1. Introduction to Advancement for Parents. 9:50 AM – 12:00 noon
Introduction to Advancement for Parents 9:50 AM – 12:00 noon November 3, Michael Merritt Chair, Patriots Path Council Advancement Committee
There is a lot of material to cover in an hour, so if you have any questions, please ask but we may have to defer until the end of the class.
Note that references are made on most slides to the BSA Guide to Advancement and the particular section. A new GTA is anticipated later this year, but the reference sections are expected to remain the same.

2. Aims of Scouting Eight Methods by which the aims are achieved:
Character Development
Citizenship Training
Personal Fitness
Eight Methods by which the aims are achieved:
Patrols
Ideals
Outdoor Programs
Advancement
Association with Adults
Personal Growth
Leadership Development
Uniform

3. What Is Advancement?
Advancement is the process by which a Scout progresses from rank to rank in the Scouting program. It is simply a means to an end and not an end in itself. Everything done to advance and earn higher ranks is designed to help the Scout have an exciting and meaningful experience.
The advancement method is designed to encourage a young man to accomplish a progressive series of fun and educational tasks.
GTA 2.0

4. the basics EDUCATION and FUN Advancement is not a competition.
Joint effort with members (youth), leaders, volunteers and the family.
Scouts need to learn and have fun – leads to success and staying in the program

5. Basic Rules
No council, district, unit or individual has the authority to add to, or subtract from, any advancement requirements
A Scout is expected to meet the requirements as stated – no more and no less
When a question comes up about advancement, refer to GTA and/or the current BSA Requirements.
If there does not seem to be an obvious answer, there is a hierarchy for seeking information beyond the unit level:
District Advancement Committee
Council Advancement Committee
National Advancement Committee
As members of the Council Advancement Committee, these documents are where we first look when WE are asked questions.

6. Today’s conversation:
Ranks through First Class
Merit Badges
Star, Life, Eagle
Positions of Responsibility
Service Projects
Boards of Review
Special Cases

7. 1: Ranks through First Class
Scout Second Class
Tenderfoot 4. First Class
The first phase of Advancement, from joining to First Class, is designed to teach Scoutcraft skills, how to participate in a group and to learn self-reliance. The Scout badge is awarded when the Scout demonstrates a rudimentary knowledge of the Scouting ideals and program.[1] Tenderfoot,[2] Second Class[3] and First Class[4] have progressively harder requirements in the areas of Scoutcraft, physical fitness, citizenship, personal growth and Scout Spirit.

8. 1: Ranks through First Class
Requirements for all these ranks can be earned in any order.
Troops often have special program elements to get boys through these early ranks:
Meet ahead of regular meeting
Assign Troop Guides and Instructors
Advancement camping trips
Scouts who make First Class in their first year stay longer and get more from the program.
Find out how your Troop works.
ASK HOW YOU CAN HELP!

9. 2: Merit Badges Blue Cards. District Merit Badge Lists.
Badges whose counselors need special training or certification.
District options.
Unit and Unit Leader options.
Resort to other Districts.
Work before Approval, Prerequisites, etc.
MeritBadge.org.

10. MB Changes 2: Merit Badges
Newer Badges: Animation, Digital Technology, Exploration, Geocaching, Signs, Signals & Codes, Sustainability (Eagle alternate for Env. Science), Programming, and Mining in Society.
Updated Badges: Cycling, Cooking(Eagle required since 2014), Lifesaving, Photography and Snow Sports.
Pace of new badges and updates has slowed considerably.

11. To Become a MB Counselor
2: Merit Badges
To Become a MB Counselor
18 years of age or older.
Good character.
Good rapport with Scout-age boys and their unit leaders.
Recognized as having skills and education in the subject(s) area
Complete BSA Youth Protection
Training at
Adult Application (position 42 no charge!)
Council MB Counselor Application
GTA

12. MB Counselor process 2: Merit Badges
Local council establishes procedures including, but not limited to:
Background check.
Current Youth Protection training.
Any required certifications current.
Approval is for specific merit badges, in Patriots Path managed by District MB Dean.
GTA

13. 3: Star, Life, Eagle
The second phase of Star, Life and Eagle is designed to develop leadership skills and allow the Scout to explore potential vocations and avocations through the merit badge program. These ranks require that the boy serve in a position of responsibility and perform community service.

14. 3: Star, Life, Eagle Eagle: 6 months POR Must be earned in order
Star: 4 months POR
6 service hours
6 badges (4 Eagle)
Life: 6 months POR
6 service hours (3 C.R.)
11 badges total (7 Eagle)
Eagle: 6 months POR
service project
21 badges total (13 Eagle)

15. 3: Star, Life, Eagle Eagle Required Merit Badges Camping° Cooking°
Cycling, Hiking or Swimming.
Citizenship in the Community
Citizenship in the Nation
Citizenship in the World
Communications
Lifesaving or Emergency Preparedness
Environmental Science or Sustainability
Family Life*
First Aid
Personal Fitness+
Personal Management^
°Large number of activities, get blue card and log activities in handbook from DAY 1.
* 90 day requirement
+ 12 week requirement
^ 13 week requirement

16. 4: Positions of Responsibility
To Achieve Star Rank
While a First Class Scout, serve actively in your troop for four months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility (or carry out a Scoutmaster-approved leadership project to help the troop):
Scout 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.
Lone Scout. Leadership responsibility in your school, religious
organization, club, or elsewhere in your community.

17. 4: Positions of Responsibility
To Achieve Life Rank
While a Star Scout, serve actively in your troop for six months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility (or carry out a Scoutmaster-approved leadership project to help the troop):
Scout 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.
Lone Scout. Leadership responsibility in your school, religious
organization, club, or elsewhere in your community.

18. 4: Positions of Responsibility
To Achieve Eagle Rank
While a Life Scout, serve actively in your troop for six months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility:
Scout 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.
Lone Scout. Leadership responsibility in your school, religious organization, club, or elsewhere in your community.

19. 4: Positions of Responsibility
If a Scout completes his service in one or more positions of responsibility for the required time, he must be approved. Service in two positions simultaneously does not reduce the time. Gaps are acceptable.
Responsibility is not the same as leadership, and leadership is not required.
If a Scout is not meeting his established expectations in the position, or has done no work at all, this must be clearly expressed early on, and guidance for success must be clearly communicated to the Scout. In the absence of this procedure, credit must be given for the time the Scout reasonably believed he was performing satisfactorily.
If a Scout does not perform after appropriate guidance, then removal is acceptable.

20. 5: Service Projects
The Eagle Scout Service Project, or more simply the Eagle Project, is the opportunity for a Scout to demonstrate leadership of others while performing a project for the benefit of his community.

21. 5: Service Projects New requirements January 2017
1 Hour service project Tenderfoot
2 Hours service project Second Class
3 Hours First Class (different projects)
3 Life hours must be conservation-related
New handbooks have tracking pages
Ask your unit HOW YOU CAN HELP

22. 6: Boards of Review Objectives Not an examination; Does not retest
To make sure Scout has done what is required for rank
To see how good an experience the Scout is having
To encourage the Scout to progress further
Not an examination; Does not retest
For rank advancement & those not showing progress
Vital for evaluation of the unit’s Scouting program
GTA

23. 6: Boards of Review Timeliness.
No fewer than three members or more than six.
No parents, relatives, assistant unit leaders from the scout’s unit may serve or observe.
Members must be 21 years or older.
The candidate or candidate’s family can have no role in selecting the Board.
A full and neat field uniform is preferred, but cannot be required.
The unit’s unit leader may observe, but not participate. If requested, the scout may exclude the unit leader.

24. 6: Boards of Review
Boards are generally celebrations, and not re-tests, examinations, or challenges of knowledge. Troop Committee Guidebook, No has appropriate questions and topics.
Decisions to approve must be unanimous. If approval does not seem assured, and the unit leader is present, he may be consulted as to his opinion.
At the conclusion, Scouts must either be congratulated for their rank advancement or told why they were rejected and how they can improve. Alternatively, a Board may adjourn to a later date with the Scout’s permission, in special circumstances. However, such an adjourned Board may not extend Eagle requirements beyond a Scout’s 18th birthday.
Remote video conference boards may take place. See Guide to Advancement
Boards should last approximately 15 minutes, but no longer than 30 minutes.

25. Specifics as to Eagle Boards
6: Boards of Review
Specifics as to Eagle Boards
At least one District Advancement Committee representative must be a member. If requested by the unit, more may be provided.
No Eagle Board may convene until the Council has verified the application.
Boards are often held in more formal settings than a home or troop meeting site.
Boards cannot delay or deny rank due to unresponsive references.
If a Unit Leader or Committee Chair refuses to approve an application, the candidate must still be granted a Board. See Guide to Advancement

26. 6: Boards of Review
Boards should last at least 30 minutes, but not more than 45 minutes.
Eagle candidates may have only one Board of review, although it may be adjourned and reconvened. Anything beyond this is subject to Guide to Advancement
Boards may take place as a matter of course within three months of the candidate’s 18th birthdate, but all requirements must be completed before that date.
Specific provisions also exist relating to Venturing Boards of Review, Discovery and Pathfinder Awards, and the Summit Award.

27. 7: Special Cases Interpreting requirements Youth with special needs
Time extensions

28. What does “be active” mean?
A Scout is considered to “be active” if:
Registered in unit (registration fees current)
Not dismissed for disciplinary reasons
Meets unit’s reasonable expectations regarding attendance and participation; or a lesser level of activity is explained.
GTA

29. Youth members with special needs
Scouts – 4 steps for lower ranks
do as many standard requirements as possible
secure a medical statement
prepare a request for alternative requirements
Council advancement committee reviews request
GTA

30. Alternate merit badges for Eagle
physical or mental disability of a PERMANENT nature
candidate must earn as many of the required MBs as his ability permits BEFORE applying for alternate MB
application for alternative MB must be completed PRIOR to qualifying for MB
application must be approved by Council Advancement Committee
GTA

31. Time Extensions
How – by filing a petition in writing with National Scout Committee through the local council
Who – Scout or unit leader or unit committee
Standard - must show good and sufficient evidence and detail the extenuating circumstances that prevented the Scout from completing the requirements prior to his 18th birthday. 
Extenuating circumstances are defined as conditions or situations that are totally beyond the control of the Scout.
When – before Scout is 18, unless extenuating circumstances prevent Scout from requesting the extension before he is 18, but then petition must detail the extenuating circumstances that prevented him from completing the requirements and from requesting the extension before age 18.
GTA

32. Available Resources Guide to Advancement 2017 at scouting.org
2018 Scout Requirements
Advancement News at scouting.org
Bryan’s Blog
Advancement Committee webpage at ppcbsa.org/committees/advancement/
Your Troop Committee Advancement Chair
Your District Committee Advancement Chair
Your District Executive
Your Council Advancement Committee

33. the basics
EDUCATION
and FUN