What is a board of review?
The board of review occurs after a Scout has had his Scoutmaster conference. It is the last step towards earning a rank advancement. A board of review consists of at least three and no more than six registered adults who are not the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmasters.
Adults who serve on boards of review must be registered members of Troop 567 and have completed and turned in Youth Protection Training.
Purpose of a board of review:
The purpose of the board of review is not to retest a Scout’s skills, 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.
How to meet the purpose of a board of review:
• ensure that all requirements for the rank have been signed off in the Boy Scout Handbook
• ensure that leadership and merit badge records fulfill the requirements of the completed rank
• have a conversation with the Scout about his scouting and life experiences
What the board can do to help a Scout during the review:
• make every effort to put the Scout at ease
• smile and create a friendly and non-threatening atmosphere
• offer praise for work already accomplished
• offer encouragement for the work that will need to be done to advance to the next rank
• it is okay to give a Scout a chance to repeat the Oath, Law, Motto or Slogan if he makes a mistake in reciting it. Some boys may be nervous enough that if it helps, he may privately recite the Oath, Law, Motto and Slogan to an individual on the Board of Review before continuing the Board of Review with the full board.
• ask the Scout to consider or prepare a plan for how they will progress to the next rank
• consider providing guidance on when the Scout should request his next Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review.
The decision of the board of review:
Upon completion of the board’s conversation with and questioning of the Scout, the Scout will leave the room while the board discusses whether or not to advance the scout to the next rank. The decision of the board must be unanimous; if the board cannot reach an unanimous decision, the board needs to immediately contact the Advancement Coordinator, He/she will discuss it with the Committee Chair who will make a final decision.
Can a board of review decline to advance a Scout?
If the board is hesitant to advance a Scout at the moment, it may give the Scout a few minutes to correct the deficiency. If this does not solve the issue, then the board of review can be suspended and reconvened in the near future when the shortfall has been corrected. Upon suspending the board of review, the board must detail the precise nature of the deficiency(ies) and the Scout told specifically what must be done in order to be successful at the next board of review. Afterwards, someone on the board of review must notify the Advancement Coordinator (he/she will discuss w. Scoutmaster and the Committee Chair) regarding the deficiency(ies) and the course of action needed to correct them. In addition, the Scout’s parents need to be told about the delay, especially if the Scout is younger.
Examples of why a board of review may be suspended:
• Scout is not in uniform
• Scout’s uniform is not up-to-date and complete
• Scout does not have his Boy Scout Handbook
• Scout has not memorized the Scout Oath and Scout Law
• Requirement(s) have not been signed off in the Boy Scout Handbook
• Scout treats the board of review frivolously or is not prepared to answer even the most basic questions asked.
Note: In keeping with the Boy Scouts of America objective of encouraging our Scouts, the board of review does not “fail” scouts. Rather, the board of review points out what needs attention or to be fixed and then suggests a date when the Scout and board of review should reconvene (usually the next troop meeting).
Another note: Boards of review may never stipulate requirements that are different from or go beyond the stated requirements made by the BSA in the Boy Scout Handbook. For example, a boy does not need to be a certain age or to fulfill a specific leadership position. If a board member holds opinions beyond the fulfillment of BSA rank requirements, those opinions should not be expressed during the board of review.