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The 12 Steps from Life to Eagle
The following 12 steps have been outlined to ensure a smooth procedure
for the Scout, the unit leadership, the local council, and the volunteers who
are to conduct the board of review. Eagle candidates should share these steps
with their unit leader so that they can fully understand the procedures that
must be followed.
1. In order to advance to the rank of Eagle, a
candidate must complete all requirements of tenure; Scout spirit; merit badges;
positions of responsibility; while a Life Scout, plan, develop, and provide
leadership to others in a service project; and the Scoutmaster conference.
2. Using the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project
Workbook, the candidate must select his Eagle service project and have the
project concept approved by his unit leader, his unit committee, and the
benefactor of the project, and reviewed and approved by the council or district
advancement committee. The workbook must be used in meeting this requirement.
3. It is imperative that all requirements for the
Eagle Scout rank except the board of review be completed prior to the
candidate's 18th birthday. When all requirements except the board of review for
the rank of Eagle, including the leadership service project, have been
completed, the Eagle
Scout Rank Application must be completed and sent to the council service
center promptly. (Youth members with disabilities should meet with their unit
leader regarding time extensions.)
4. The application should be signed by the unit leader
at the proper place. The unit committee reviews and approves the record of the
Eagle candidate before the application is submitted to the local council. If a
unit leader or unit committee fails to sign or otherwise approve an
application, the Eagle candidate may still be granted a board of review. The
failure of a unit leader or unit committee to sign an application may be
considered by the board of review in determining the qualification of the Eagle
candidate.
5. When the completed application is received at the
council service center, its contents will be verified and the references
contacted. The council advancement committee or its designee contacts the
person listed as a reference on the Eagle Scout Rank Application either by
letter, form, or telephone checklist. The council determines the method or
methods to be used. The candidate should have contacted those individuals
listed as references before including their names on the application. The
candidates should not be involved personally in transmitting any correspondence
between persons listed as references and the council service center.
6. The Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project
Workbook, properly filled out, must be submitted with the application.
7. After the contents of an application have been
verified and appropriately signed, the application, Eagle Scout Leadership
Service Project Workbook, and references will be returned from the council
service center to the chairman of the Eagle board of review so that a board of
review may be scheduled. Under no circumstances should a board of review be
scheduled until the application is returned to the chairman of the Eagle board
of review. Reference checks that are forwarded with the application are
confidential, and their contents are not to be disclosed to any person who is
not a member of the board of review.
8. The board of review for an Eagle candidate is
composed of at least three but not more than six members. One member serves as
chairman. Unit leaders, assistant unit leaders, relatives, or guardians may not
serve as members of a Scout's board of review. The board of review members
should convene at least 30 minutes before the candidate appears in order to
review the application, reference checks, and leadership service project
report. At least one district or council advancement representative must be a
member of the Eagle board of review if the board of review is conducted on a
unit level. A council or district may designate more than one person to serve
as a member of Eagle boards of review when requested to do so by the unit. It is
not required that these persons be members of the advancement committee;
however, they must have an understanding of the importance of the Eagle board
of review.
9. The candidate's unit leader introduces him to the
members of the board of review. The unit leader may remain in the room, but
does not participate in the board of review. The unit leader may be called on
to clarify a point in question. In no case should a relative or guardian of the
candidate attend the review, even as a unit leader. There is no set of
questions that an Eagle candidate should be asked. However, the board should be
assured of the candidate's participation in the program. This is the highest
award that a Scout may achieve and, consequently, a thorough discussion of his
successes and experiences in Scouting should be considered. After the review,
the candidate and his unit leader leave the room while the board members
discuss the acceptability of the candidate as an Eagle Scout.
The decision
must be unanimous. If the
candidate meets the requirements, he is asked to return and is informed that he
will receive the board's recommendation for the Eagle Scout rank. If the
candidate does not meet the requirements, he is asked to return and told the
reasons for his failure to qualify. A discussion should be held with him as to
how he may meet the requirements within a given period.
Should the
applicant disagree with the decision, the appeal procedures should be explained
to him. A follow-up letter must be sent to the Scout confirming the agreements
reached on the action(s) necessary for the advancement. If the Scout chooses to
appeal, the board should provide the name and address of the person he is to
contact. (See "Appealing a Decision" in the National BSA Policies
and Procedures, No. 33088A.)
10. Immediately after the board of review and after the
application has been appropriately signed, the application, the service project
report, references, and a properly completed Advancement Report are returned to
the council service center.
11. When the application arrives at the council service
center, the Scout executive signs it to certify that the proper procedure has
been followed and that the board of review has recommended the candidate for
the Eagle Scout rank. This workbook and references are retained by the council.
The workbook may be returned to the Scout after council approval.
Only the Eagle
Scout Rank Application is forwarded to the national Eagle Scout Service.
12. The Eagle Scout Service screens the application to
ascertain information such as proper signature, positions of responsibility,
tenure between ranks, and age of the candidate. Any item not meeting national
standards will cause the application to be returned for more information. If
the application is in order, the Scout is then certified as an Eagle Scout by
the Eagle Scout Service on behalf of the National Council. Notice of approval
is given by sending the Eagle Scout certificate to the local council. The date
used on the certificate will be the date of the board of review. The Eagle
Award must not be sold or given to any unit until after the certificate is
received by the council service center. The Eagle Scout court of honor should
not be scheduled until the local council receives the Eagle Scout rank
credentials.
Eagle
Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook
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The Boy Scouts of America |
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