MB Name Change - Can Both Be Earned

[Scouting179]

Atomic Energy is being renamed to Nuclear Science with a couple requirement changes. Does anyone know where it says IN WRITING that if a Scout earned Atomic Energy, can he then earn Nuclear Science and count that as having earned two MBs? Is he eligible to earn NS if he already has AE? If he earns both, does it count as one or two MBs? If this isn't in writing anywhere, what is policy? If this is in the Adv Manual, I missed it.

[RWSmith]

I could be wrong (for not actually looking it up) but, if the MB Badge ID Number remains the same, no. Otherwise, yes. (E.g., The MBID# for Animal Husbandry was 018; Animal Science is also 018... I could only choose one.)

[wagionvigil]

That is what I got when I looked it up is that if the number stays the same then you cannot retake the MB. But if they assign a new number to it then both would count.

[ICanCanoeCanU]

But I believe you can turn in a new blue card and receive/wear both patches even though on your record you will have only earned 1 badge.

[Scouting179]

I've been told outside of the forum that indeed, what matters is if the MB number changes. I'm not sure if you can wear both patches, though. Thanks for the help.

[Chief J]

I agree, if number changes, then you can only earn 1 badge.

I also do not think you can wear more than 1 patch for the badge. Especially given that "some of the requirments are changing"

-Chief J

[Scouting179]

I agree, if number changes, then you can only earn 1 badge.


-Chief J

I think you mistyped this and meant to say something like "...if the number DOESN'T change, then you can only earn 1 badge".

Please let me know if I'm mistaken.

[ICanCanoeCanU]

But I think if the requirements have changed and a scout previously earned the badge with one name and now does the work for the new badge including the new/changed requirements, then they have now earned the new badge and can wear both patches on their sash.

Good question though

[wagionvigil]

They copuld wear the badge BUT it would count for nothing.It would be done just to say I have it but cannot count in any MB totals. If you have 10 MB counting the new one in reality you only have 9.

[RWSmith]

Any change in appearance, name, or even requirements of the MB are irrelevant; the only factor is the MBID number. If the MBID number changes, then both MBs may be earned. If the MBID number does not chance, then it will remain the same MB, regardless of any requirements, appearance, or name changing. (You cannot submit a second Blue Card for a modified MB if it mataches a MBID you've already earned. You cannot wear two different looking MB patches that represent same MBID, whether you completed both sets of requirements, or not.)

If the National Committee determines the requirements changed significantly, they will change the MBID. If the committee decides the changes were not siginificant, they will not change the MBID. This is not just a critical factor, it's the only factor in determining the actual number of MBs earned by any Scout. And when he goes for Eagle, if he only has the minimum, it bite him like a snake.

I started on the Animal Husbandry MB, which was then rendered obsolete and replaced with the Animal Science MB. The requirements changed; the patch remained the same; the MBID remained the same. However, since I had already begun the Animal Husbandry MB, I retained the right to complete the old set of requirements (or turn 18, which ever came first), and thus earned the MB after it had become obsolete.

[Chief J]

I apologize, you are correct. If the number does not change, then you can only earn 1 badge.

Sorry for the mispeak. Thanks for the catch Scouting 179.

Chief J