Patrols
Troop Guide Willie B
The troop guide works with new Scouts in the Frog patrol. He helps them to feel comfortable in the troop and to earn rank advancement.
Boy Scout Troop 411
Advancement Questions & Answers
What does my son need to do first?
The first thing your son needs to do is to complete the Scout requirements on page 4. You must do the pamphlet exercises together, and you can help him to learn the necessary information about Boy Scouting. He should be ready to talk about the scout badge, about the Oath & Law, and about why he wants to be a scout. When he’s prepared, have him contact the Scoutmaster (e-mail works great) to arrange for a Scoutmaster conference. He should be in uniform and have his Scout Handbook with him. After the Scoutmaster has signed his book, the Scout should give his book to the Advancement Chair to enter the information into the Troop Master database. At the next troop meeting, your son will receive his Scout badge. His official card and Scout Mother’s Pin will be awarded at the next Court of Honor.
I see that there are 15 activities listed for the Tenderfoot rank. Does my son do all of these to achieve his Tenderfoot rank?
Yes, he must do all of them. There are alternate requirements for Scouts with physical or mental disabilities, but generally BSA requires the exact same thing from every boy everywhere.
How does he prove he has done these things or arrange for the appropriate reviews?
In general, the person who sees the Scout complete the requirement signs it off. The Senior Patrol members are "legal" to sign off on rank advancement as are other Scouts designated by the Scoutmaster. An adult involved in the activity is "legal", though it is generally preferred that the adult be a registered member of BS. It is preferred that the signer be an experienced Scout (designated by the Scoutmaster) rather than an adult.
For example: At a Troop Outing, Kyle slept in a tent that he helped to pitch. The next morning he gets up and asks “Michael”, one of our troop’s Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders, to sign Tenderfoot #2. If Kyle forgot to bring his book, at the next meeting he might remind Michael that he went camping and completed that item; Michael can initial and date that activity. He could also ask a registered Troop Adult or one of the other two Senior Patrol members; of course this person should have spent the night camping with the troop and seen Kyle pitch the tent.
Can I sign off my own son when he completes an activity? Can we count family camping?
In general, parents do not sign for their own son. The exception is the physical fitness requirement for Tenderfoot. The parent can sign him off for the before and the after (10a,) but another person will sign that the Scout actually improved (10b.)
We have recently learned that family activities can count toward Rank Advancement. The scout should write a note detailing what was completed & when, and then have his parent or other adult involved in the activity sign & date the note. The scout presents this note to a Troop Adult or Senior Patrol member, who then discusses the activity with the scout. If he/she is satisfied that the scout learned the skill, the requirement is signed off.
For example, on a family trip to the beach Sam identifies 10 animals (Second Class #5.) Sam writes a list of these animals including time, date, location, etc. Sam’s dad signs the note. Sam brings the note to our next troop meeting, and shows it to Steven, his Patrol Leader. After confirming that Sam did indeed identify the animals, Steven signs and dates Second Class #5.
However, it is preferred that the Scout do the activities with other scouts and on Scout outings, rather than with his family.
Does the Scout have multiple reviews (one for each item) or one large review when all items have been completed?
Either.
Another example: If Brian is ready to demonstrate the Heimlich maneuver, he can ask a Senior Patrol member or adult to watch him. Then this person signs off the requirement. The scout needs to demonstrate the action to the person signing him off. He can't say, "But I whipped the end of the rope one time at home," he must whip the end of the rope for this person. He can, of course, be prepared to demonstrate many items at once. This practice, learning, or reviewing can be done at home with a family member. The signatures are from other people, preferably older Scouts in the troop.
I assume that my son should use his Scout book to track his progress and that the reviewers sign off as he passes each one. Is this correct?
Yes. He can have several items signed off at once, or get them done one at a time. Bringing his book to EVERY activity will help him to get things signed off in a timely manner. But the Scout is the person who needs to ask for the signature.
When my son has all the requirements signed off except Scout Spirit and the Scoutmaster conference, what does he do? How does he arrange for the Board of Review?
When he has finished everything except the Scout Spirit and the Scoutmaster Conference, he will contact the Scoutmaster to arrange the conference. When that is complete, the Scoutmaster will return your son’s book to him and together they will walk up to the Advancement Chairman.
Your son will give his book to the Advancement Chair and will ask the Advancement Chair to arrange the Board of Review; the troop policy is to hold the Board of Review in the 20 minutes before a troop meeting, but it could be held at other times. This Board is composed of three trained members of the Troop Committee. He should present himself to the Board in uniform (even his sash!) with his book in hand. (It is possible that the Advancement Chair will still have the book & will give it to the Scout at this point.) These three adults will spend about 15 minutes talking with the Boy Scout about this particular rank, activities, Scouting, and the troop. If he passes the Board of Review, your son will receive his rank badge at the next troop meeting. His official card and Mother’s Pin will be awarded at the next Court of Honor. This procedure applies for all ranks until Eagle.
Page Information
|
Wiki Information |
Recent PBwiki Blog Posts |
Create your own free wiki!