Boards of Review
A Board of Review is a final step to rank advancement Tenderfoot through Eagle Scout. Think of these Boards of Review as a time to reflect on what the Scout has learned and how the Scout is coming on their journey. The Scoutmaster conference serves as a wonderful mentoring opportunity, and Boards of Review offer an extension of that experience along with a lot of self reflection, which allows a Scout to have significant “Aha moments” of self discovery where Scouts can begin to see the trail in front of them and decide which path is best for them to take. Possibly, one of the best features of a Board of Review is allowing a safe environment for a Scout to be intimidated and nervous in. Many parents of new Scouts can find the process of a 12-17 year old sitting down in front of a group of 3-5 adults extremely overwhelming for a young person. However, if you talk to those same Scouts as they start to interview for jobs in their late teens and twenties, they are likely to feel less stress than similarly aged peers in the interview. These amazing young people have been raised in a system where having a table full of “superiors” sit across from you is normal, and at that point many were familiar faces so it kept the experience from being too intense. What a Board of Review should NOT be is a reassessment of skills. The Guide to Advancement states that advancement is a four step process in the BSA: Learn, Test, Review, and Recognize. A Scout that comes for a Board of Review is past the testing step so don’t ask them to tie a taught line hitch for you, but maybe ask it of when they have used one? Or what they found to be the most challenging parts of learning to tie it and what that taught them about themselves.
Conducting a Board of Review
Most adults would admit to nervousness if told they were to appear before a “board of review.” Imagine how a Scout must feel. A certain level of formality and meaningful questioning should exist, but it is important that the atmosphere be relaxed and that the review is conducted with the Scout Law in mind. It may help if the unit leader introduces the candidate, and if a few minutes are spent getting acquainted.
Wearing the Uniform—or Neat in Appearance
It is preferred for a Scout to be in full field uniform for any board of review. As much of the uniform as the Scout owns should be worn, and it should be as correct as possible, with the badges worn properly. It may be the uniform as typically worn by the Scout’s troop, crew, or ship. If wearing all or part of the uniform is impractical for whatever reason, the candidate should be clean and neat in appearance and dressed appropriately, according to the Scout’s means, for the milestone marked by the occasion. Regardless of unit, district, or council expectations or rules, boards of review shall not reject candidates solely for reasons related to uniforming or attire, as long as they are dressed to the above description. Candidates shall not be required to purchase uniforming or clothing to participate in a board of review.
Not a Retest or “Examination”
Though one reason for a board of review is to help ensure the Scout did what was supposed to have been done to meet the requirements, it shall become neither a retest, or “examination,” nor a challenge of the Scout’s knowledge. In most cases, it should, instead, be a celebration of accomplishment. Remember, it is more about the journey. A badge recognizes what a Scout has done toward achieving the primary goal of personal growth. It is thus more about the learning experience than it is about the specific skills learned.
A Scout must not be rejected at a board of review for reasons unrelated to advancement requirements. For example, the Scout must not be rejected for not bringing a Scouts BSA Handbook or being tardy for a board of review, but the reason for the tardiness may certainly be a topic for discussion.
What Should Be Discussed
During the review, board members may refer to the Scouts BSA Handbook, Scouts BSA Requirements book, Troop Leader Guidebook, Guide to Advancement, and other such references. The Troop Committee Guidebook has examples of appropriate questions. Board members may ask where skills were learned by the Scout, who the Scout’s teachers were, and what was gained from fulfilling selected requirements. The answers will reveal what was done to earn the rank. It can be determined, then, if this was what the Scout was supposed to do. Discussion of how the Scout has lived the Scout Oath and Scout Law at home, at school, in the unit, and in the community should be included. We must remember, however, that though we have high expectations for our members, as for ourselves, we do not insist on perfection.
A positive attitude is most important, and that a youth accepts Scouting’s ideals and sets and meets good standards in daily life.
Boards of Review and Unit Health
Periodic reviews of members’ progress can provide a measure of unit effectiveness. A unit might uncover ways to increase the educational value of its outings, or how to strengthen administration of national advancement procedures. For example, if it is discovered troop leaders are not ensuring that all requirements have been met before Scouts present themselves for the board of review, then process improvements can be recommended. A board can also help by considering the style of leadership best suited to current circumstances and ways to adjust it to different needs. Note that boards of review may also be held for Scouts who are not advancing. Much can be learned from them, as well.
Tenderfoot through First Class Boards of Review
The Tenderfoot through First Class boards of review are ways of getting to know the Scout better, reviewing their progress in achievements, and discussing how the Scout felt about the various steps taken on the Scouting trail, including individual achievements. This should not be a time of retesting, but rather a time to reflect on the skills learned and how the Scout has absorbed the ideals of Scouting.
Questions here will naturally deal with a certain campout, or the difficult time the Scout had with knots. But it may deal as well with how the Scout is getting along with certain other Scouts or how they exhibit Scouting ideals outside the troop.
Other aspects of the board of review should never take a back seat. This is the time to ask the Scout how they feel about the troop program, whether they feel they are learning anything, and whether the Scout is having fun. It is also a time to assess Scout spirit and how the Scout is absorbing Scouting’s Ideals.
Remember that if you ask the same question (“What does ‘loyal’ mean to you?”) at successive boards of review for ever higher ranks, you should expect ever more sophisticated answers.
Life through Eagle Boards of Review
The Star and Life boards of review will be a bit longer than previous ones. The Scout will have acquired many more skills and will evidence more maturity. Leadership will be one of the significant topics to be discussed. Each of these ranks involves service projects, and you should ask the Scout their thoughts about the projects.
As before, you will also be evaluating Scout spirit. Certainly, by this time, you will have reached certain conclusions about the Scout, but remember that at these ages, the Scout will be able to change fundamentally much quicker than you would imagine and the board of review may be an occasion for you to reevaluate the candidate.
An Eagle board of review is by far the most intensive board a Scout will ever be a part of. The questions here are likely to be heavily centered on the Eagle Scout project and what they learned from the planning and conducting of it. There are also likely to include questions related to a holistic view of the candidate’s Scouting experience.
End of the Board of Review
If the members agree a Scout is ready to advance, the Scout is called in and congratulated. The board of review date—not that of a subsequent court of honor—becomes the rank’s effective date.
If a board does not approve, the candidate must be so informed and told what can be done to improve. Most Scouts accept responsibility for their behavior or for not completing requirements properly.
If it is thought that a Scout, before his or her 18th birthday, can benefit from an opportunity to properly complete the requirements, the board may adjourn and reconvene at a later date. If the candidate agrees to this, then if possible, the same members should reassemble. If the candidate does not agree, then the board must make its decision at that point. In any case, a follow-up letter must be promptly sent to a Scout who is turned down. A copy of the letter should also be sent to the council’s designated appeals coordinator. The letter must include actions advised that may lead to advancement, and also an explanation of appeal procedures. The council must keep a copy of the letter.