Troop 19 Advancement Guide

This document is developed as a cheat sheet for earning merit badges and rank advancements. Comprehensive information can be found:

• https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/
  
• https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/advancement-and-awards/

Table of cONTENT

Earning Merit Badges

To earn a merit badge as a scout, you generally need to complete a set of requirements specified by the scouting organization. Here's an overview of the typical process:

1. Choose a Merit Badge: Select merit badge which will focus on a specific subject or skill, such as First Aid, Camping, or Citizenship in the Community.
   • To become an Eagle Scout, a scout needs to earn a total of 21 merit badges - 13 Eagle required and 8 electives.
2. Obtain a Merit Badge Pamphlet: These pamphlets provide information about the badge requirements, guidance, and resources to help you learn and complete the necessary tasks.
   • https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/all/
3. Speak with your Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster: Every scout should speak with their Scoutmaster (Eagle badges) or Assistant Scoutmaster (non-Eagle badges), or email them, requesting to start a new merit badge. The Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster or Advancement Chair will add the badge to the scout’s profile and/or sign and provide a blank blue card for the badge, which the scout would present to their merit badge counselor. 
   
   • o Remember that all electronic communications between a scout and an adult leader should always include a second adult leader, or a parent. This applies to all emails and text messaging per BSA’s Two-Deep Leadership policy.
4. Find a Merit Badge Counselor: Every merit badge has a designated merit badge counselor. You can find a local merit badge counsellor in Scoutbook
   • https://scoutbook.scouting.org/
5. Consult with the Merit Badge Counselor: The counselor will guide you through the process, answer any questions you may have, and help you understand the subject matter. They may provide additional resources or suggest activities to complete the requirements.
6. Work on the Requirements: Once you have a clear understanding of the badge requirements, start working on them. The counselor will request evidence or documentation of your work.
7. Get the Requirements Signed off: As you complete each requirement, your merit badge counselor will review your work to ensure you have fulfilled the requirement and sign off on your progress.
8. Complete the Merit Badge: When you have finished all the badge requirements your counselor provide you with a Blue Card for Merit Badge Application. The blue card serves as an official record of a scout's completed merit badge.
   • The blue card consists of three parts:
     • Applicant's Record: It serves as a record of the scout's personal details and the merit badge.
     • Counselor's Record: The middle part verifies and records the completion of each requirement. The Advancement Chair keeps this copy for their records.
     • Unit Advancement Record: The bottom part is the Advancement Committee copy. The Advancement Chair keeps this copy for their records.
9. Turn in your blue card: If you have a signed blue card from your counselor, remove and retain your portion as described above, and turn the remaining portions into the Troop. You can give it to:
   • The Scoutmaster, The Troop Advancement Chair, The ASPL of Advancement

Taking a picture of the front and back of the blue card and emailing it to the Scoutmaster and Troop Advancement Chair is acceptable, but the physical portion of the Troop Copy still needs to be turned into one of the three people mentioned above.

If the badge was completed electronically, meaning the counselor was connected to your profile on Scoutbook, and they marked the badge as completed on Scoutbook, simply notify the Scoutmaster and Troop Advancement Chair via email when it has been marked as completed.

Earning Rank Advancements

1. Completing Rank Requirements: Rank advancement requirements are detailed in your Scout Handbook. Scouts should seek out their Patrol Leader or Troop Guide to get signed-off as completing rank requirements. Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders and Senior Patrol Leaders can also assist in signing-off on rank requirements, or finding a senior scout that can sign off on your progress.
2. Scoutmaster Conference: After you have completed all requirements for your next rank, and they have been signed off by a senior scout as described above, the scout should speak with the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster to schedule their Scoutmaster Conference. Scoutmaster McKenna performs conferences for Star and Life Scouts. Upon completion, the Scoutmaster will sign-off that the conference is complete and the scout is now ready for their Board of Review.
3. Board of Review: Every rank from Tenderfoot to Eagle Scout requires a Board of Review as the final step of earning your next rank. Boards of Review are held twice a month at the weekly Troop meetings or can take place during Campouts or Summer Camps. Scouts can sign-up for a time slot at the weekly Troop meetings using SignUpGenius. Check the Troop Newsletters for the link.

Earning Awards

1. Review Award Requirements: Some award requirements are detailed in the Scout Handbook, but all BSA award requirements can also be found online at Scouting.org.
2. Speak with the Scoutmaster: If you are interested in working to complete an award, or if you feel you have already completed an award, speak with the Scoutmaster. Alternatively, Scouts can also email the Scoutmaster and Troop Advancement Chair.

Merit Badge and Advancement Contact