Advancement is an important component of Scouting. It is through advancement that Scouts learn the lessons they need to prepare them to take their places as adults in American society. The advancement program (as well as the overall program) in the Boy Scouts of America is established by the National Headquarters in Irving, Texas and implemented throughout the United States by Boy Scout Councils. The ranks of Scouting include Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle. Each rank has specific requirements and elective activities that each Scout must successfully perform to advance. The advancement lessons are taught and evaluated by senior Scouts, the Scoutmaster Staff and Merit Badge Counselors.

As each Scout advances, he must participate in some form of community service and he must demonstrate that he has "good Scout Spirit" - that he lives by the Scout Oath, Law, Motto and Slogan. It is not enough to simply pass the requirements for each rank.  Each Scout must understand that he is responsible for demonstrating good Scout Spirit.  This is determined during the Scoutmaster's Conference, which is a private interview held with the Scoutmaster or one of his Assistants at one of the troop meetings.

After the Scoutmaster has had his conference with the advancement candidate and has determined that he is ready to be presented to the Board of Review, he asks the Chairman of Advancement for the troop to convene the Board. It is comprised of at least three Troop Committee members. The purpose of the Board is to ensure that the candidate for each rank, except Eagle, has successfully mastered the requirements for that rank.

Please note that Troop 624 places special emphasis on first aid because this is one area where someone could be seriously hurt if the Scouts do not know their first aid well. First aid questions will be asked on every Board of Review and Scouts are expected to be able to respond to them accurately.

The candidate Eagle Scouts must sit before the National Board of Review and they receive their rank through the National Court of Honor. The Troop Committee convenes the National Board of Review, however a representative of the District Eagle Scout Committee must participate due to the importance of the rank. Only 1.5% of all Scouts ever achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.

After a candidate for advancement successfully proves himself worthy of his promotion to the satisfaction of the Troop Committee, he and his fellow Scouts receive their awards in an advancement ceremony known as the Court of Honor. Troop 624 usually has two such events each year - one before Scout Camp and the other in September or October following Scout Camp. It is quite a festive occasion and all families and friends are invited to attend and witness our Scouts' accomplishments.

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ANNUAL SUGGESTED ADVANCEMENT FOR NEW SCOUTS

    Each Scout progresses at his own speed and that is as it should be.  However, sometimes there is concern about how much a Scout should do in any given year.  The following suggested advancement objectives for each year of Scouting might be useful to the new Scouts just entering the Troop.  Remember a Scout has until age 18 to earn the Eagle Scout Award. 

    Also remember that one of the greatest aspects of Scouting is everyone is a winner!  When a Scout goes before the Board of Review, comprised of at least three Troop Committee members, he doesn’t “pass” or “fail”.  He simply demonstrates what he has learned.  If he needs additional work in a specific area he is encouraged to do so. A specific Scout is selected to help him and then he can come before the Board when he is comfortable with the subject.  Apart from the deadline for achieving Eagle Scout, there is no pressure to advance at any particular rate.

    The ranks of Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class are very important.  They teach each Scout the basics of the Scout skills.  First aid is particularly important at Troop 624.

    The ranks of Star and Life are important but in a different way.  In addition to earning merit badges that are required for Eagle, advancement to these ranks offer an opportunity to experiment and experience different activities through the elected merit badges the Scouts pursue.  It also is an opportunity to demonstrate leadership skills.

    Advancement to Eagle Scout is handled in an altogether different manner and utilizes the National Board of Review and the National Court of Honor.  At this rank the emphasis is on leadership and how the candidate thinks about a variety of topics.

    It is not advisable for a Scout to advance too quickly but rather as he is comfortable and thoroughly learns the lessons of each rank.  There is no “correct” advancement speed as long as the Scout understands that by age 18, he is no longer eligible for advancement.  It should be understood that emphasis is given to thorough knowledge of first aid at all rank levels.

    The following presents a reasonable schedule for a new Scout to follow after bridging over and becoming a member of the Troop in or about May of the Year 1.  Each year below is presented as basically from July (Summer Camp) through June the next year.

    The above schedule is a suggestion.  There is nothing official or required in it.  It is simply one way that a new Scout and his parents can view and pace his advancement through his middle and high school years.