Advancement

Boy Scout Rank Advancement

You may not receive a rank, however, until you have earned the one before it. Rank requirements are signed off by your fellow Scouts or a Scoutmaster. A Scout who is two ranks above the rank you are working on is allowed to sign off. For example, a First Class Scout (or above) can sign off on all Tenderfoot requirements.

Scoutmaster Conference

One requirement that Boy Scouts have for rank advancement is that whenever you complete the requirements for a rank, you need to have a Scoutmaster Conference. At this meeting, the Scoutmaster will review the requirements with you to make sure that they have been learned correctly. He will help you to set up the goals for the next advancement, and he will have you share your ideas about the troop (how it's going from your viewpoint, what you would like the troop to do more of, any problems you see occurring...).

Court of Honor

When you have completed all the requirements of Eagle rank, including all of the Eagle-required Merit Badges, the Eagle Service Project, and paperwork, you will sit before an Eagle Board of Review at your local Council. Once you pass the Eagle Board of Review, you will be approved for the Rank of Eagle as of that date, although the Troop will recognize and honor your achievement at a special meeting called a Court of Honor. This is a formal ceremony to recognize you and your fellow Eagle Scouts in front of the Troop, their Families, along with local and state officials.

Merit Badges

A merit badge is an invitation to explore an exciting subject. With more than a hundred to choose from, some merit badges encourage you to increase your skill in subjects you already like, while others challenge you to learn about new areas of knowledge.

Many of the merit badges are designed to help you increase your ability to be of service to others, to take part in outdoor adventures, to better understand the environment, and to play a valuable role in your family and community. Earning a merit badge can even lead you toward a lifelong hobby or set you on the way to a rewarding career.

Look for more information about merit badges on our Merit Badge page, or visit the National Council website and check out their merit badge primer at www.scouting.org or www.meritbadge.org or www.usscouting.org.

Totin' Chip and Firem'n Chit

These are two Scout awards that are usually of interest to new Scouts. When a Scout demonstrates that he knows how to handle wood tools (knife, axe, and saw) he may be granted "Totin' rights". Until a Scout has earned his Totin' Chip, he is not allowed to carry a pocketknife.