Advancement
Scouts learns by doing! As they learn, they grow in ability to do their part as a member of the patrol and the troop. As the scouts develop knowledge and skills, they are asked to teach others; and in this way they begin to develop leadership.
Scouts may be tested on rank requirements by their patrol leader, Scoutmaster, assistant Scoutmaster, a troop committee member, or a member of their troop.
Below are each of the ranks in order with helpful links.
Scout Rank
- Scout Rank Worksheet, found on USscouts.org
- Scout Rank on Scoutbook
- First Class Scout emblem (req. #1d)
- Earning Your Cyber Chip (expires annually)
Tenderfoot Rank
- Tenderfoot Rank Worksheet, found on USscouts.org
- Tenderfoot Rank on Scoutbook
- Fitness Tests, req. 6a/c (Personal Fitness MB, req. 6a/8)
- Fitness Log, req. 6b
Second Class Rank
- Second Class Rank Worksheet, found on USscouts.org
- Second Class Rank on Scoutbook
- Fitness Log, req. 7a
First Class Rank
- First Class Rank Worksheet, found on USscouts.org
- First Class Rank on Scoutbook
- Fitness Log, req. 8a
Star Rank
- Star Rank Worksheet, found on USscouts.org
- Star Rank on Scoutbook
- Earning Your Cyber Chip (expires annually)
Life Rank
- Life Rank Worksheet, found on USscouts.org
- Life Rank on Scoutbook
Eagle Scout Rank
- Eagle Rank Worksheet, found on USscouts.org
- Eagle Rank on Scoutbook
- Scouting Forms (Eagle Rank)
- Eagle Scout Rank Application
- Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook
- NBOF Eagle Rank Resources for Scouts
- NBOF Eagle Rank Resources for Parents
- Fundraising
- Writing your application essay (Letter of Ambitions)
- Troop 279’s Eagle Scout Honor Roll
Eagle Palms
Path to First Class
There is no required timeline to earn a specific rank and all scouts earn advancements at their own pace. However the “Path to First Class” is a program used at Troop 279 to present scouts an opportunity to obtain the first four ranks of Scouting (Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class & First Class) in the first year after joining the Troop. Successful completion of the program is dependent on the individual scout’s participation and effort.
Below is a link to the consolidated excerpt of the 2016, 13th edition of the Scout Handbook requirements
- Rank Requirements, Scout through First Class
The Path to First Class program is run jointly by the Troop Guide and the Scoutmaster and is accomplished with, approximately 25 minute, course modules conducted at both Troop meetings and outings.
Troop Leadership Positions
Once Scouts achieve the rank of First Class, the advanced ranks of Star, Life, and Eagle all require service in a qualifying leadership role within the Troop. There are many important leadership positions within the Troop, but only some count as leadership for rank advancement:
- Elected leadership positions which count for rank advancement: Senior Patrol Leader (SPL), Patrol Leader (PL)
- Leadership positions appointed by Senior Patrol Leader which count for rank advancement: Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL), Order of the Arrow Troop Representative, Scribe, Librarian, Historian, Troop Quartermaster, Musician/Bugler, Chaplain Aide
- Leadership positions appointed by Scoutmaster which count for rank advancement: Troop Guide, Outdoor Ethics Guide, Instructor, Den Chief, Junior Assistant Scoutmaster (JASM), Webmaster
- Elected or appointed leadership positions which DO NOT count for rank advancement: Assistant Patrol Leader (APL), Patrol Quartermaster (PQM)
Please visit the Leadership page for full descriptions of the above mentioned positions of responsibilities.
Service Hours
Remember your Scout Oath, “to help other people at all times.” The full Scouts, BSA service hour requirements are below, but here are the basics: Scouts must complete one hour of service for Tenderfoot, two hours for Second Class and three hours for First Class. The total hours for Star and Life are the same, six hours each. At least three of the six hours for Life must be conservation-related; this reflects an increased emphasis on environmental stewardship.
- Service Hour Form –
This form is to be used to record service hours that are completed by the scout, which are not part of a Troop/Eagle project. Example: church, health fair, volunteer work at a non-profit organization, summer camps, etc. You must obtain PRE-approval from the Scoutmaster BEFORE beginning your work. The person verifying the hours completed cannot be a parent of the scout and must be an adult. Once the service hours are completed return the form to the Scoutmaster for final approval.
Note that service hours aren’t cumulative. In other words, the hour of service used for Tenderfoot only counts toward Tenderfoot. A Scout cannot, for example, also count that hour as one of the two he needs for Second Class.
- Tenderfoot (7b) One hour of service – Participate in a total of one hour of service in one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. Explain how your service to other
- s relates to the Scout slogan and Scout motto.
- Second Class (8e) Two hours of service – Participate in two hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. Tell how your service to others relates to the Scout Oath.
- First Class (9d) Three hours of service – Participate in three hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. The project(s) must not be the same service project(s) used for Tenderfoot requirement 7b and Second Class requirement 8e. Explain how your service to others relates to the Scout Law.
- Star (4) Six hours of service – While a First Class Scout, participate in six hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster.
- Life (4) Six hours of service – While a Star Scout, participate in six hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. At least three hours of this service must be conservation-related.
- Eagle Scout: The Eagle Scout service project – While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community. (The project must benefit an organization other than Scouts, BSA)
Attendance & Participation
For Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks there are participation requirements for X number of activities (1, 5, and 10), and a certain number of those activities have to be overnight camping trips. For these ranks, it’s pretty clear – your scout simply counts up the number of activities they have attended and writes them in the Scout Handbook where the Patrol Leader will sign them off.
The Star rank and above, however, require a scout to be “active in your troop and patrol” for a specific number of months while he is the previous rank. Troop 279 defines active participation as:
- Attending 75% of the Weekly Troop Meetings in a month, so generally 3 of the 4 weeks in a month.
- Attending 50% of the Troop Outings, so generally 1 of the 2 outings across 2 months.
Since this requirement is not needed until a scout is First Class and working on Star, it’s nothing to worry about in the beginning. But as your son progresses, there will need to be a balance between Scouts and other non-Scout activities. Note that specific number of months for a rank is not “consecutive months”.
So while a scout may need 4 months of active participation, it may take him 5, 6, 8, 10 months or even more to meet that with his additional non-Scout activities. Not having to be consecutive months greatly eases the 75% / 50% numbers for meetings and outings.
Keeping it all SAFE!
As scouts earn rank advancements and merit badges, it is important to safe keep the record of their progress. During an Eagle Board of Review (EBOR), scouts will be asked to prove that they completed all the necessary requirements to earn the Rank of Eagle Scout. There are two primary records EBOR committee will be looking at, including:
- The Scout Handbook, containing the signatures and dates the scout met all the requirements for the individual rank requirements
- Merit Badge Blue cards, showing the badges earned, including the MB councilor and Scoutmaster’s signatures and the date the MB was earned
To safe-keep these records we recommend two items:
A handbook cover, available at the Scout Store. You can also find “bible covers” at most large retail book stores. Many of these covers have pockets that can also keep pen/pencils, paper, in-progress blue cards and other items the scout wishes to keep close. Scouts should always have their Scout Handbook with them at Troop meetings and outings.
A generic binder with baseball card organizer pages to contain all completed blue cards and rank advancement cards. These items can be purchase at any office store. The Scout Shop also sells card organizer pages. Your binder can also be a safe place for other important papers like special recognitions and completed Service Hour forms. Keep this binder in a safe place. It does not come on campout and outings.
