Leadership positions are a component of advancement, so it is important that all youth have the opportunity to lead. It can take time for youth leaders to “hit their stride”, so they and the troop need to allow sufficient time in role to do so. A year, or even six months, is a long time in the life of a scout. Be sure to be realistic about youths ability to sustain a commitment. The following are the positions available for the scouts.
Senior Patrol Leader (SPL)
The Boy Scouts of America has long recognized the Senior Patrol Leader as the highest youth leadership position in a troop. They are the primary link between a troop’s Scouts and its adult leaders. They shoulder the responsibility for leading meetings of the troop and the patrol leaders’ council and provide valuable leadership in planning and carrying out the troop’s program of outdoor activities, service projects, and events.
Current Senior Patrol Leader: John Kattukaran
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader
The Assistant Senior Patrol Leader is the second highest youth leadership position in the troop, working closely with the senior patrol leader to help the troop move forward. The assistant senior patrol leader acts as the senior patrol leader in the absence of the senior patrol leader or when called upon, and provides leadership to other youth leaders in the troop. The assistant senior patrol leader is appointed by the senior patrol leader under the guidance of the Scoutmaster.
Current Assistant Senior Patrol Leader: Ben Kendrick
Patrol Leader
The patrol leader is the patrol’s key leader, representing the patrol at all patrol leaders’ council meetings and the annual program planning conference, and keeping patrol members informed of decisions made. Patrol leaders carry out planning, leading, and evaluating patrol meetings and activities, and assure patrols are prepared to participate in all troop activities. They keep their patrol intact so they can work together and share responsibilities to get things done. It is incumbent upon them to be a good example for the members of their patrol and the rest of the troop.
Assistant Patrol Leader
The assistant patrol leader takes charge of the patrol whenever the patrol leader is not available. In addition, the assistant patrol leader may be given special assignments such as working on a patrol service project or assisting certain patrol members with their advancement.
Patrol Guide
The patrol guide is both a leader and a mentor to the members of the new-Scout patrol. He should be an older Scout who holds at least the First Class rank and can work well with younger Scouts. He helps the patrol leader of the new-Scout patrol in much the same way that a Scoutmaster works with a senior patrol leader to provide direction, coaching, and support.
Quartermaster
Quartermasters serve as the troop’s supply boss. They keep an inventory of troop equipment and see that the gear is in good condition. They work with patrol quartermasters as they check out equipment and return it. At meetings of the patrol leaders’ council they report on the status of equipment in need of replacement or repair. In carrying out their responsibilities, they may have the guidance of a member of the troop committee.
Current Quartermaster: Connor Cherry
Grubmaster
The Grubmaster of a patrol takes the lead in planning menus for hikes and campouts. Of course, everyone in the patrol has a say in what he would like to eat. The Grubmaster helps make those wishes into reality by writing out the menu, itemizing the ingredients, ensuring that purchases are made, and supervising food repackaging before a trip. Scouts who are completing advancement requirements for cooking can work closely with the Grubmaster. The Grubmaster should be a Scout who is familiar with the cooking chapter of The Boy Scout Handbook and is aware of the importance of good nutrition. It will help if he is also good at math and measurements.
Scribe
The scribe is the troop’s secretary. Though not a voting member, they attend meetings of the patrol leaders’ council and keep a record of the discussions. They cooperate with the patrol scribes to record attendance at troop meetings and to maintain troop advancement records. The troop scribe may be assisted by a member of the troop committee.
Chaplain Aide
Chaplain aides assist the troop chaplain (usually an adult from the troop committee or the chartered organization) in serving the religious needs of the troop. They lead the troop in opening or closing prayer and mealtime blessings. Chaplain aides ensure that religious holidays are considered during the troop’s program planning process and promotes the BSA’s religious emblems program.
Historian
The historian collects, assembles, and preserves troop photographs, news stories, trophies, flags, scrapbooks, awards, and other memorabilia, and makes materials available for Scouting activities, courts of honor, the media, and troop history projects.
Instructor
Each instructor is an older troop member proficient in a Scouting skill who must also have the ability to teach that skill to others. An instructor typically teaches subjects that Scouts are eager to learn—especially those such as first aid, camping, and backpacking—that are required for outdoor activities and rank advancement. A troop can have more than one instructor.
Webmaster
Troop webmasters are responsible for maintaining the troop’s website. They make sure that information posted on the website is correct and up to date and that the privacy of youth and adult troop members is protected. A member of the troop committee may assist them with their work.
Outdoor Ethics Guide
Outdoor ethics guides help troops plan and conduct an outdoor program that emphasizes effectively practicing the Outdoor Code, the Leave No Trace principles, and the Tread Lightly! principles. Guides work to help Scouts improve their outdoor ethics decision-making skills to help minimize impacts as they hike, camp, and participate in other outdoor activities. In particular, they should support Scouts who are working to complete the relevant requirements for the Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks.
Librarian
Troop librarians oversee the care and use of troop books, pamphlets, magazines, audiovisuals, and merit badge counselor lists. They check out these materials to Scouts and leaders and maintain records to ensure that everything is returned. They may also suggest the acquisition of new literature and report the need to repair or replace any current holdings.
Bugler
The bugler plays the bugle (or similar instrument) to mark key moments during the troop meeting, such as assembly, or on troop outings, such as reveille, mess call, and lights out. The bugler must know the required bugle calls and ideally should have earned the Bugling merit badge or be working toward earning it.
Den Chief
Den chiefs are Scouts who assist a Cub Scout den leader or Webelos den leader. They are selected by the senior patrol leader and Scoutmaster, and approved by the cubmaster and the pack committee for recommendation to the den leader. Den chiefs help Cub Scouts advance through Cub Scout ranks and encourage Cub Scouts to join a troop upon graduation.
Troop position cards can be found here.
Training options for Scouts can be found here.
This sheet helps explain training requirements for various troop leadership positions.