Boy Scout Rank Requirement Changes Begin January 1, 2016

Withalltherecent“buzz”aboutthenewCubScoutrankchanges,somemayhavemissedthatatthebeginningofnextyear,BoyScoutrankrequirementswillalsoundergochanges.

What’s Changing?

Scout Badge Becomes Scout Rank

BeginningJanuary1,2016,Scoutbecomesarankandisnolongerconsideredjusta“joiningbadge.”Aswithallotherranks,eachrequirementnowmustbecompletedasamemberofaBoyScouttroop.TheScoutmasterordesignatedleadermustsignoffeachindividualrequirementastheboydemonstrateshisknowledgeorskill.ThereisnoboardofreviewforScoutrank—theScoutmasterconferenceisconsideredsufficientadultinteractionatthisintroductoryrank.

Service: The Scout Oath in Action

InkeepingwiththeScoutOathand“helpingotherpeopleatalltimes,”serviceisnowarequirementateachBoyScoutrankexceptforScoutrank–onehouratTenderfoot,twohoursatSecondClass,andthreehoursatFirstClass.ThetotalhoursforStarandLiferemainthesameatsixhourseach.ButhalfofthehoursforLiferankmustnowbeconservation-related,emphasizingtheimportanceofstewardshipoftheearth.

Scout Spirit and Duty to God: It’s a Monologue, Not a Dialogue

Scoutspiritrequirementsarenotmeanttorequireadiscussionoratwo-wayconversationaboutdutytoGod.Theboyissimplyto“tell”howhebelieveshehasdonehisdutytoGodasdefinedbyhimandhisfamily.Thetroopleader’sroleistolisten.TheintentisfortheScouttohaveaself-reflectionaboutbeliefandreverence,forexpressionby theScoutto hisleader.

Physical Fitness: Developing Lifelong Habits

NewrequirementsinTenderfootthroughFirstClassranksaredesignedtoencouragephysicalactivityasalifelonghabit.Boysarechallengedtosetgoalsandworktowardachievingthem.Thismightincludeadditionalexerciseorincorporatingrequirementsforearningmeritbadgesthatencouragephysicalactivity.Troopprogramscanmakefitnessactivitiesaregularpartoftheirprogramplan—whichcouldleadtoevenhighergoals,suchastheSCOUTStrong® programorthePresidentialActiveLifestyleAward(PALA).

Camping: Learning in the Great Outdoors

Althoughthenumberoftrooporpatrolactivitiesremainsthesame(10totalforFirstClass),thenumberofcampoutsrequiredhasdoubled–oneforTenderfoot,twomoreforSecondClass,andthreemoreforFirstClass–foratotalofsixcampouts.ThisincreasewillhelpensurethatFirstClassScoutshavesufficientcampingexperiencetohavedevelopedandimprovedupontheoutdoorskillsthatScoutingpromotes.

Navigation: Using Handheld GPS Units

SomenavigationrequirementsallowtheoptionofusingahandheldGPSunit,GPSapponasmartphone,orotherelectronicnavigationsystem.MapandcompassrequirementsarestillincludedasScoutsshould“beprepared”forsituationswhereelectronicsystemsarenotavailable.However,ScoutingwantstotrainScoutstousetheirresources,includingelectronicones,safelyandappropriately.

When/Who?

ThenewBoyScoutrankrequirementsbecomeeffectiveonJanuary1,2016,subjecttothesetransitionguidelines:

•  BoysregisteredinatrooponorpriortoDecember31,2015,whoareworkingonTenderfootthroughFirstClassmaycontinuetoworkusingtheoldrequirementsthrough2016,buttheymustconverttothenewrequirementsuponattainingFirstClass.

•  Boysregisteredinatroop,team,crew,orship,whohavecompletedFirstClassrankonorpriortoDecember31,2015,maycompletetheranktheyarecurrentlyworkingonwiththeoldrequirementsthrough2016,butthenmustconverttothenewrequirementsforsubsequentranks.

•  AnyboyregisteringinatroopforthefirsttimeonorafterJanuary1,2016,mustusethenewrequirements.

•  BeginningJanuary1,2017,newrequirementsmustbeusedforallranksearned.

Program Updates Web Page

WatchtheProgramUpdates(http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/programupdates.aspx)webpagefor“Frequently Asked Questions” aboutthenewBoyScoutrequirements.

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ADVANCEMENT WEBSITE: advancement.ppbsa.org

BoyScoutRequirementsEffectiveJanuary1st,2016http://q-r.to/PPC_BSREQ