Being an Eagle Scout is no small thing.

It may have started as a boy joining Cub Scouts and working his way up to earn the Arrow of Light Award.     He then is allowed to crossover into a Boy Scout Troop.

Or, a boy may simply join a Boy Scout Troop after having completed the fifth grade, or anywhere in the age range of 10 1/2 to 15 1/2 years old.   Any later than that, and he might not have enough time to finish the requirements.

No matter when a boy joins, only a Boy Scout can earn the rank of Eagle.

After joining, a boy must first earn the rank of Scout.

Scout Rank

If a Cub Scout earns the Arrow of Light, he has like-wise earned the Scout Rank for Boy Scouts.   He only needs to participate in a Scoutmaster Conference.   In some cases, a Cub Scout could receive the Scout Rank badge at his Crossover Ceremony into Boy Scouts.

If a boy is just joining the Troop, earning the Scout Rank badge is simply a matter of memorization and recital.

To earn the badge, a boy needs to:

• recite the Pledge of Allegience;
• demonstrate the Scout Sign, Salute, and Handshake;
• understand and agree to live by the Scout Oath, Law, Motto, Slogan, and the Outdoor Code;
• describe the Scout badge;
• and, participate in a Scoutmaster Conference.

Tenderfoot

The Tenderfoot requirements provide basic skills to begin preparing the scout for higher adventure outings.   Some of the things a Scout has to do to earn Tenderfoot is to participate in an overnight campout, including pitching a tent and cooking a meal; learn and use a couple of knots; demonstrate how to display, raise, lower, and fold the American flag; record your best in a few physical fitness tests and show improvement 30 days later; and, demonstrate certain first aid techniques.

Second Class

When working on the Second Class requirements, a Scout continues to work on camping skill while attending overnight campouts; attends Troop or Patrol activites; learn about wood tools and how to use them to help build a fire; learn about compass and map reading and go on a 5-mile hike; take part in a flag ceremony; and, work on a service project.

He also has to identify 10 animals, demonstrate more first aid, and pass some swimmng requirements.

First Class

Working on First Class includes more map reading and orienteering, overnight camping including cooking and meal preparation, learning and using lashings and knot-tying, and identifying 10 different kinds of plants.

There are more swimming and first aid requirements and a Scout needs to participate in 10 more Troop or Patrol activities.   He also needs to visit and discuss with a selected individual (elected official, judge, attorney, civil servant, principal, teacher) their constitutional rights and obligations as a U.S. citizen.

A Scout is also required to talk to a boy about joining Scouts or encourage an inactive Scout to come back to the Troop.   Furthermore, he needs to demonstrate how he has lived by the Scout Oath and Law.

Star

The Star rank is all about service.   To earn this rank, a Scout has to be active in the Troop for at least four months as a First Class Scout.   He has to demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Law in his everyday life.   And, he has to serve actively in a leadership position for at least four months.

While a First Class Scout, a Scout has to participate in a service project for at least six hours of work.   Also, he has to earn six merit badges, four of which have to be from the list of merit badges that are required to earn Eagle.

Life

The Life rank is about leadership.   A Scout has to be active in the Troop for at least six months as a Star Scout, demonstrate Scout spirit by living out the Scout Oath and Law, and serve in a leadership position for six months.

There is also another service project in which a Scout has to participate with at least six hours of work.   Five more merit badges have to be earned, three of which have to be from the Eagle-required list.   And, while at Star Rank, a Scout has to use the EDGE method to teach a younger Scout one skill from a list of six so that the younger Scout is prepared to pass that requirement.

Eagle Scout

By the time a Scout is ready to work on the Eagle rank, he has learned about safety, camping, and self-sufficiency.   He has also learned service and leadership by working on at least three service projects and holding two or more leadership positions.

He has to be a Life Scout for at least six months before becoming an Eagle.   In those six months, he has to demonstrate that he lives by the Scout Oath and Law and provide a list of named individuals that will recommend him.   He has to complete ten more merit badges for a total of twenty-one, and hold another leadership position (or the same one as before) for at least six months.

An Eagle candidate must also plan, develop, and give leadership to others in working on a service project that benefits a community or organization other than the Boy Scouts.   This is known at the Eagle Project and is the culmination of all the leadership training a boy has learned from Scouting.

Less than 2% of all registered Boy Scouts ever make it to the rank of Eagle.   It's a long, two-plus year journey and few make it.   Those that do should be honored and respected.   It's a coveted title.

Congratulations to everyone that makes the rank of Eagle.

Check out Troop 129's Eagle Honor Roll here.

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