2008 Rank Requirement Changes Info

[Nuts4Scouts]

BSA has added the new rank requirements to their Boy Scout Advancements page. They give some info on what to do to meet the requirements also, not just a listing of the requirements.

http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/resou ... anges.html

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[bluenote]

Thanks for the info link!

[spl08]

yes thank you for the link!

so does this mean my little brother will have to fulfill these new requirements before he becomes a Tenderfoot even though he joined before they were but into being?

[PaulSWolf]

I've updated the US Scouting Service Project pages with ALL of the changes (Rank, Merit Badge, and other) in Boy Scout Requirements 2008

The details can be found at http://usscouts.org/advance/changes/advchanges08.asp

Changes to ranks:
Tenderfoot, Second Class, & First Class
Eagle - Not listed on the cover, but in Req. 4, 3 positions were added for Venturing (Quartermaster, Historian, & Guide.)

Venturing Quartermaster, Historian, & Guide were NOT added to Star Req. 5 - probably an editorial error. Conversely, Varsity Team Historian IS and has been previously) listed in Star requirement 5, but is still not in Eagle requirement 4, even though Troop Historian and Crew Historian are listed.

Also, I found a change in Requirement 2 that was actually made in 2005, but not previously noticed (adding the "references" requirement).

Alt Req. for Eagle - They finally deleted this: "The candidate must complete as many of the requirements of the required merit badges as his ability permits."

Merit Badges - Backpacking (minor), First Aid, Hiking (minor), Metalwork, Sculpture, Water Sports (REPLACED Waterskiing), and Wilderness Survival

The changes to Graphic Arts that appeared in the 2006 Graphic Arts pamphlet are again not listed in the book.

Other:
Leave No Trace Achievement Award (Renamed from "Awareness" award)

The listing of the most recent edition of the merit badge pamphlets on the inside back cover has this error:
Horsemanship - 2004 should say 2003

The USSSP also has a complete set of worksheets that are up to date, at: http://usscouts.org/mb/worksheets/list.asp

[WeeWillie]

If a Scout can continue working on his next rank under the old requirements and continue on with the new requirements

[PaulSWolf]

Weewillie wrote:

If a Scout can continue working on his next rank under the old requirements and continue on with the new requirements

Your comment was a bit unclear. If you meant, "Can a Scout continue working on his next rank under the old requirements?", the answer is NO. If you meant, "Can a Scout continue working on his next rank using what he did so far under the old requirements, and finish using the new requirements?", the answer is YES. Anything he did so far should count, since the only real substantial changes were the new Youth Protection requirements. Everything else was just just editorial.

Requirements changes for RANKS are immediate. A Scout wishing to advance to the next rank today must meet the current requirements, even if they've been working on the old ones. So A Scout today wishing to advance to Tenderfoot, Second Class, or First Class MUST meet the new Youth Protection requirements for those ranks.

Requirements changes for MERIT BADGES work differently. A Scout STARTING a merit badge must use the current requirements. Scouts FINISHING a merit badge they started using the old requirements can finish with those requirements.

[twilightann]

thanks for all the hard work on getting these updates done!

[adv_385]

I'm a little confused here. When the 2006 change to the First Class requirements was announced, Scouts already working on the rank didn't have to meet the change unless they didn't finish the rank in the first half of the year. With the 2008 changes, it appears that it is a requirement for all Scouts working on any of the affected ranks, regardless of when they "started". Is that the case? Does this mean that, for example, Tenderfoot candidates with requirement 9 already signed off must now "describe what a bully is..." and get the requirement re-signed? Is it just for those who don't have #9 completed, yielding different requirements for Scouts receiving the same badge at the same Court of Honor? I know the Tenderfoot question is a minor point, but I'm just a little...confused.

[evmori]

I'm a little confused here. When the 2006 change to the First Class requirements was announced, Scouts already working on the rank didn't have to meet the change unless they didn't finish the rank in the first half of the year. With the 2008 changes, it appears that it is a requirement for all Scouts working on any of the affected ranks, regardless of when they "started". Is that the case? Does this mean that, for example, Tenderfoot candidates with requirement 9 already signed off must now "describe what a bully is..." and get the requirement re-signed? Is it just for those who don't have #9 completed, yielding different requirements for Scouts receiving the same badge at the same Court of Honor? I know the Tenderfoot question is a minor point, but I'm just a little...confused.

These changes take effect immediately which is different from the last changes.

[pipestone1991]

I'm a little confused here. When the 2006 change to the First Class requirements was announced, Scouts already working on the rank didn't have to meet the change unless they didn't finish the rank in the first half of the year. With the 2008 changes, it appears that it is a requirement for all Scouts working on any of the affected ranks, regardless of when they "started". Is that the case? Does this mean that, for example, Tenderfoot candidates with requirement 9 already signed off must now "describe what a bully is..." and get the requirement re-signed? Is it just for those who don't have #9 completed, yielding different requirements for Scouts receiving the same badge at the same Court of Honor? I know the Tenderfoot question is a minor point, but I'm just a little...confused.

These changes take effect immediately which is different from the last changes.

That's interesting. Historically National has always given a cut-off date (70s Eagle with 24 mbs, 06 1st class).

[RWSmith]

Unless otherwise specified -by National- at the time of their release, Rank changes become effective immediately.

Also, just FYI... these changes are now available on MeritBadge.Org.

[smtroop168]

IMHO....The new requirements are not onerous and can be covered for the entire troop at one time. For a Scout who has "everything finished" except their SM conference/BOR, the new requirements could be covered then.

I think the 2006 1st class change was phased in since it required a scout to try to recruit a new scout. The 2008 changes are discussion items.