Troop 156/Crew 156 Advancement Policy
| A Scoutmaster conference (SM) must be arranged with the Scoutmaster by the scout. |
| A Board of Review (BOR) must be scheduled by the scout with the Advancement Chair after the Scoutmaster conference has been completed. |
| Scouts must appear in full class “A” uniform consisting of shirt (tucked in), socks, pants/shorts, neckerchief/slide, and belt. Venturing Crew may appear in their Venturing Crew uniform. |
| Scouts MUST bring scout handbook to both the SM conference and the BOR. |
| “Active participation” of a scout, in order to advance, will be determined by attending a minimum of ten activities/meetings per year. Each weekly meeting, campout, and participation in a service project of at least one hour will qualify. Camp MaKaJaWan will be considered an activity. In addition, Philmont, National Jamboree, and outing prep meetings, OA meetings, and older scouts working with younger scouts OUTSIDE of the above activities as well as fund raising will be counted. |
| “Serve actively in a position of responsibility” for advancement to Star, Life and Eagle will depend on the type of job. It’s the scout’s responsibility to fulfill the job responsibility. A separate document gives details of such responsibility and will be communicated for each position. The SM will determine as to whether the scout has fulfilled the position of responsibility. |
| Service projects must be approved IN ADVANCE by the Scoutmaster or other designated individual. For Star and Life ranks, a Scout must perform six hours of service to others. This may be done as an individual project or a member of a patrol or a troop project. It is strongly encouraged that the individual scout plan and carryout a project of his own of two service hours for Star and four service hours for Life ranks. |
| Venturing Crew Advancement. Venturing Crew members that have earned the rank of First Class in a scout troop can continue to earn Boy Scout ranks in the Venturing Crew. They do not have to be affiliated with a scout troop. In Troop/Crew 156 the Scoutmaster or Venturing Crew Advisor can both sign-off on the “Scoutmaster Conference,” service projects, and merit badge counselor approval for Venturing Crew members. |
| Venturing Crew Eagle Project and Conference sign-off can be performed by either the SM or the Venturing Crew advisor. |
BOARD OF REVIEW (except Eagle BOR)
All scouts must have a BOR or SM conference at least annually.
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3-6 people from the troop committee will preside as the BOR. If committee members are unavailable, specifically trained adults may be substituted. |
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SM, ASMs, relatives or guardians may not participate in the scout’s BOR. |
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BOR decision MUST be unanimous based on the scouts attitude and acceptance of scouting ideals. |
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The purpose of the BOR is NOT to re-test the scout. |
MERIT BADGES
| A scout MUST obtain a blue card from the Scoutmaster BEFORE beginning a merit badge. |
| The Scoutmaster will guide the scout to an appropriate merit badge counselor to ensure that the scout is matched to level. The Scoutmaster must approve the merit badge counselor. |
| Developing self-confidence from adult association is a key objective of the merit badge program. Every effort should be made to obtain a non-parent merit badge counselor. |
| It is strongly encouraged that registered merit badge counselor’s be sought from outside the troop. |
BSA Troop 156 and Venturing Crew 156 adhere to the policy and practice requirements and guidelines as specified by the Boy Scouts of America. They will be applied with common sense and fairness. Ultimately, it is the Scoutmaster, Venturing Crew Advisor and the Troop Committee’s responsibility to interpret troop policies in the best interest of the scouting program.
This Troop advancement policy/guideline was passed by the troop committee on 1/12/04.