Advancement

Rank Advancement for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers, and Sea Scouts

Advancement is the process by which youth members of the Boy Scouts of America progress from rank to rank.  It is a method—not an end in itself—but a means to an end—one of several methods designed to help adult leaders carry out the aims and mission of the Boy Scouts of America.

Everything a youth member does to advance—to earn ranks and other awards and recognition—is designed to educate and otherwise expand horizons.  Members learn and develop according to a standard.  This is the case from the time a member joins and then moves through the programs of Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing.  Experiential learning is the key—if exciting and meaningful activities are offered, and then education education happens. Learning comes from doing.  For example, a Scout or Venturer may read about first aid, hear it discussed, and watch others administer it, but he or she will not learn it under he/she practices it.

Scouting skills—what a young person learns to do—are important, but not as important as the growth achieved through participating in a pack, troop, or crew program. The concern is for total, well-rounded development. Age-appropriate surmountable hurdles are placed before members, and as they face them they learn about themselves and gain confidence. Success is achieved when we fulfill the BSA Mission Statement and when we accomplish the aims of Scouting: character development, citizenship training, and mental and physical fitness. We know we are on the right track when we see youth accepting responsibility, demonstrating self-reliance, and caring for themselves and others; when they learn to weave Scouting ideals into their lives; and when we can see they will be positive contributors to our American society.

Though certainly goal-oriented, advancement is not a competition. Rather, it is a joint effort involving the leaders, the members, other volunteers such as merit badge counselors and Venturing consultants, and the family.  Though much is done individually at their own pace, youth members often work together in groups to focus on achievements and electives at Cub Scout den meetings, participate in a Boy Scout campout, or attend a Venturing superactivity or Sea Scout cruise. As they do this, we must recognize each young person’s unique combination of strengths and weaknesses. As watchful leaders, either adult or youth, we lend assistance as called for and encourage members to help each other according to their abilities.

Advancement Requirements

In order to maintain a sense of both accomplishment and fairness to all, rank and merit badge advancement requirements are standardized by the Boy Scouts of America.  This means that when a Boy Scout or Venturer receives a rank badge or a merit badge, it means that he/she developed and learned at approximately the same level as other youth members who previously earned the badge.  This preserves equity in the program, and reinforces the sense of accomplishment for each Scout or Venturer.  

In Cub Scouting, the motto “Do Your Best” means that we do not hold younger members to as strict an expectation of an accomplishment as for older youth, provided that the boy can say to his parents and leader that he truly did his best.

Specific badge requirements are not updated on this website, but rather in the printed BSA literature and on the national BSA website .

Internet-Based Advancement Reporting for Youth

Internet-based Advancement Reporting is provided as a service by the Alameda Council paid for by the council’s national service fees.  It is available through the www.my.scouting.org internet portal, and requires a personal account (as with online training), plus the unit identification number (obtained from the council).

Advancement reports are recording Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Venturing/Sea Scout ranks; Boy Scout merit badges, and various recognitions available at one, two, or all three program levels.  Units can enter advancement at any time, print advancement reports, obtain current member rosters from the BSA system, and print shopping lists for the next visit to the council trading post.

When Internet Advancement is used, it helps you access official records on file with the council, it alleviates issues in documenting progress as Scouts submit Eagle Applications, and provides for smoother transfer of records from one unit to another.  Consistent and constant reporting also assures accurate records for use by commissioners, other district and council volunteers, and the National Council. These are critical in evaluating unit health, adjusting service delivery, and researching changes in programs and requirements.