue equipment and see that it is returned in good order.

• Maintain the troop trailer in a clean and orderly manner.

• Suggest new or replacement items.

• Regularly attend troop campouts, and troop events during his service period.

Scribe

The Scribe is the troop's secretary. He is responsible for recording decisions made at PLC meetings (but is not a voting member). He also records  attendance at troop meetings and troop events. 

• Regularly attend troop meetings, troop campouts, and troop events during his service period.

Historian

The troop Historian documents, photographs and chronicles memories from troop meetings, activities, and ceremonies. The Historian can often be seen taking pictures during troop meetings and events, these are provided to the troop leadership to be included on the troop website and stored. If the Historian is computer savvy, he may be asked to put together slide shows for troop meetings and special events from photographs taken at troop events. 

• Regularly attend troop meetings, troop campouts, and troop events during his service period.

Librarian

The Librarian maintains the troop's collection of reference materials, including merit badge books, regional maps, and guidebooks. In some troops, the Librarian also provides the merit badge counselor lists. Scouts check out materials with the Librarian, who also makes sure the materials are returned. The Librarian may also be responsible to track needed materials and propose acquisitions.

Instructor

An Instructor is an older scout who has mastered the skills required to earn the ranks leading up to First Class, including first aid, camping, backpacking, knots, and lashing. He leads skills demonstrations and training events. A troop may have more than one scout in the role of Instructor.

Chaplain's Aide

The Chaplain's Aide plans and provides for religious observance in troop activities.

• Keeps troop leader appraised of religious holidays when planning activities during the PLC.

• Encourages saying grace at meals while camping or on activities.

• Tells Scouts about the religious emblem program of their faith.

• Regularly attend troop meetings, troop campouts, and troop events during his service period.

Den Chief

The Den Chief plays an important role in teaching Cub Scouts about the Boy Scout program. Often recommended to be an older scout, he works with a den of Cub Scouts as an assistant to the adult den leader. He helps with games, songs and stunts and is a friend and role model to the Cub Scouts. A Webelos Den Chief can also introduce the Cub Scouts to his Boy Scout troop.

Leave No Trace Trainer

The Leave No Trace trainer helps the troop follow the principles of Leave No Trace. Preferably, he should have completed this training and he may assist his troop members earn the Leave No Trace award. (For more information, see page [Other Awards Achievements and Recognitions].)

Bugler

The Bugler plays the bugle at ceremonies or to announce some daily routines of camp, such as reveille (``wake up''), retreat (at flag lowering ceremony), and taps (at end of the day). For the Eagle requirement, this is not a position of responsibility.