Board of Review:

The purpose of the Board of review is NOT to retest the Scout, but to learn how he feels he’s doing with the Troop and with Scouting.  We want to see what kind of experience he is having with his patrol and troop and to encourage the Scout to advance to the next rank.

From the Boy Scout joining requirements to Eagle Palms, the Scoutmaster conference is a constant. A Scout must participate in such a conference when he joins a troop and at every step along the advancement trail. Some Scouters don’t understand the purpose of this meeting, viewing it as little more than a paperwork exercise or a dress rehearsal for the board of review. Savvy Scouters, however, grasp its value and importance.

WHAT IS A SCOUTMASTER CONFERENCE? It’s simply a visit between the Scoutmaster and a Scout. (In a Varsity Scout team, the Coach conducts the conference.) During the conference, the two can discuss the Scout’s ambitions and life purpose, set goals for future achievement (both in Scouting and beyond), review the Scout’s participation in the troop and explore his understanding and practice of the ideals of Scouting. The conference also gives the Scoutmaster an opportunity to solicit feedback on the troop program and any challenges the Scout is facing.

HOW LONG SHOULD A SCOUTMASTER CONFERENCE LAST? Conferences should last 10 to 15 minutes, although those for Eagle Scouts might last 30 minutes or more.

WHERE SHOULD THESE CONFERENCES TAKE PLACE? They can be conducted at troop meetings, during outdoor activities or in the Scout’s home (provided a parent is also present). Given the relaxed nature of many outings, a campsite can be a good setting. Each conference should be a private discussion between the Scoutmaster and a Scout, but it must be held in full view of other people in accordance with the BSA’s Youth Protection policy.

CAN A SCOUT FAIL A SCOUTMASTER CONFERENCE? No, it is not a test. Note that a Scout must participate or take part in a conference, not pass it.

CAN THE SCOUTMASTER RETEST THE SCOUT ON REQUIREMENTS? No (nor may the board of review).

IF A SCOUT SETS A GOAL DURING A SCOUTMASTER CONFERENCE, DOES HE HAVE TO ACHIEVE IT?No. However, it makes sense to follow up with him later and to provide encouragement. Some Scoutmasters take notes after each conference and review them before meeting with a Scout again.

DOES THE SCOUTMASTER CONFERENCE HAVE TO BE THE LAST REQUIREMENT COMPLETED FOR A RANK? No. While it can make sense to hold a conference after other requirements for a rank have been met, the conference doesn’t have to be the last step before the board of review.

CAN I HOLD A SCOUTMASTER CONFERENCE FOR A SCOUT WHO IS NOT ADVANCING? Yes. In fact, that would be a good way to find out if the Scout is having problems.

CAN I DELEGATE SCOUTMASTER CONFERENCES TO ANOTHER ADULT LEADER? Yes, under limited circumstances. For example, if the troop is so large that the Scoutmaster can’t handle them all, he or she might delegate some of them to an assistant Scoutmaster. Keep in mind, however, that if a Scout sees different leaders along his trail to Eagle, he won’t have the chance to develop a relationship with the Scoutmaster, and the conferences can’t build on what has been discussed previously.

CAN I DENY A SCOUT A SCOUTMASTER CONFERENCE IF I FEEL HE’S NOT READY? No. Since the conference is not a test the Scout can fail, there’s nothing he needs to be ready for.

WHO CONDUCTS SCOUTMASTER CONFERENCES FOR A VENTURER WORKING ON BOY SCOUT ADVANCEMENT? If a First Class Scout is continuing his Boy Scout advancement work in Venturing or Sea Scouting, his Advisor or Skipper conducts the conference. If the Scout maintains dual registration, the Scoutmaster and Advisor or Skipper should decide who will oversee his Boy Scout advancement.

Few parts of the advancement program confuse Boy Scout and Varsity Scout leaders more than the board of review. Here’s a primer on keeping a key step in the advancement process from becoming a stumbling block.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE BOARD OF REVIEW? To determine the quality of the Scout’s experience and decide if he is qualified to advance to the next rank. Boards of review are also used when awarding Eagle Palms.

WHEN IS THE BOARD OF REVIEW HELD? When a Scout believes he has completed all the requirements for a rank or Palm, he must be granted a board of review. Ideally, boards should be scheduled at least monthly so Scouts aren’t delayed in beginning time-oriented requirements for their next rank. A unit leader can’t “defer” a board for a Scout he or she thinks isn’t ready, nor can he or she ask a Scout to perform beyond the requirements in order to be granted a board.

WHO SITS ON THE BOARD? The board consists of three to six unit committee members (or, for the Eagle Scout rank, three to six adults who understand the rank, purpose and importance of the review). A candidate’s unit leader, assistant unit leaders and parents or guardians may not sit on his board, although the unit leader may attend as an observer. If three or fewer unit committee members are available, the unit may use knowledgeable parents or other adults who understand Scouting’s aims — but this must be the exception, not the rule.

HOW LONG SHOULD IT LAST? For Tenderfoot through Life, approximately 15 minutes but no longer than 30 minutes; for Eagle, 30 to 45 minutes.

CAN THE BOARD RETEST? The board should ensure that the candidate has completed the requirements, but members may not retest him. It is not acceptable, for example, to ask a candidate to tie knots.

SO WHAT CAN MEMBERS ASK? Members might ask the candidate where he learned his skills, who taught him and what he gained from fulfilling the requirements. Other good questions would explore how he has lived the Scout Oath and Scout Law in his home, unit, school and community. The Troop Committee Guidebook, No. 34505, has examples of appropriate questions.

DOES THE SCOUT HAVE TO APPEAR IN UNIFORM? Full field uniform is preferred. However, if appearing in uniform is impractical, the candidate should be clean and neat in his appearance.

HOW DOES THE BOARD MAKE ITS DECISION? Typically, the board will ask the candidate to leave the room at the end of the meeting while they discuss his responses. It is appropriate to call the candidate back if additional questions may provide clarification. After discussion, the board takes a formal or informal vote. The board must agree unanimously. To approve awarding a rank or Palm, the board must agree unanimously.

WHAT ABOUT APPEALS? The Guide to Advancement (No. 33088) outlines the process by which a Scout or his parent or guardian may appeal the decision of the board of review. Only adverse decisions for Star, Life and Eagle may be appealed. The local council handles Star and Life appeals; the National Council handles Eagle.

HOW DO EAGLE BOARDS DIFFER? In addition to the slight differences noted here, the council advancement committee determines whether Eagle boards are held at the unit, district or council level. (If held at the unit level, at least one district or council representative must serve on the board.) Also, an Eagle board may not be held until after the council has verified the candidate’s application with the local council service center.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, see the 2013 Guide to Advancement (No. 33088), which is available online at bit.ly/guidetoadvancement.

A board of review should gauge the quality of a Scout’s troop experience and encourage future advancement, not ask him to pass rank requirements — again.

In the classic Disney movie Follow Me Boys, Fred MacMurray plays a small-town Scoutmaster. When his troop gets caught up in a war game, MacMurray becomes a POW. To prove he really is a Scoutmaster, not an enemy spy, MacMurray is challenged to tie a sheepshank — the one knot he’s never mastered.

Unfortunately, that comic scene is repeated in not-so-comic ways each time a board of review member tosses a rope on a table and asks a Scout to tie a knot. In these moments, the board of review becomes a board of retesting, and the troop misses out on an opportunity to grow along with the Scout.

According to The Scoutmaster Handbook, the purpose of the board of review is “not to retest a Scout, but rather to ensure that he has completed all of the requirements, to determine the quality of his troop experience, and to encourage him to advance toward the next rank. Each review should also include a discussion of ways in which the Scout sees himself living up to the Scout Oath and Law in his everyday life.”

Now let’s take a moment to look at each of those elements.

Checking requirements

By the time a Scout reaches the board of review, he has completed all of the requirements for his next rank (including the Scoutmaster conference). All the board needs to do is make sure that nothing has been overlooked.

Board members can use this records check as an opportunity to learn more about the boy’s experience in Scouting, according to Dan DiBiase, committee chairman for Troop 888 in Dayton, N.J.

“We’ll talk to him about some of the merit badges: What was the most difficult one? What was the simplest one? Why?” DiBiase says.

Boards focus on different topics depending on the rank in question. “Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class are primarily concerned with requirements and Scout skills,” DiBiase says. “As they get older, you’re doing less of that and talking more about leadership.”

Board sessions also get longer as Scouts advance in rank. A Tenderfoot board should take about 15 minutes, while an Eagle board might last 30 minutes or more.

Review experiences

Next comes what DiBiase considers the most important aspect of the board of review: assessing the quality of the Scout’s experience in the troop.

“I like to ask, ‘If you were Scoutmaster for a day, what one thing would you change about the troop?’” he says. Since the board consists of troop committee members — not assistant Scoutmasters — Scouts are often more willing to speak openly.

Taking action on any problems is essential, according to Barry Bingham, a Life-to-Eagle coordinator with Troop 677 in Ellisville, Mo. “Sometimes the troop meetings get called out as an issue, and we’ll jump on that,” Bingham says.

DiBiase notes that the key is to make sure any feedback (positive or negative) represents the views of most Scouts.

“We try to look at trends,” he says. “You could have three Scouts say A, and a fourth Scout say not A but B.”

Encourage advancement

Every board of review should point toward the next rank. At a First Class board, it’s helpful to talk about positions of responsibility and merit badges, which are key requirements for Star. At a Life board, potential Eagle Scout service projects are an ideal topic.

The board can also discuss other Scouting opportunities. Bingham’s troop promotes its Venturing crew at boards of review.

“As a Scout gets to his 14th birthday, he is clearly aware of that Venturing crew and what it is doing,” Bingham says.

Discuss everyday life

Much like the Scoutmaster conference, the board of review is a great chance to draw connections between Scouting and everyday life.

“There are a million and eight things you can talk about that have nothing to do with Scouting,” DiBiase says. “It’s important that you get to know the boys a little bit — not just the Scouting stuff.”

Recruit board members

While it might seem hard to recruit nonuniformed adults to serve on boards of review, Bingham’s troop finds them simply by being observant.

“When adults are standing around, that’s a clue to put them to work,” he says. “A great way to put them to work is to send them to where the boards are meeting.”

Since board members don’t need to know a lot about Scouting, on-the-job training is often sufficient for new volunteers. DiBiase does encourage all his troop committee members to complete the Troop Committee Challenge (available through the Online Learning Center at www.scouting.org). He also has occasionally distributed sets of suggested board of review questions.

In the end, however, the board of review is not about the questions. It’s about the Scout and his growth through Scouting’s advancement program — sheepshanks notwithstanding.

Mark Ray is a former professional Scouter and the author of The Scoutmaster’s Other Handbook.