Rank Advancement

:

When scouts join the troop they are unranked and are known at “Troop Members”. They can learn skills and check off achievements and work towards earning the rank of Scout. After reaching the rank of scout they work towards earning the rank of Tenderfoot, then 2nd class and so on. See graphic below for the ranks.

_{Graphic from Advancement Camp at Mount Palomar 2024, Shibumo, accessed 12 August 2024, <https://shibumo.wordpress.com/2014/05/15/advancement-camp-at-mount-palomar/>.}

Note: Youth can work on the skills and requirements for multiple ranks at the same time. Scouts just have to fully complete Scout rank requirements and be granted Scout rank, before they can fully complete everything for Tenderfoot rank, etc. Scouts at Scout rank are typically working on skills and requirements for Tenderfoot rank AND for 2nd Class rank AND for 1st Class rank at the same time. They just have to finish the ranks in the correct order.

Link to a discussion of all the steps of Scouting

Scouts advance at their own pace. Participation at meetings, outings, and summer camp are keys to steady advancement. Parents cannot sign-off on advancement requirements. Only the Scoutmaster (SM), Assistant Scoutmasters (ASM), and Scouts First Class and above can sign off on advancement requirements.

Scouts must be at least one rank above the rank for which they are signing.  Scouts must ask appropriate youth or adult leaders to sign off requirements in their Handbooks. Sign-offs of the requirements are recorded in the Scout’s Handbook and in Scoutbook. It is the Scout’s responsibility to contact the Advancement Chair to get completed requirements recorded in Scoutbook.  We recommend that Scouts who have had new signups take a photo of their advancement pages and send it to the Advancement Chair to input in Scoutbook.

A Scoutmaster Conference must be scheduled and completed by the Scout seeking advancement to a new rank The Handbook uses the term “leader” to specify the Scoutmaster, and “Patrol Leader” or “Senior Patrol Leader” to specify those youth positions.  Youth may not sign off on requirements that mention leader approval.

After the scoutmaster conference a Board of Review is scheduled as the last step to advance to the next rank.

Rank advancements will be celebrated at the next Court of Honor awards dinner.