The Trail to Eagle Scout 

The Significance of Eagle Scout

The fact that a youth is an Eagle Scout has always carried with it a special significance, not only in Scouting but also as they enter higher education, business or industry, and community service. The award is a performance - based achievement whose standards have been well-maintained over the years. Not every Scout who joins a troop earns the Eagle Scout rank; only about 5 percent of all do so. This represents more than 1.7 million Scouts who have earned the rank since 1912. Nevertheless, the goals of Scouting—citizenship training, character development, and personal fitness—remain important for all Scouts, whether or not they attain the Eagle Scout rank.

Progression

To earn the Eagle Scout rank, the highest advancement rank in Scouting, a Scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills. Although many options are available to demonstrate proficiency in these areas, a number of specific skills are required to advance through the ranks—Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle. To advance, a Scout must pass specific tests that are organized by requirements and merit badges.

Eagle Rank Requirements

• Be active in your troop, crew, or ship for a period of at least six months after you have achieved the rank of Life Scout.
• Demonstrate that you live by the principles of the Scout Oath and Law in your daily life. List the names of individuals who know you personally and would be willing to provide a recommendation on your behalf, including parents/guardians, religious, educational, and employer references.
• Earn a total of 21 merit badges (10 more than you already have), including the following:

1. First Aid
2. Citizenship in the Community
3. Citizenship in the Nation
4. Citizenship in the World
5. Communications
6. Personal Fitness
7. Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving
8. Environmental Science OR Sustainability
9. Personal Management
10. Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling
11. Camping
12. Family Life
13. Cooking

For details on the merit badges, please go here.

You must choose only one merit badge listed in items 7 and 8 and 10. If you have earned more than one of the badges listed, choose one and list the remaining badges to make your total of 21.

• While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of six months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility:

Scout troop: Patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, troop guide, Order of the Arrow troop representative, den chief, scribe, librarian, historian, quartermaster, junior assistant Scoutmaster, chaplain aide, or instructor.

Venturing crew/ship: President, vice president, secretary, treasurer, boatswain, boatswain's mate, yeoman, purser, or storekeeper.

• While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community. (The project should benefit an organization other than Boy Scouting.) The project plan must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, your Scoutmaster and troop committee, and the council or district before you start. You must use the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, BSA publication No. 2021b, in meeting this requirement.
• Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.
• Successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review.

Merit Badges (see above)

Merit badges signify the mastery of certain Scoutcraft skills, as well as helping youth increase their skill in an area of personal interest. Of the over 100 merit badges available, 21 must be earned to qualify for Eagle Scout. Of this group, 13 badges are required, including First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Camping, Cooking, and Family Life. In addition, a Scout has a choice between Emergency Preparedness and Lifesaving and a choice among Cycling, Hiking, and Swimming and a choice among Environmental Science and Sustainability.

Scoutmaster Conferences

At each of the rank advancements, a Scout takes part in a Scoutmaster conference. These conferences help the Scout to set goals for themselves in line with their individual talents and abilities. At each conference, the Scoutmaster helps evaluate how well they accomplished their present goal and then works with them in setting new goals.

Service and Responsibility

Beginning with the Star rank, and continuing through Life and Eagle, a Scout must demonstrate participation in increasingly more responsible service projects. At these levels, one also must demonstrate leadership skills by holding one or more specific youth positions of responsibility in their troop.

Steps in Advancement

Advancement, one of the eight methods by which the aims of Scouting are achieved, has four steps through each award level.

1. The Scout learns. Much of the learning comes from other youth in the patrol or troop and by active participation in troop program. Patrol activities are directed toward the skills needed. Every troop hike, camping trip, or other activity offers potential learning experiences. A Scout learns to pitch a tent by pitching one, to use a compass by finding directions, and to cook a meal by having to prepare and eat it.
2. The Scout is tested. The specific requirements determine the kind of testing. Verbal testing is sufficient in some instances. In other instances, a Scout must demonstrate skills by doing.
3. The Scout is reviewed. The purpose of the review is to ensure that all requirements for advancement have been met. This includes a check of the Scout's attitude and practice of the ideals of Scouting, in addition to Scoutcraft skills. The decision regarding whether a Scout has met the required standards to qualify for rank advancement begins with the troop and, for the Eagle Scout rank, is approved by the district, local council, and finally, the National Council.
4. The Scout is recognized. The final step in advancement involves presentation of the badge, usually at a ceremony before the entire troop.

Scouts With Disabilities

Scouts with disabilities may qualify for the Eagle Scout rank. The Scout must earn as many of the required merit badges as they can. One then submits an application for alternate merit badges. The BSA local council determines the alternate merit badges to earn.

Eagle Scout Forms

• Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook
• Eagle Scout Rank Application
• Eagle Scout Rank Application Process
• Eagle Scout Application Information Cover Sheet

National Eagle Scout Association

Founded in 1972, the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) maintains contact with Eagle Scouts to sustain their interest in Scouting. Any Eagle Scout may join the association. Applications for membership in NESA are available through your local council, on the BSA Web page (www.scouting.org), or by contacting the Eagle Scout Service at the national office.

• National Eagle Scout Association Membership Application
• National Eagle Scout Association Scholarship Information

Distinguished Eagle Scout Award

The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award was established in 1969 to acknowledge Eagle Scouts who have distinguished themselves in business, professions, and service to their country. Only Eagle Scouts who earned the Eagle Scout rank a minimum of 25 years previously are eligible for nomination. The award is given by the National Eagle Scout Service upon the recommendation of a committee of Distinguished Eagle Scouts.

Time to Celebrate

For permission to use BSA logos for cakes, please review the information here.

A Sample of Famous Eagle Scouts

Willie Banks
Olympian, former world record holder, triple jump and long jump

Lloyd M. Bentsen Jr.
Former secretary of the treasury and former United States senator, Texas

Bill Bradley
Former United States senator, New Jersey

Milton A. Caniff
Cartoonist

William C. DeVries, M.D.
Surgeon and educator
Transplanted first artificial heart

Thomas Foley
Former Speaker of the House and Former United States representative, Washington

Dr. Robert M. Gates
Former Director, CIA
Former President, Texas A&M University
Former President of BSA

The Honorable Gerald R. Ford
38th president of the United States

J. Stephen Fossett
First to circumnavigate the Earth solo in a balloon

Michael Kahn
Stage director
Academy Award-winning film editor

John Koncak
Center, Orlando Magic, National Basketball Association

James A. Lovell Jr.
Apollo astronaut and business executive

The Honorable Richard G. Lugar
United States Senator, Indiana

J. Willard Marriott Jr.
Chairman of the board and president, Marriott Corporation

Sam Nunn
Former United States Senator, Georgia

H. Ross Perot
Founder, Electronic Data Systems Corporation and The Perot Group

Donald H. Rumsfeld
Former Secretary of Defense

Harrison Salisbury
Pulitzer Prize-winning author

Togo West
Former Secretary of Veterans' Affairs