SPG

We recently had a parent who's YPT was not showing up in troop records. Apparently he had three member numbers, one was associated with the troop, one was his old cub unit, and one was from when he was a youth. We got them all merged and the issue is sorted out but it got me thinking... How far back do the Scouts BSA member numbers go? For example, might my old member number from the 1980s be in the computer system? If so, is there any value in mreging it with my account?

If you can provide a reference to BSA documentation supporting this definition, then I will gladly pass it on to the leaders in our unit. However, I will refrain from enforcing any such a rule as I believe that would go against the intent of the uniform. Per the insignia guide, the uniform is intended to be a medium to display "what each youth or adult member has accomplished with program opportunities...". I fully encourage scouts/leaders to wear a complete uniform, but I would much rather a scout/scouter wear a 90% correct unform than get hung up on such details and discourage them in the process. I tend to apply Mark's statement that "No Scout is turned away or publicly admonished because he or she isn’t wearing the right thing." Without evidence to the contrary, I assume the term "non-uniform wear" allows such pin/awards be worn without a uniform, essentially overriding the following rule. "It is the responsibility of all leaders of the Boy Scouts of America and especially of all commissioned officers and chartered councils to cooperate with the Boy Scouts of America in preventing the use of the official uniforms by those who are not registered and in good standing." Finally, there are a number of items that are allowed to be worn on the uniform that are not explicitly approved in the insignia guide. I see no difference with the mentor pins. Here are just a few examples: Wood Badge beads. They are explicitly allowed to be worn on the Sea Scout Uniform (which is typically cleaner than other uniforms) but no mention is made of them for other uniforms. Belt fob and camping beads. These are sold by the scout shop and are worn by many troops but are not mentioned anywhere in the insignia guide. Several lodges have pocket patch sets that cover the entire pocket instead of just the pocket flap (as approved by insignia guide). The insignia guide outlines that "all members" are to wear nameplates with white text on black plastic. No other reference to nameplates or nametags is made. However, commissioners wear red nameplates, the scout shop also sells leather nametags, and many wood badgers I know wear wooden laser cut nametags. Not to mention the countless scouts/leaders that do not wear nameplates. In summary, a lot is left up to interpretation. I have no issue if someone wears something that they earned and supports scouting ideals.

If a scouter earns any form of recognition, I will leave it up to them if they want to wear it. I understand some scouters think they cannot be worn but I respectfully disagree. I have found nothing in the insignia guide that prohibits it. It does state that mentor pins are "non-uniform wear" which I interpret as being approved to be worn without the uniform since some recipients are not scouters. Also, it does state that "Medals awarded by other associations are worn above the left breast pocket". I take that as approval to wear pins/medals awarded by anyone that does not represent the BSA. If someone were to tell any scout or scouter that they cannot wear an award they are proud of with their uniform, then I would remind the scout/scouter that unforms are not mandatory and they are always free to wear the award instead of the uniform.

I have been to several Eagle COHs at our troop and others and one thing that I have seen done at others but not ours is the distribution of Eagle Mentor pins. I am not sure why the scouts from our troop did not hand them out (i.e. oversight or if its just not a priority for our troop). I personally plan to change that. I think those pins would be much more meaningful to our adults than a knot. Most of our adults are happy flying under the radar. I personally don't have any either. I am pretty sure I got AOL but I honestly cannot remember and since that is the one award that national does not track, I can't check. I would rather have earned it and not wear it than wear it without having earned it. I did stay in scouts until the Blue and Gold but our den leader was very strict and I could have easily been denied because of something silly. And like most adults, I never bothered applying for any awards. However, our committee would like our adults to get awards to set an example for the scouts. I can respect that.

When I go to any district/council/national event I see a ton of knotted up leaders. Our troop is a different story. Several families have been very involved ever since cub scouts but have never nominated at either the pack or troop level. I am trying to find a comprehensive list of awards so we can nominate some adults. The scouting.org page seems a bit anemic. Does a complete list exist anywhere? It seems like the Scouters Trained award is the only award our adults can earn unless they write a big check or rescue people from a burning building. I do see several position specific awards for SM's/district/council people, but nothing for committee chair, committee members, assistant scout masters, etc.

I am our troop's advancement chair. I just logged onto my.scouting.org and checked the "registrations" section of my profile. I have two "Registered Positions": Merit Badge Counselor and Committee Member. I also have one "Functional Position": Unit Advancement Chair. That pretty much confirms things. Other than being a counselor, an adult leader is only allowed to have one registered position, however we may have multiple functional positions. Since Unit Advancement Chair shows up as a functional position, that means any adult leader can hold that role.

I know I am late to the party but I had the same question as the original poster and I wanted to share my findings for those that happen to find this thread. I am certain that an ASM can handle most/all advancement related duties, and I am pretty sure that ASM can be the Advancement Chair. This conclusion is based on the subtle wording in the following publications: The Troop Committee Handbook lists "Advancement Coordinator" as a committee position. The Troop Leader Guidebook indicates... It also indicates that a troop may have an "Assistant Scoutmaster for Advancement". Whenever referring to a committee position, the term Advancement Coordinator is always used. No reference is made to the role of the Unit Advancement Chair. Finally the Registration Guidebook indicates... It is my interpretation that Unit Advancement Chair is a role that could be held by either a committee Advancement Coordinator or an Assistant Scoutmaster for Advancement. All the talk of oversight seems odd to me, because a scout earns their rank immediately upon completion of the BOR, and earns the merit badge immediately upon completion of the blue card. The Unit Advancement Chair has no say in the matter and just records the event. However, if a troop wanted oversight, an ASM could do most/all of the work and then have a MC review all advancement prior to a COH.