This information was adapted from a document originally written by Ray Klaus when he was District Advancement Chairman for Saddleback District, Orange County Council, BSA (1994-1995). It was adapted to assist Troop 114 in conducting Boards of Review.
Purpose of a Board of Review:
The members of a Board of Review should have the following objectives in mind:
To make sure the Scout has completed the requirements for the rank.
To understand the quality of the experience the Scout is having in the unit.
To encourage the Scout to progress further in Scouting.
Additionally, the Board of Review provides "quality control" on advancement within the unit, it provides an opportunity for the Scout to develop and practice those skills needed in an interview situation, and it is an opportunity for the Scout to review his accomplishments. The Board of Review is NOT a retest; the Scout has already been tested on the skills and activities required for the rank. However, the chairman of the Board of Review should ensure that all the requirements have been "signed off" in the Scout's handbook. Additionally, the chairman should ensure that the Scouts leadership experience records and merit badge records are consistent with the requirements for the rank. The Board of Review is an opportunity to review recent history of the Scout's attitudes, accomplishments and his acceptance of Scouting's ideals.
Composition of a Board of Review:
For all ranks (except Eagle) and Eagle palms, the Board of Review consists of three to six members of the Troop Committee. The Troop Advancement Chairperson should typically act as the chairperson of the Board of Review and occasionally provide that opportunity to other members of the committee. Relatives or guardians of the Scout may not serve as members of his Board of Review. Unit leaders (Scoutmasters, Venturing Advisors, Team Coaches, Skippers, and their Assistants) also may not participate in a Board of Review.
For the rank of Eagle, the Board of Review consists of three to six members drawn from Scouting and the community. The members of the Board of Review are selected by the District Advancement Committee; at least one member of the District Advancement Committee must be a member of the Board of Review for Eagle, and serves as chairperson of the Board of Review. Unit leaders from the Scout's unit, relatives, or guardians of the Scout may not serve as members of his Eagle Board of Review. A Board of Review for Eagle may contain members of the community who are not registered Scouters; however, they should be knowledgeable of the principles of Scouting. For example, a representative from a chartering organization, an adult Eagle Scout (even if not currently registered), or a religious leader are frequently asked to assist with an Eagle Board of Review. The Scout may request a specific individual to be a member of his Board of Review. As a general rule, no more than one member of an Eagle Board should be associated with the Scout's unit.
Mechanics of a Board of Review:
The Scout should be presented to the Board of Review by the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster that conducted his Scoutmaster Review for that rank.
The Scout is introduced to the board by the Chairperson of the board. The Scout should be in full uniform appropriate for his rank as defined by Troop. The chairman of the Board of Review should ask the Scout to come to attention, and recite one or more of the following:
- The Scout Law
- The Scout Oath
- The Scout Motto
- The Scout Slogan
- The Outdoor Code
For the lower ranks, one or two (usually the Law and Oath) should be sufficient. For higher ranks, more may be expected. One or two re-tries are appropriate, especially for younger Scouts, or if the Scout appears nervous. The board members are invited to ask questions of the Scout (see the sections appropriate to each rank). The questions should be open-ended, offering an opportunity for the Scout to speak about his opinions, experiences, activities, and accomplishments. Avoid questions which only require a simple one or two word answer. If an answers is too brief, follow up with a, "Why?" or, "How can that be done?" to expand the board’s understanding of the answer. The questions need not be restricted to Scouting topics; questions regarding home, church, school, work, athletics, etc. are all appropriate. The Chairperson should be made aware of any "out-of-bounds" areas; these should be communicated to the board before the Board of Review begins (e.g., if a Scout is experiencing family difficulties due to a divorce, it would be prudent to avoid family topics.)
The time for a Board of Review should be from 15 to 30 minutes, with the shorter time for the lower ranks. When all members have had an opportunity to ask their questions, the Scout is excused from the room. The board members then consider whether the Scout is ready for the next rank; the board's decision must be unanimous. Once the decision is made, the Scout is invited back into the room, and the Chairperson informs the Scout of the board's decision. If the Scout is approved for the next rank, there are general congratulations and handshakes all around, and the Scout is encouraged to continue advancing. If there are issues which prevent the Scout from advancing to the next rank, the board must detail the precise nature of the deficiencies. The Scout must be told specifically what must be done in order to be successful at the next Board of Review. Typically, an agreement is reached as to when the Scout may return for his subsequent Board of Review. The Chairperson must send a written follow up, to both the Scout and the Scoutmaster, regarding the deficiencies and the course of action needed to correct them.
Mechanics of a Board of Review for Eagle Rank
The mechanics of a Board of Review for Eagle are similar to all other Boards of Review, except that a Board of Review for Eagle is more in depth, and might last as long as 45 minutes to an hour. Additionally, the Eagle Scout Rank Application, Letters of Recommendation may be included and Eagle Project Notebook must be present and reviewed by the board. Questions about these documents are appropriate.
The Nature of the Questions
The questions asked of the lower ranks are simpler and generally deal with factual information about the Scout's participation in his unit, and his approach to applying the skills he has learned toward earning the next rank. The questions for the higher ranks are less factual, and generally seek to aid understanding of how Scouting is becoming an integral part of the Scout's life. Remember: it is not the point of a Board of Review to retest the Scout. However, questions like, "Where did you learn about ..." or "Why do you think it is important for a [rank] Scout to have this skill?" are valid. If a Scout appears nervous or anxious about the Board of Review, it might be appropriate to ask one or two questions from the list for a lower rank, to help "break the ice" and establish some rapport. In general, within a rank, the questions are arranged from "easiest" to "most difficult". For each rank, there is a question about advancing to the next rank. The purpose of this question is to encourage advancement, but it should not be asked in a way that pressures the Scout. [Note: If the Board of Review is for the Life rank, and the Scout is at or near his 17th birthday, some pressure towards Eagle may be in order. At the very least, be certain that the Scout realizes that his time is running out.] For higher ranks, there is a question from The Boy Scout Handbook about basic Scouting history. For Order of the Arrow members, there are questions about the role of OA within Scouting. The Board of Review will need to select the questions which are appropriate for the particular Scout and his experiences.
What Every Scout Should Know for a Board of Review
Scout Oath:
On my honor I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
Scout Law:
As Scout is ... Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, Reverent.
Scout Motto:
Be Prepared.
Scout Slogan:
Do a good turn daily.
Outdoor Code:
As an American, I will do my best to Be clean in my outdoor manners,
Be careful with fire,
Be considerate in the outdoors and
Be conservation-minded.