Advancement and recognition in the Boy Scouts of America

The advancement program for Scouts BSA (formerly known as Boy Scouting) has two phases. The first phase of Scout to First Class is designed to teach the Scoutcraft skills, how to participate in a group and to learn self-reliance. Scout is the joining rank, and is awarded when the Scout demonstrates a rudimentary knowledge of the Scouting ideals.[5] Tenderfoot,[6] Second Class[7] and First Class[8] have progressively harder requirements in the areas of Scoutcraft, physical fitness, citizenship, personal growth and Scout Spirit.

Focus turns toward individual achievement, leadership and community service once First Class is earned. The ranks of Star,[9] Life[10] and Eagle[11] require a set number of merit badges (minimum of 21 for Eagle Scout, with 13 from a compulsory list), as well as a minimum of time spent in a troop leadership position, and community service requirements, among other things. The rank of Eagle Scout requires the Scout plan, develop and lead their own service project that benefits their community or an organization other than Scouting. In 2010, the Life Scout rank added a specific teaching requirement, where a Star-rank Scout must teach a younger Scout certain requirements for one of the early ranks.

Several religious emblems programs are administered by various religious institutions and recognized by the BSA. These are generally recognized by a medal and an embroidered square knot. Many other advancement and recognitions—such as the 50-Miler Award, BSA Aquatics Awards, Outdoor Ethics Awards, Crime Prevention Award, Emergency Preparedness Award and World Conservation Award —are available to Scouts who show performance in special areas.

Scouts may earn the Den Chief Service Award for their service as a Cub Scout Den Chief.[12]

There are also several positions of responsibility within each troop, which is usually divided into patrols, with patrol leaders and assistant patrol leaders. The troop itself has a senior patrol leader as its youth leader, along with an assistant senior patrol leader, and several other positions of responsibility, such as scribe, quartermaster, librarian, instructor, historian and chaplain's aide. Holding some sort of responsibility in the troop is a requirement for higher advancement ranks.

The Order of the Arrow (OA) is a program of the Boy Scout division of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). It is the BSA's national honor society for experienced campers, based on American Indian traditions, and dedicated to the ideal of cheerful service.

Awards are separate and distinct from the membership levels of Ordeal and Brotherhood. Awards available through the Order of the Arrow include: Vigil Honor, Founder's Award, Distinguished Service Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Red Arrow Award, E. Urner Goodman Camping Award, E. Urner Goodman, Scholarship Fund, National Service Award. Scholastic awards are also available to Arrowmen to aid in education expenses.[13]

A Bronze Award[15] may be earned for each category of arts and hobbies, outdoor, community and religious life, sea Scouting and sports. After earning at least one Bronze Award and meeting tenure, leadership, personal growth and other requirements the Venturer may earn the Gold Award.[16] To earn the Silver Award,[17] the Venturer must earn the Gold Award, earn first aid and CPR certifications, show leadership and participate in ethics training.

Venturers may also earn expert awards that build on some areas of the Bronze Awards. These include the Venturing Ranger Award[18] (Outdoors); the TRUST Award[19] (Community and Religious Life); the Quest Award[20] (Sports); and the Quartermaster Award[21] (Sea Scouting).

Male members under the age of 18 may also earn Merit Badges and the Star, Life, and Eagle Scout ranks from the Boy Scouting program if they have earned at least First Class rank in a Boy Scout troop or Varsity Scout team.

Both youth and adults are eligible for the Venturing Leadership Award. There are three levels of these awards: council (for those at the crew, district, and/or council levels), region (for those at the area or region levels) and National. A limited number of these awards are presented on an annual basis to those involved in Venturing who have made exceptional contributions to Venturing at their particular level and who exemplify the Venturing Code. These awards are similar in scope to the Silver Beaver Award, Silver Antelope Award, and Silver Buffalo Award.

Cub Scout leaders who complete training, tenure, and performance requirements are recognized by a system of awards. The Cub Scout Den Leader Training Award is available for Den Leaders, the Scouter's Training Award is for any registered Cub Scout leader, and the Scouter's Key is for Cubmasters. These awards are recognized by a certificate and an embroidered square knot insignia with the appropriate square knot device pin (indicates program or rank for which the award was earned).

Boy Scout adult leaders who complete training, tenure, and performance requirements are recognized by a system of awards. The Boy Scout Leader's Training Award is available to any leader, while the Scoutmaster's Key and the Scoutmaster Award of Merit are only available to the Scoutmaster.

The Boy Scouts of America ended the Varsity Scouting program, effective January 1, 2018.

Adult Varsity leaders were able to earn the Varsity Letter and activity pins. They met the same requirements as the youth and also had to complete Fast Start and Basic Leader Training (New Leader Essentials and Varsity Coach Leader Specific Training), attend six Varsity Roundtables, and complete a minimum of six months tenure.

Varsity Scout leaders who completed tenure, training and performance requirements were able to earn the Varsity Scout Leader Training Award. Varsity Coaches were able to earn the Varsity Coach's Key and the National President's Varsity Scout Coach Award of Merit.

Venturing adult leaders who complete training, tenure, and performance requirements are recognized by a system of awards. The Venturing Leader's Training Award[26] is available to any leader, while the Venturing Advisor's Key[27] and Venturing Advisor Award of Merit[28] are only available to the Advisor.

Sea Scout adult leaders who complete training, tenure, and performance requirements are recognized by a system of awards. The Sea Scout Leader's Training Award (part of the Scouter's Training Award series) is available to any leader, while the Skipper's Key is only available to Skippers. Seabadge is an advanced leadership program for all Sea Scout leaders. Seabadge can be worn as a pin or a knot with a single trident. Unofficial knots with multiple tridents are sometimes worn to represent a staff member or course director.

Sea Scout adult leaders may also wear the SEAL pin if they, earned it as a youth, served as course director, or served as a course director's mate.

Sea Scout adult leaders may also receive the Venturing Leadership Award

Commissioners who complete training, tenure, and performance requirements are recognized by a system of awards. The Arrowhead Honor is for commissioners who exhibit quality performance and leadership. The Roundtable Staff Training Award (part of the Scouter's Training Award series) is available to Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout and Venturing roundtable staff. The Commissioner's Key (part of the Scouter's Key series) is available for roundtable commissioners, district commissioner, assistant district commissioners, unit commissioners, council commissioners and assistant council commissioners. The Distinguished Commissioner Service Award recognizes commissioners who provide quality service over a period of at least five years.

The Scouter's Training Award is a set of recognitions for leaders who complete tenure, training and performance requirements.

• Cub Scout Leader's Training Award for the Cubmaster, Den Leaders, pack committee chairman and pack committee members
• Boy Scout Leader's Training Award for the Scoutmaster, assistant Scoutmasters, troop committee chairman and troop committee members
• Venturing Leader's Training Award for the Advisor, associate Advisors, crew committee chairman and crew committee members
• Sea Scout Leader's Training Award for the Skipper, mates, ship committee chairman and ship committee members
• Roundtable Staff Training Award for the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout and Venturing roundtable staff
• Professional Scouter Training Award

The Scouter's Key is a set of recognitions for primary unit leaders who complete advanced tenure, training and performance requirements.

• Cubmaster's Key
• Scoutmaster's Key
• Venturing Advisor's Key
• Commissioner's Key for roundtable commissioners, district commissioner, assistant district commissioners, unit commissioners, council commissioners and assistant council commissioner
• District Committee's Key for the district committee chairman and members

The Unit Leader Award of Merit is for Cubmasters, Scoutmasters, Venturing Crew Advisors, and Sea Scout Skippers who meet 7 requirements for tenure, personal training, unit quality and youth training.

• Cubmaster Award of Merit
• Scoutmaster Award of Merit
• Venturing Crew Advisor Award of Merit
• Sea Scout Skipper Award of Merit

• Powderhorn
• Wood Badge
• Sea Badge

Distinguished service awards are presented at various levels to recognize noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth.

• District Award of Merit – district level
• Silver Beaver Award – council level
• Silver Antelope Award – regional level
• Silver Buffalo Award – national level
• Silver World Award – international level
• National Eagle Scout Association Outstanding Eagle Scout Award – council to regional level
• Distinguished Eagle Scout Award – national level

• International Scouter's Award[29]
• Community Organization Award[30]
  • AFL–CIO George Meany Award (is also part of this category, but retains the use of its original square knot)[30]
  • Alpha Phi Omega Herbert G. Horton Service to Youth Award[31]
  • American Legion Scouting Square Knot Award [32]
  • Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) Marvin M. Lewis Award [33]
  • International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians (IFSR) Cliff Dochterman Award, (Rotary[34])
  • Masonic Daniel Carter Beard Scouter Award, (Masons[35])
  • National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Robert E. Burt Boy Scout Volunteer Award,[36]
  • Ruritan National Service Clubs Scout Leader Community Service Award,[37]
  • United States Power Squadrons Raymond A. Finley, Jr. Sea Scout Service Award,[38]
  • VFW Scouter's Achievement Award,[39]
  • United States Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, U.S. DoD[40]

Whitney Young Service Award

Named after Whitney M Young Jr., and recognizes outstanding services by an adult individual or an organization for demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for youth from rural or low-income urban backgrounds.

¡Scouting ... Vale la pena! Service Award

Recognizes outstanding services by an adult individual or an organization for demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for Hispanic American/Latino youth.

Asian American Spirit of Scouting Service Award

Recognizes outstanding services by an adult individual or an organization for demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for Asian American youth.

Dr. Frank 'Tick' Coleman National Service Award

A National Service Award for full-time paraprofessional Scouters working in Scoutreach given every other year, named in honor of Dr. Frank "Tick" Coleman.[41] Dr. Coleman was highly involved in ScoutReach.

• James E West Fellowship Award
  • 1910 Society
    • Ernest Thompson Seton, Daniel Carter Beard, Theodore Roosevelt and Waite Phillips levels
  • Founder's Circle
    • Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels
• William D. Boyce New-Unit Organizer Award

Adult leaders display their awards on their uniform through a system of square knots above the left uniform pocket, much as a member of the military would with their ribbons.[42]