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Scouting is really all about the journey. When Scouts first join BSA, their journey includes learning specific skills (like how to set up camp, how to cook, how to tie knots, etc.), about how to successfully deal with challenges (e.g., understanding how to work with folks from your troop that you may not know well; expanding their comfort zone on outings; going to summer camp for the first time, etc.). Part of the way that BSA encourages boys to continue to learn skills, to continue to be challenged, and to demonstrate those accomplishments is via rank advancement. Rank advancement is not tied to age. It’s about the Scout working through the process to acquire specific knowledge and skills in a structured manner.
Bridging Scouts
Troop 615 welcomes our newly bridged scouts:
Scout Pack 305 in Ellicott City had 7 Arrow of Light (AOL) Scouts bridge to the Troop Saturday March 1st
Scout Pack 944 had 1 AOL bridge in March
Scout Pack 917 had 1 AOL bridge Saturday March 14th
3 first time scouts also came to the Troop
Uniforms
The universal symbol of Scouting, a BSA uniform will last you through countless adventures and bring you closer to other Scouts who share a common thread.
You can buy the Scouts BSA or Cub Scouts uniform and all its parts at your local Scout Shop or have everything you need delivered straight to your doorstep through ScoutShop.org—the official store of the BSA. You can also find a variety of accessories, such as hats, neckerchiefs, and patches, to complete the uniform in-store or online. The associates at your local Scout Shop are friendly and knowledgeable and have years of experience in Scouting—so pay them a visit and make sure you have everything you need before you start your Scouting journey!
The Scouts BSA uniform consists of:
HEADGEAR
All troop members must wear the headgear chosen by vote of the troop.
SHIRT AND NECKWEAR
Official shirt or official long/short sleeve uniform shirt with green shoulder loops on epaulets
The top button of the collar should be unbuttoned
The shirt must be tucked in
The troop may vote to wear either a neckerchief, bolo tie or no neckwear.
The neckerchief may be worn over the turned under collar or under the open collar
The neckerchief may be tightened more by rolling it
BOTTOMS
Scouts may choose between the official uniform pants or shorts; no cuffs. Additionally, female Scout BSA members may choose to wear the official olive uniform skort or roll-up pants.
BELT
All troop members wear the same type of belt - either the official Scouts BSA web or leather.
SOCKS
Official socks (ankle or crew) are acceptable.
SHOES
Shoes should be either leather or canvas and kept neat and clean.
INSIGNIA
Proper insignia includes the Council Shoulder Patch or CSP, Shoulder Loops, the World Crest Emblem and Ring, Unit Numerals, Rank Emblem and more.
Rank Advancement
As a scout, one of your goals is to advance in rank. To advance in rank, boys need to follow the specific requirements outlined in their Scout book for each rank. The complete requirements can be found in your scout book. Scouts can work together to review accomplishments for rank advancement. This isn’t something that the Scout does with their parents.
There are three categories in which the ranks fall, but to earn any of them you must have a Scoutmaster Conference after completing the rest of the requirements. In addition, all ranks except Scout require a Board of Review following the conference. The purpose of these final items is to assess whether the scout is ready to earn the rank, their experience in the troop, and how they went about earning the rank.
NOTE: Scouts can work on requirements at any time, no matter what their rank. Meaning, if a Scout is at a rank of Tenderfoot, he can complete requirements for First Class while he’s also working on requirements for Second Class. Scouts that have earned the rank of First Class and who have completed Youth Leadership Training are eligible to sign off on Scout requirements.
Once Scouts have completed the requirements for the rank, they ask to have a Scoutmaster Conference with one of the adult leaders. After the Scoutmaster conference, the final step is to connect with Mr. Peters to arrange a Board of Review. After the Board of Review, the Scout will get recognized with a new rank patch.
The process for advancing to the rank of Eagle is similar, but with some additional steps and some additional documentation.
Boy Scout Ranks
Boy Scout ranks are:
Scout: The focus of the scout rank is to familiarize yourself with scouting and its ideals. Once you are able to complete the requirements, ask the Scoutmaster or one of the Assistant Scoutmasters for a conference to demonstrate your knowledge.
Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class: The purpose of many of the requirements of these ranks is to learn scout skills such as camping, first aid, safety, cooking, knot tying and orienteering. As you complete each requirement, ask a scout who has earned the First Class rank or higher and who has attended Youth Leadership Training to review the requirement with you so it can be signed off. As with the Scout rank, once you have finished all the requirements ask the Scoutmaster or one of the Assistant Scoutmasters for a conference. However, unlike the Scout rank you must have a Board of Review afterwards. To do so talk to Mr. Jackson, who organizes Boards of Review.
Star, Life: These ranks focus on leadership and service. In doing so, you will give back to the troop and community. Rather than learning preselected skills as you did for previous ranks, you have the freedom to chose from merit badges covering a variety of interests, although some of them must be Eagle required.
Eagle: The Eagle Scout rank is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Scouting program. The Eagle Scout must demonstrate Scout Spirit, an ideal attitude based upon the Scout Oath and Law, service, and leadership. This includes an extensive service project that the Scout plans, organizes, leads, and manages. Those who have earned the rank of Eagle Scout also become eligible, although are not required, to join the National Eagle Scout Association. Here is a list of Troop Eagle Scouts through the years.
Palms: Palms represent additional advancement for a youth who has stayed active in the unit after achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. A Palm is awarded when the Scout has demonstrated Scout Spirit, leadership and ability; has earned five additional merit badges beyond those required for Eagle or for the last Palm; and has taken part in a conference with their unit leader.
Merit Badges
Merit Badges are awards that recognize knowledge and exposure to a particular specialized area covering everything from American Business to Farm Mechanics to Nuclear Science and pretty much everything in between. While Scouts can earn merit badges at any time throughout the year, summer camp provides a terrific opportunity to earn a number merit badges in a week.
There are two kinds of merit badges; Eagle required and non-Eagle required. Although you must earn the Eagle required badges to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, you can chose which of the others you want to earn. Before you start a merit badge, you should determine who the counselor is and obtain a merit badge card (also known as a “blue card”) from Mr. Bob Peters.
Merit Badge Counselor: Please volunteer to become a merit badge counselor to help teach the boys; the topic could be in your job discipline, hobby, or other interest Troop. NOTE: You do not need to be specifically trained or certified in the area of interest to become a Merit Badge Counselor. To be considered as a Merit Badge Counselor, please fill out the Merit Badge Counselor application and then submit the completed form online.
National Honor Patrol
The National Honor Patrol Award is to encourage patrols to have identity, spirit, be active, to do Good Turns and service projects, complete rank advancement, wear the uniform, be organized, participate with the troop, and grow.
Your patrol can earn the award by doing the following over a period of three months:
Have a patrol name, flag, and yell. Put your patrol design on equipment and use your patrol yell. Keep patrol records up to date.
Hold two patrol meetings every month.
Take part in at least one hike, outdoor activity, or other scouting event.
Complete two good turns or service projects approved by the patrol leaders’ council.
Help two patrol members advance one rank.
Wear the full uniform correctly (at least 75 percent of the patrol’s membership).
Have a representative attend at least three patrol leaders’ council meetings.
Have eight members in the patrol or increase patrol memberships over the previous three months.
The National Honor Patrol Award is an embroidered star worn beneath the patrol medallion, and will spotlight a patrol as a high-standard group.
Order of the Arrow
For over 100 years, the Order of the Arrow (OA) has recognized Scouts and Scouters who exemplify the Scout Oath and Law daily. The OA is Scouting’s National Honor Society. As an integral part of Scouting America, the OA delivers peer-led advanced leadership experiences that help to build lifelong bonds through service and enrich each member’s Scouting journey. OA members are defined by the fellowship they share, service to others, commitment to personal growth, and self-driven initiative to make a difference in their community.
Presently, the Order of the Arrow consists of nearly 300 lodges, which form approximately 48 sections in four regions. Leadership positions and voting rights are restricted to members under the age of 21. Through the program, members live up to the ideals of brotherhood, cheerfulness, and service set forth by E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson.
As Scouting’s National Honor Society, we forge lifelong bonds among the leaders in Scouting and:
Recognize those who exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives and, through that recognition, cause others to act in the same way.
Reinforce a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.
Create and deliver peer-led, adult-guided, advanced leadership experiences for Scouts and Scouters that positively impact their unit, community, and ultimately our nation.
Be an integral part of Scouting America and encourage participation in all it offers through units, outdoor adventures, and national events to further the Scouting experience.
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