Advancement and recognition in the Boy Scouts of America

Advancement and recognition in the Boy Scouts of America is a tradition dating from the inception of the Scouting movement. A fundamental purpose of advancement is the self-confidence a young man or woman acquires from his participation in Scouting. Advancement is one of the methods used in the "Aims of Scouting"– character development, citizenship training and personal fitness.

There are separate advancement and recognition programs for the three main program divisions: Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing. Each program is designed for its age group and goals.

Cub Scouting

Advancement is one of the methods used to promote the aims of character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness. Everything a Cub Scout does in the advancement program is intended to achieve these aims and aid in personal growth. The program has two tiers of advancement: the classic rank system of Bobcat, Tiger Cub, Wolf, Bear, Webelos and the Arrow of Light and the newer Academics and Sports Program.

Boy Scouting

Boy Scout Advancement

The advancement program for Boy Scouts has two phases. The first phase of Scout to First Class is designed to teach the boy Scoutcraft skills, how to participate in a group and to learn self-reliance. Scout is the joining rank, and is awarded when the Scout demonstrates a rudimentary knowledge of the Scouting ideals. [cite web |url=http://usscouts.org/advance/boyscout/bsrank1.asp |title=Boy Scout Joining Requirements |publisher=U.S. Scouting Service Project |accessdate=2006-03-23] Tenderfoot, [cite web |url=http://usscouts.org/advance/boyscout/bsrank2.hasp |title=Tenderfoot Rank Requirement |publisher=U.S. Scouting Service Project |accessdate=2006-03-23] Second Class [cite web |url=http://usscouts.org/advance/boyscout/bsrank3.asp |title=Second Class Rank Requirement |publisher=U.S. Scouting Service Project |accessdate=2006-03-23] and First Class [cite web |url=http://usscouts.org/advance/boyscout/bsrank4.asp |title=First Class Rank Requirement |publisher=U.S. Scouting Service Project|accessdate=2006-03-23] have progressively harder requirements in the areas of Scoutcraft, physical fitness, citizenship, personal growth and Scout Spirit.

Several religious emblems programs are administered by various religious institutions and recognized by the BSA. These are generally recognized by a medal and an embroidered square knot. Many other advancement and recognitions—such as the 50-miler award, Crime Prevention Awards, Emergency Preparedness Award and World Conservation Award —are available to Scouts who show performance in special areas.

Den Chiefs may earn the Den Chief Service Award or the Webelos Den Chief Service Award. [cite web |url=http://www.scouting.org/cubscouts/awards/adults/adultawards.aspx |title=Cub Scout Leader Recognition Awards |publisher=Boy Scouts of America |accessdate=2006-02-06]

Varsity Scout advancement

Advancement is a key part of the Varsity program. Varsity Scouts can earn any award or recognition that is available to Boy Scouts, including merit badges, ranks advancements, and other awards. There are also several awards that are only available to Varsity Scouts, and sometimes their leaders.

Order of the Arrow

-|BSA's "National Court of Honor" is responsible for lifesaving and meritorious awards. [cite web|url=http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/advance/heroism.asp|title=National Court of Honor - Lifesaving and Meritorious Awards|publisher=US Scouts.org|accessdate=2008-04-28] All Courts of Honor for Eagle Scout rank are convened as National Courts of Honor also.

;Honor Medal With Crossed Palms:A lifesaving award presented to a registered youth member or adult leader who has demonstrated both unusual heroism and extraordinary skill or resourcefulness in saving or attempting to save a life at extreme risk to self; may be awarded posthumously.;Honor Medal:A lifesaving award presented to a registered youth member or adult leader who has demonstrated unusual heroism in saving or attempting to save a life at considerable risk to self.;Heroism Award:A lifesaving award presented to a registered youth member or adult leader who has demonstrated heroism in saving or attempting to save a life at minimum risk to self.;Medal of Merit:Awarded to youth or adults who have performed an outstanding act of service and exceptional character by putting into practice scouting skills and ideals. It does not need to involve risk to self.;National Certificate of Merit:This award may be presented by the National Court of Honor to a registered BSA member, youth or adult, who has performed a significant act of service that is deserving of special national recognition. Such action need not involve attempts of rescue or risk to self, but puts into practice Scouting skills or ideals.;Local Council Certificate of Merit:This may be awarded for meritorious actions.

Adult leader awards

Cub Scout leader recognition

Commissioners who complete training, tenure, and performance requirements are recognized by a system of awards. The Arrowhead Honor is for commissioners who exhibit quality performance and leadership. The Roundtable Staff Training Award (part of the Scouter's Training Award series) is available to Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout and Venturing roundtable staff. The Commissioner's Key (part of the Scouter's Key series) is available for roundtable commissioners, district commissioner, assistant district commissioners, unit commissioners, council commissioners and assistant council commissioners. The Distinguished Commissioner Service Award recognizes commissioners who provide quality service over a period of at least five years.

eries awards

These awards are part of a series used in several of the BSA programs. They use the same emblems and are differentiated by the use of pin-on devices.

*District Award of Merit: A recognition for Scouters who give noteworthy service to youth at the district level.
*International Scouter Award [ [http://www.scouting.org/International/Highlights/22-721.aspx International Scouter's Award ] ]
*Community Organization Award" [http://www.scouting.org/Media/FactSheets/02-582.aspx BSA Community Organization Award fact sheet] ." Retrieved on May 23, 2007.]
**Cliff Dochterman Award, Rotary [ [http://www.ifsr-net.org/dochterman.htm Cliff Dochterman Award ] ]
**Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award, Masons [Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award]
**George Meany Award, AFL-CIO (is also part of this category, but retains the use of its original square knot)
**Herbert G. Horton Alpha Phi Omega Service to Youth Award [ [http://www.apo.org/show/About_Us/Awards/National/Herbert_G_Horton_Service_to_Youth_Award Alpha Phi Omega: National Service Fraternity | Herbert G Horton Service to Youth Award ] ]
**Marvin M. Lewis Award, BPOE [ [http://www.elks.org/grandlodge/youth/marvinlewis.cfm The Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks of the USA: Marvin Lewis Awards ] ]
**Raymond A. Finley , Jr. Sea Scout Service Award, United States Power Squadrons [ [http://www.usps.org/national/membership/youth/pictures/USPS_Finley_Sea_Scout_Service_Award.pdf Microsoft Word - 10-USPS Finley Sea Scout Service Award ] ]
**Robert E. Burt Boy Scout Volunteer Award, Sons of the American Revolution [http://www.sar.org/forms/handbook/SAR_Handbook_Vol_III.pdf]
**Ruritan Scout Leader Community Service Award, Ruritan National Service Club [http://www.ruritan.org/publications/scoutLeaderAward.pdf]
**Scouter's Achievement Award, VFW [ [http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=cmty.levelc&cid=1833&tok=1 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) :: Community Service ] ]
**Scouting Square Knot Award, American Legion [ [http://www.legion.org/homepage.php Welcome to the American Legion Online ] ]
**United States Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, U.S. DOD [ [http://www.scatacook.org/ArticlesAndFlyers/MOVSM.htm Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal ] ]

Conservation awards

*William T. Hornaday Awards: presented for distinguished service in conservation.
** William T. Hornaday Unit Award
** William T. Hornaday Badge
** William T. Hornaday Gold Badge
** William T. Hornaday Bronze Medal
** William T. Hornaday Silver Medal
** William T. Hornaday Gold Badge
** William T. Hornaday Gold Certificate

National service awards

;The Spirit of Scouting AwardDesigned for presentation to a noteworthy individual who has performed exceptional and unusual service to young people in hard-to-reach communities over a long period of time. ;Whitney M Young Jr. Service AwardRecognizes outstanding services by an adult individual or an organization for demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for youth from rural or low-income urban backgrounds.;¡Scouting ... Vale la pena! Service AwardRecognizes outstanding services by an adult individual or an organization for demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for Hispanic American/Latino youth.;Asian American Spirit of Scouting Service AwardRecognizes outstanding services by an adult individual or an organization for demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for Asian American youth.;ScoutReach National President's Award

;Dr. Frank "Tick" Coleman Service Award

A National Service Award for full-time paraprofessional Scouters given every other year, named in honor of Dr. Frank "Tick" Coleman. [ [http://old.scouting.org/media/press/2006/060201/ BSA Press Release] ]

upport of Scouting awards

*James E West Fellowship Award
**1910 Society
***Ernest Thompson Seton, Daniel Carter Beard, Theodore Roosevelt and Waite Phillips levels
**Founder's Circle
***Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels
*William D. Boyce New-Unit Organizer Award

Memorials

*Spirit of the Eagle Award

Unit awards

* National Den Award
* National Quality Unit Award
* National Summertime Pack Award
* Veteran Unit Emblem
* BSA Ready & Prepared Award [ [http://old.scouting.org/awards/10-278/ Ready & Prepared Award ] ]

cholarships

*E. Urner Goodman Scholarship Fund
*National Jewish Committee on Scouting: Eagle Scout Scholarship Programs [http://www.jewishscouting.org/awards/eagle.html]
*AFL-CIO Wood Badge Scholarship Program
*VFW Wood Badge Scholarship Program
*William M Minto Memorial Scholarship For Sea Scouts [ [http://www.seascout.org/reference/opportunities/index.html Sea Scouting: Opportunities and Activities ] ]
*Sons of the American Revolution: Arthur M. & Berdena King Eagle Scout Scholarship [ [http://www.sar.org/youth/eagle.html NSSAR - Arthur M. & Berdena King Eagle Scout Scholarship Program ] ]
*Elks National Foundation: Eagle Scout Awards [ [http://www.elks.org/ENF/Scholars/eaglescouts.cfm The Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks of the USA ] ]

pecial opportunities

;Aquatics
* Boardsailing BSA
* BSA Lifeguard
* Kayaking, BSA
* Mile Swim, BSA
* Scuba, BSA
* Snorkeling, BSA

;Conservation
* Conservation Good Turn
* Cub Scout World Conservation Award
* Cub Scouting's Leave No Trace Awareness Award
* Leave No Trace Awareness Award
* World Conservation Award

;Disabilities
* Torch of Gold certificate
* Woods Services Award

;Emergency Preparedness
* BSA Ready and Prepared Award
* Crime Prevention Awards
* Emergency Preparedness Award

;Scoutcraft
* Firem'n Chit
* Paul Bunyan Woodsman
* Totin' Chip
* Whittlin' Chip

;Tenure
* Service stars
* Veteran Scouter Pin

;Other
* BSA Family Award
* BSA Physical Fitness Award
* Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award
* Donor Awareness Patch
* 50-Miler Award
* Historic Trails Award - More than 300 nationally approved historict trails have been approved for Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers, and family campers. [ [http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/advancementandawards/meritbadges/trail.aspx Historic Trails Award ] ] The trails are meant to educate, as well as promote, "Love of America and devotion to our country."
* Hometown U.S.A. Award
* International Activity Patch
* Interpreter's Strips
* Recruiter Strip

Awards from other organizations

*Alpha Phi Omega offers the Scouting Recognition Certificate
*The American Legion offers the Eagle Scout of the Year Award
*The United States Department of Defense offers the Youth Certificate of Recognition

Obsolete awards

These awards are no longer awarded, but may be worn by those who earned them:

*Den Mother's Training Award- awarded from 1956, renamed to Den Leader’s Training Award in 1967
*Den Leader Coach Training Award- awarded from 1967 to 2006, replaced by the Pack Trainer Award
*Explorer Silver- awarded from 1949 to 1964
*Explorer Achievement Award- awarded from 1981 to 1995, replaced by the Explorer G.O.L.D. Award
*Explorer G.O.L.D. Award- awarded from 1995 to 1998
*Explorer Ranger Award- awarded from 1944 to 1949
*Explorer Ace Award- awarded from 1942 to 1954
*Silver Fawn Award- equivalent of the Silver Beaver Award for female leaders issued from 1971 to 1974
*Tiger Cub Coach Award renamed to Tiger Cub Den Leader Award
*William H. Spurgeon III Award- moved to Exploring (Learning for Life)

ources

* [http://www.scouting.org scouting.org ] - The official BSA Website for Scouting in the US.
* [http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page MeritBadge.Org] - is a Wikipedia that provides resources to Scouts and leaders in the US.
* [http://www.usscouts.org USScouts.Org] - another volunteer site that provides resources to Scouts and leaders in the US.

Footnotes