The Board of Review

The Board of Review is much like the Scoutmaster's Conference. Instead of the Scoutmaster, however, the Board of Review will typically consist of three to six members of the Troop Committee.

A Board of Review (for rank advancement) is an opportunity for the Troop Committee to make sure you have completed the requirements for your next rank, to review the requirements for the next rank, and to discuss how Scouting is influencing your life – at school, at home, and in the troop.

The real purpose of the Board of Review is to help the Committee understand how well we as a Troop are doing our job in supporting the Scouting program.

You can sign up for a Board of Review once you have completed all the requirements for that rank and have had your Scoutmaster Conference.

When you come to your Board of Review, please dress neatly (a full uniform strongly preferred) and bring your Boy Scout Handbook. Dressing neatly and wearing your full uniform are not requirements but it does help to make a good impression.

The Scoutmaster (or one of the Assistant Scoutmasters) will then introduce you to the Troop Committee Members serving on your Board of Review.

One of the Committee Members will ask to review your book in order to make sure all the requirements are signed off.

You will then be asked to recite the Scout Law, the Scout Oath, Slogan, and Motto. For First Class and above, you should also know the Outdoor Code.

The Board of Review will then want to hear about your Scouting experience since your last Board of Review. They will ask you questions about you experiences completing the requirements for that rank. They will ask about your patrol, the troop, and other activities you participate in outside of Scouts. They will ask you questions about what the Scout Oath and Law means to you and how they affect what you do both within and outside of scouts.

When all members of the Board of Review have had an opportunity to ask their questions, you will be asked to step outside. The Board of Review members then consider whether you are ready for the next rank. Once the decision is made, you will be invited back into the room, and we let you know the Board’s decision.

A Board of Review is not just for rank advancement. As a Scout, you can request a Board of Review to discuss your progress at any time. Additionally, if we see that you appear to be struggling with some aspect of the program - a lack of advancement, perceived trouble in the troop, or a certain event at the last campout or troop meeting - we’ll invite you to come and talk with us so that we can help review your progress in Scouting and offer suggestions to help you move forward.