The fact that a boy is an Eagle Scout has always carried with it a special significance, not only in Scouting, but also as he enters higher education, business, industry, and community service. The award is a performance-based achievement whose standards have been well maintained over the years. Only about 5 percent of all Boy Scouts earn the Eagle Scout rank. Boy Scout Troop 27 is extremely proud to be exceeding this national percentage.
To earn the Eagle Scout rank, a Boy Scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills. A Boy Scout first advances through the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, and Life, before working to obtain the rank of Eagle. Through these advancements, the Boy Scout earns many merit badges---some of which are "elective" and some of which are "required." Merit badges signify the mastery of certain skills, as well as helping boys increase their skill in an area of personal interest. Of the 120 merit badges that are available, 21 must be earned to qualify for an Eagle Scout. Of this group, the following 12 are required:
- First Aid
- Citizenship in the Community
- Citizenship in the Nation
- Citizenship in the World
- Communications
- Environmental Science
- Personal Fitness
- Personal Management
- Camping
- Family Life
- Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving
- Cycling OR Hikiing OR Swimming
At each of his rank advancements, a Boy Scout participates in a "scoutmaster conference," which will help the Scout set goals for himself in line with his individual talents and abilities. The Scoutmaster helps the Scout evaluate how well he accomplished his present goal and then helps him set new goals to achieve the next rank. Each level of advancement includes four basic steps:
- The Scout learns.
- The Scout is tested.
- The Scout is reviewed.
- The Scout is recognized.
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, he also must demonstrate leadership skills by holding one or more specific youth positions of responsibility in his troop.
Boy Scouts with disabilities may qualify for the Eagle Scout rank. The Scout must earn as many of the required merit badges as he can. He then submits an application for alternate merit badges. The local BSA council will then determine alternate badges for him to earn.
The Distinguised 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 rank at least 25 years earlier are eligible for nomination. The award is given by the National Eale Scout Service upon the recommendation of a committee of Distinguised Eagle Scouts.
Do you recognize any of these famous Eagle Scouts?
- Willie Banks, Olympian
- Lloyd M. Bentsen, Jr., former United States Senator and former U.S Secretary of the Treasury
- Bill Bradley, former U.S. Senator
- Willaim C. DeVries, M.D., suregeon and educator
- Thomas Foley, former Speaker of the House
- Dr. Robert M. Gates, former director of the CIA and President of Texas A&M University
- Gerald R. Ford, 38th President of the United States
- Michael Kahn, stage director
- John Koncak, NBA player, Orlando Magic
- James A. Lovell, Jr., Apollo astronaut
- Richard G. Lugar, U.S. Senator
- J. Willard Marriot, Jr., President of the Marriott corporation
- Sam Nunn, former U.S. Senator
- H. Ross Perot, founder of Electronic Data Systems Corporation and The Perot Group
- Donald H. Rumsfeld, former Secretary of Defense
- Harrison Salisbury, Pulitzer prize-winning author