Advancement Procedure

National BSA Policies

Related To Rank Advancement

“Record Keeping”

“Each troop is responsible for keeping its own records and reporting advancement to the local council service cente r. This is done on an advancement report form No. 34403B . One copy is kept by the troop and two are sent to the council with an order for badges and awards or taken to the scout shop to purchase badges and awards. It is best that this form be submitted at least monthly so that troop records remain current and scouts are able to receive their awards quickly after earning them. Awards cannot be purchased or awarded until the advancement report has been filed with the council office or turned in at the Scout shop at the time of purchase. A Troop/Team Record Book, maintained by the troop scribe, is available.”

“At the discretion of the local council, computer-generated advancement reports may be used. If used, two copies of the computer-generated report must be submitted to the council service center.”

Today online advancement is both easy and very accurate in producing the reports necessary to help the scout who is preparing his Eagle application for his upcoming board of review. These reports also help the district advancement chairperson in seeing what troop may be having difficulties when little or no advancement is shown over a certain period of time.

For the troop advancement chairperson, online advancement will an easy and organized system to maintain the scout’s records and in turn let the troop committee and the scoutmaster track the performance of the troop. Advancement information can be both downloaded and corrections can be made with online advancement. If an inconsistency occurs a correction can be made thus giving the best information both to the scout and the council especially when that Eagle application needs to be certified by the council as being correct.

The unit advancement chairperson is appointed by the committee chairman to schedule and serve as chairperson to ensure that the unit has at least monthly boards of review , quarterly courts of honor , and that the unit has goals of helping each Scout advance a rank each year and for new Scouts to reach First Class rank during their first year . The advancement chair is also responsible for record keeping and submitting advancement reports

Advancement Records Overview

Advancement records are kept in three places — your Council office, with the Scout troop Advancement Chairman, and the scout. The Council office keeps records supplied to them by the troop Advancement Chairman, who also keeps copies of these records for the troop. Thus if the troop does not supply this information in a timely and accurate manner your records will be not current and also incomplete.

Many troops Advancement Chairpersons also maintain their advancement information on computers. Your scout will receive three kinds of documents that he will need to KEEP IN A SAFE PLACEUNTIL AFTER HE TURNS 18 or when he receives his Eagle Scout Award, whichever is later! These documents are your Scout Handbook with requirements signed off, your portion of completed blue merit badge cards and/or the merit badge completion cards and the wallet-sized certificate cards for rank advancement. Make sure all of them are signed or initialed by the appropriate Scout leader.

All of the cards are the same size and can be safely kept in plastic protector pages (available at Wal-Mart, Office Depot, Office Max, Staples, etc.) which are designed for baseball and other sports cards. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU KEEP THESE DOCUMENTS IN A SAFE PLACE AND DO NOT LOSE THEM!!!

If it should happen that there is a discrepancy or missing records, personal records are a scout most important ally in proving what was completed and when. Scouts working towards the rank of Eagle; should review their records and their troop’s records semi-annually after the First Class Rank is attained.

Responsibilities set by BSA Advancement Policies

Main: Boy Scout Advancement

"A basic goal should be for each Scout to advance a rank during the year."

"New Scouts should earn their First Class rank during their first year in the troop."
Boards of Review - "When reviewed monthly by the troop committee, Scouts will recognize the importance of Scout advancement."
"Troops should conduct boards of review for Scouts who are not advancing."
"A minimum of two formal courts of honor a year (one every six months) should be held to formally recognize the Scouts in the troop."
"Presentation of merit badges and rank badges should not await these courts of honor;"
"Awards and badges should be presented at the next meeting after they have been earned. Scouts are recognized again at a formal court of honor."
"Each troop is responsible for keeping its own records and reporting advancement to the local council service center. This is done on an Advancement Report form No. 34403B."

Responsibility of the Scoutmaster and Advancement Chairman

Encourage Scouts to advance in rank.

Works with troop Scribe or Team Secretary to maintain all Scout advancement records.
Arranges troop boards of review and courts of honor. (Varsity Scout team boards of reviews are conducted by the youth team secretary and courts of honor are conducted by the youth Captain .)
Develop and maintain a unit merit badge counselor list.
Submit merit badge counselor registrations to district advancement chairperson.
Make a prompt report on the correct form to the council service center when a troop/team board of review is held. Secure badges and certificates.
Work with the troop/team librarian to build and maintain a troop/team library of merit badge pamphlets and other advancement literature.
Report to the troop/team committee each month.

Council Record Keeping and Distribution of Awards

Badges of rank, merit badges, and Eagle Palms are restricted items. These items may not be sold or distributed unless the Advancement Report, No. 34403B, has been properly filled out and has been submitted to the local council office or to a scout shop when a purchase made. To do otherwise will jeopardize individual youth members' record of achievement. Advancement Policies #33088, Courts of Honor .

Record keeping and the distribution of awards is the responsibilities of the council service center

The council advancement committee periodically reviews the procedures used by units in applying for badges and other awards and in keeping records of advancement. These procedures must be as simple as possible. The goal should be to eliminate obstacles so that a youth member may receive the badge he has earned without delay.

It is best that this advancement form be submitted promptly so that unit records remain current and youth are able to receive their awards quickly after earning them. Awards cannot be purchased or awarded until the Advancement Report No. 34403B or the online report has been filed with the council office. This is accomplished when the forms are turned in at the council service center at the time of purchase.

A monthly District Advancement Report Summary will be compiled by the district. This information, gives a clear picture of advancement progress in each unit. District reports are summarized annually and included on the Application for Renewal of the Local Council Charter, which every council submits each year to the national office. The advancement statistics reported on the Application for Renewal of the Local Council Charter is important. These statistics help the national advancement committee in monitoring the interests and activities of the youth members. AND DO NOT LOSE THEM!!! AND DO NOT LOSE THEM!!!

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