Advancement

About Advancement

As boys acquire skills and progress through the scouting program, they can achieve progressively higher ranks, with Eagle being the highest.. Scouts are given an initial rank of "scout", which has no requirements.. The "scout" rank badge features a brown fleur-de-leis with no eagle.

By completing rank requirements, boys can then advance to Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle. Rank requirements can be found in the Boy Scout Handbook; each scout should have his own copy of the Handbook.

Scouts are awarded new Rank Badges and Merit Badges at the Court of Honor, a special troop meeting held once or twice a year. The rank of Eagle is bestowed at a separate special award ceremony.

A complete set of Boy Scout rank requirements are maintained by the U.S. Scouting Service Project (USSSP). Click on one of the badges below to view the rank requirements on the USSSP site. Note: Eagle requirements are very specific, and include a considerable amount of documentation. On attaining the "Life" rank, scouts should receive a packet from the Scoutmaster with a complete Eagle checklist.

Where to Wear

The current rank badge is worn on the face of the left shirt pocket. When a scout attains a new rank, the previous rank badge is replaced.

About Merit Badges

Merit Badge Program

Troop 62 provides an opportunity for the Scouts to learn scout skills and earn Eagle required merit badges. Historically, this has been a dedicated hour before the Troop meetings on Thursday. Due to COVID, these sessions have moved to a virtual environment at a time that works for the counselor and the Scouts. In the 6th grade year of the program, the Scouts work on scout skills with the objective of achieving First Class rank by early in their 7th grade year. Starting in 7th grade, the Scouts begin working on Eagle required merit badges. In the program, they will have the opportunity to complete all Eagle required merit badges except for the physical activity (Swimming, Biking, or Hiking).

Scouts can work faster than this program by taking Eagle required merit badges in other venues, such as a merit badge college or summer camp.

Merit Badge Counselors

Once a Scout has decided to earn a merit badge and spoken with the Scoutmaster, the next step is to find a merit badge counselor. The merit badge counselor works with the Scout to verify completion of the requirements. Many of the adult leaders in the Troop are certified merit badge counselors. The Scoutmaster or one of the other adult leaders can help you identify a merit badge counselor, including reaching out to other people in the area if there is not a certified counselor associated with the troop.

Merit Badge Pamphlet Lending Library

The Boy Scouts of America publishes a pamphlet for each merit badge. Each pamphlet provides background information about the subject area for that merit badge, as well as a complete list of requirements needed to earn the badge. If you would like to purchase a personal copy of a specific merit badge pamphlet, they're available at the Scout Shop for a nominal fee. However, if you'd like to borrow a pamphlet, Troop 62 maintains a Lending Library of merit badge pamphlets.

Availability. The entire Lending Library is usually available at our weekly Troop Meeting. Scouts may borrow pamphlets by signing them out through our Troop Librarian.

Donations. If you have completed a merit badge and have a personal copy of a pamphlet, we encourage you to donate it to our Lending Library - your generosity is appreciated!

Catalog. Here are the merit badge pamphlets that Troop 62 currently has available for you to borrow:

• Archery

• Archaology

• Architecture

• Atomic Energy

• Auto Mechanics

• Aviation

• Backpacking

• Basketry

• Bird Study

• Camping

• Canoeing

• Corn Farming

• Chemistry

• Citizenship in The Community

• Citizenship in The Nation

• Citizenship in The World

• Collections

• Communications

• Computers

• Consumer Buying

• Cooking

• Cycling

• Dentistry

• Drafting

• Electricity

• Environmental Science

• Family Life

• Electricity

• Environmental Science

• Family Life

• Fingerprinting

• First Aid

• Fishing

• Fish & Wildlife Management

• Firemanship

• Hiking

• Home Repairs

• Horsemanship

• Insect Study

• Indian Lore

• Leatherwork

• Lifesaving

• Mammals

• Metallurgy

• Metalwork

• Metals Engineering

• Motorboating

• Nature

• Oceanography

• Orienteering

• Personal Fitness

• Personal Management

• Pets

• Pioneering

• Plant Science

• Plumbing

• Pottery

• Public Health

• Railroading

• Reading

• Reptile Study

• Rifle Shooting

• Rowing

• Safety

• Salesmanship

• Scholarship

• Shotgun Shooting

• Signaling

• Small-Boat Sailing

• Snow Sports

• Skiing

• Soil & Water COnservation

• Space Exploration

• Surveying

• Swimming

• Theatre

• Veterinary Science

• Water Skiing

• Weather

• Whitewater

• Wilderness Survival

• Wood Carving

• Woodwork

• Zoology

Order of the Arrow

The Order of the Arrow is the service branch of the Boy Scouts.

Please see our OA Page for details on the Order of the Arrow.

Documentation

Each Rank Badge and Merit Badge comes with a card indicating when it was awarded. Scouts should keep these cards, and especially the merit badge "blue cards" that are given to them when merit badges are awarded, in a safe place, because District Advancement requires them when a Scout applies for the Rank of Eagle.