Completing the Other Requirements

By the time you are working on your project, you have probably mostly finished the other requirements.  You want to be sure there will not be any problems with the other requirements, especially if you are approaching your 18th birthday.

Requirement 1:  Be active in your troop for at least six months as a Life Scout.

Your troop defines their standard for what they consider active.  Your Scoutmaster and troop committee chairman will need to certify that you have met this requirement.  Be sure you understand what they expect, and how well they feel you are meeting this requirement. Note that this requirement can be met in any 6 months (not necessarily consecutive months) any time after your Life board of review.  They are not necessarily the last 6 months. By the time you get this close, you should be in regular communication with your Scoutmaster, and should know from him that he is satisfied with your participation.         

Requirement 2:  As a Life Scout, demonstrate Scout Spirit by living the Scout Oath and Law in your daily life. Tell how you have done your duty to God, how you have lived the Scout Oath and Scout Law in your everyday life, and how your understanding of the Scout Oath and Scout Law will guide your life in the future. List on your Eagle Scout Rank Application the names of individuals who know you personally and would be willing to provide a recommendation on your behalf, including parents/guardians, religious (if not affiliated with an organized religion, then the parent or guardian provides this reference), educational, employer (if employed), and two other references.

You will be asked to name 6 references and get reference forms filled out by these people who can attest to the fact that you live by all parts of the Scout Oath and the Scout Law in your daily life.  This is not just while you are at Scout activities.  Be sure that these characteristics are obvious to everyone you come in contact with in all aspects of your life.  Ask yourself if it would be clear to everyone you deal with that you live by these principles in all aspects of your life. As you get close to finishing the first 5 requirements and your Scoutmaster Conference is about a month away, it is time to start getting your reference letters  The 6 references should be written by:

• One of your Parents or guardians.

• A religious leader (not necessarily ordained clergy), or someone who will attest to the fact that you are reverent (12th point of the Scout Law) and that you do your "Duty to God" (Scout Oath). If you are not associated with any organized religious institution, a parent can write this reference.

• An educational reference, a teacher or other educator who knows you well in school.

• An employer.  If you do not have a regular paying job, some adult for whom you have done work, such as a neighbor or volunteer project leader.

• Two other adults who know you well, of your selection.

Don't skip any of the six people,  You should have the reference letters sent directly to your Scoutmaster, or the person they designate, by their writers.  You are not allowed to receive or be involved in transporting their reference letters.  The reference form and instructions are included in the Chester County Council Eagle Scout Handbook.  You will need 6 copies of the form.  Print it out 2 sided (you can print the front and then run them back through your printer a second time and print the back side) or you can print the front and back separately and have them copied 2 sided.  When you give out the reference form, include a stamped envelope addressed to your Scoutmaster (or the person they designate).  On the outside write "CONFIDENTIAL REFERENCE FOR " and your name.  Be sure to put on the name and return address of the person who will be filling out the reference form.

Your Scoutmaster is responsible for doing any follow up if any of the references do not get returned, so be sure they know who you gave them to.

Requirement 3: Earn a total of 21 merit badges (10 more than you already have), including the following: (a) First Aid, (b) Citizenship in the Community, (c) Citizenship in the Nation, (d) Citizenship in Society, (e) Citizenship in the World, (f) Communication, (g) Cooking, (h) Personal Fitness, (i) Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving, (j) Environmental Science OR Sustainability, (k) Personal Management, (l) Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling, (m) Camping, and (n) Family Life.

This list does change occasionally.  When there are changes, there is a date set beyond which you must use the new requirements, even if you already have earned the merit badges you needed under the old rules.  As you earn the merit badges, keep your part of the merit badge cards in case there is any question later.  Note that Family Life, Personal Fitness, and Personal Management each include requirements that take three months.  Be sure you contact the merit badge counselor before you start working on these requirements.  You should have a merit badge card signed by your Scoutmaster before you meet with the counselor, or start working on the merit badge.

Requirement 4:  While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of 6 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, instructor, webmaster, or outdoor ethics guide.

There are corresponding lists for Venturing crew and Sea Scout ship. See the latest inforation on scouting.org if you are earning the Eagle Scout rank in one of these units.

The word "actively" is very key.  It is not enough to just have the position and wear the patch.  Be sure that you are serving in one of the specific positions listed.  Your Scoutmaster and troop committee chairman will need to certify that you have met this requirement.  Be sure that you are in regular communication with them about what they expect, and how well you are doing the job.  They should be giving you guidance on what is expected, training in how to do the job, and feedback on how you are doing.  Don't wait until the last minute to find out that the Scoutmaster is not willing to sign off on your having completed this requirement. Be prepared to discuss how you showed your leadership in this position.  It is often a good idea to be sure you have a written "job description" where you and your Scoutmaster agree on what you are expected to do.

Requirement 5:  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.)  A project proposal must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, your Scoutmaster and unit committee, and the council or district before you start.  You must use the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, BSA publication 512-927, in meeting this requirement. 

The project requirement is covered on many other pages of this web site.

Requirement 6: Take part in a unit leader conference.

Before you have your Scoutmaster conference, you need to write your "statement of ambitions and life purpose...".  Print two copies of this statement and put one in the back of your project workbook and give the second one to your Scoutmaster along with the Application.

This requirement will normally take place only after you have completed the first 5 requirements.  Be prepared to review what you have done since becoming a Life Scout, and your future plans.  Bring all your paperwork including your finished project write-up with you to the Scoutmaster's Conference.  This requirement, and the first 5, must be completed BEFORE your 18th birthday.

Requirement 7. Successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review. In preparation for your board of review, prepare and attach to your Eagle Scout Rank Application a statement of your ambitions and life purpose and a listing of positions held in your religious institution, school, camp, community, or other organizations during which you have demonstrated leadership skills.  Include honors and awards received during this service.

The Board may consist of adults from your troop and members of the district or council advancement committee.  This requirement can be completed after your 18th birthday if all other requirements were completed before your 18th birthday.  The paperwork needs to be delivered before the board can be scheduled. This should happen before, or as soon as possible after, your 18th birthday.

Links to Pages Around This Web Site

HOME       7 REQUIREMENTS       PROCESS       PARENTS GUIDE    HANDBOOK/WORKBOOK     LIFE TO EAGLE SEMINARS       FIND PROJECT     PLAN PROJECT     MATERIALS   CARRY OUT PROJECT     WRITE UP     OTHER REQUIREMENTS     APPLICATION     SUBMIT PAPERWORK     BOARD OF REVIEW     COURT OF HONOR     SCHOLARSHIPS     CONTACTS     EXTENSIONS      

If you have comments or questions about this website, send me an e-mail.

This web site is a work-in-progress.  If you find any mistakes, links that don't work, typos, or other inaccuracies, please let me know.  If you have any suggestions of additional material that would be helpful to Scouts in earning their Eagle rank, I would always appreciate your input (Tom@Stalnaker.com).

Web site last updated 5/8/2024