Late Scout Entry & how to By pass waiting period?

[piccillogoku]

I'm new to the scouting program. I've only just begun about 3 months after my 16th birthday. There are different transitions I have been going through personally. I was able to obtain my First class rank in the span of 3 months and 7 merit badges including 5 required for eagle. I now am working on my requirements for Star and I have completed all of them with the exception of the 4 month period in which I'm suppose to wait. I gained my first class rank on Feb. 1 2005, and my birthday is 3 months and 5 days from that time. In order for me to gain my Eagle rank I need to complete bothe the Life and Eagle requirements in a one year period. I am one month off. I am confident that I can complete all those requirements with time to spare including my EAgle scout project. Is there a way past the Time control? I am exceeding faster than any of my fellow troop members who have been members of the scouting program since they were 12. Am I just out of luck or is there a way past this tight time schedule?

[wagionvigil]

personally I do not belive the time restrictions can be by passed. I may be wrong But how fair would it be?

[cballman]

by the way BSA works you cannot add to or take away from any rank or merit badge. so by the way the BSA regs. are then I am sorry that you got a late start and will have to settle for a life scout. but if we change the req. for a boy to just fly through EAGLE then it makes MY EAGLE well I want you to think about it.

[wagionvigil]

I would suggest the Following. Advance as far as you can in Boy SCouts enjoy and learn. On your 18th Birthday join a Venturing Crew and achieve the Ranger Award. Look Up the requirements it is really a challenge

[Mick Scouter]

I agree with both wagionvigil and cballman. Even though I doubt that BSA would approve a waiver it may not hurt to try.

[optimist]

Your are not out of luck, your just looking at the big picture from the wrong angle

The purpose of Scouting is not to earn the Eagle award. Scouting is a tool to help you learn about yourself and the world around you. Just because you can't earn Eagle doesn't mean you can't have a wonderful Scouting career, abbreviated though it may be.

Talk to you Scoutmaster, find out what your troop can do for you and what you can do for your troop. Set goals and work towards them. Instead of looking at the Scouting Advancement Program as the goal, use the program to help you accomplish your goals.

Good luck

[RWSmith]

Piccillogoku,

Welcome to the board.

From the way I read your post, you intend to accomplish all the requirements for Eagle, as stated, except that you will be three weeks, or so, shy of the six months as an activite Life Scout and in a leadership role... Okay so far? Okay; here goes.... I don't have the Gospel answer in front of me; but, I can tell you this... there is an avenue a Scout whereby can request a short, legitimate extension (due to extenuating circumstances). E.g., you and your parents were trapped a cult and you all escaped just a few months ago. The fact the one started Scouting late, from what I'm told, ain't gonna get it. But, reading a little bit into your thread, I'd suggest you talk to you SM and District Advancement Chair... ASAP. Your SM probably won't know what I'm talking about; but, your District or Council Advancement Chair should.

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All,

Some Scouters, not all--but some, tend to be "all about rules". So much so, that I'd say to a fault. [Please don't flame me; I'm a card-carrying member and past president of that club.] There are legitimate times and places for making the very exception Piccillogoku asked about. I say let him ask. It's all he can do. I commend him for making a commitment to attempt to attain a goal which he already knows he most likely will not be allowed to acheive. BTW, for what it's worth... I have a friend who completed all the requirements for Eagle, all except for meeting his board. He's now 35 years old and he's still legitimately entitled to a Board. He knows he earned it; I know, too. And for now, that's good enough for him. I told him how to get a Board; the rest is up to him.

[RWSmith]

One omre thing... DBZ roks!

[Scouting179]

What is DBZ?

There are cases where waivers have been approved:

a) there is a whole special set of rules of handicapped or diabled people to stay in Scout as youths well into their adult years

b) medical waivers for Scouts to make Eagle past 18 are possible, ex: you're about to make it at 17y 9 months and are then in a car wreck and hospitalized for 6 months

c) other special cases, FYI I totally disagree with National's decision on this but it in fact occurred...a Scout did a project and his other stuff except for his BOR and maybe his SM conference in Florida and then moved to Virginia. Well, 3 years later when he's 21 he's asks about his BOR in VA. They investigate and District and Council basically said "You're kidding, right?". He appeals to National and they say make it happen. I don't know all the grubby details, so I can see where the move was a special circumstance, but what irks me on this is the 3-year delay. He should have tried to set it up in VA soon after the move to VA. I know all this because I know someone who was and still is on the District Adv Committee involved in the case.

So, you can always ask. If you don't, you'll never know.

[evmori]

Excellent response RW! I forgot about that extension!

[RWSmith]

"Dragonball Z" Japanese cartoon.

Also, Piccillogoku, if you're turned down... do what Wagion suggested... the Ranger Award is also a worthy goal.

[Mick Scouter]

Interesting situations can cause great learning experiences.

[OldGreyBear]

So many issues, where to start,

First, you don't HAVE to wait until you are 18 to join a Venturing Crew, you can start working on achievements there right now, some of the work can be counted for both Boy Scout and Venturing Awards.

Next, in your situation advanced planning is the key. If I read your post correctly, there is time for you to get your time in POR's before you turn 18. Work with your adult leaders, let them know what you want to do when and then make it happen.

Lastly, I need a legal eagle opinion on this, this is requirement 5 for the Life scout rank lifted from Meritbadge.com

While a Star Scout, serve actively for six months in one or more of the troop positions of responsibility listed in requirement 5 for Star Scout (or carry out a Scoutmaster-assigned leadership project to help the troop).

Its the position of the parenthetical comment. It says ... or carry out a scoutmaster-assigned leadership project...) does that negate the 6 months requirement? it states you must be active for six months, then it says OR, just a thought

[wagionvigil]

Maybe Commish will field that question

[Mick Scouter]

Good catch but requirement 1 states

Be active in your troop and patrol for at least six months as a Star Scout.

[OldGreyBear]

Arrgghhhh Arghhhh and Arrghhhhh

I was so wrapped up in the OR, I missed requirement number one, oh well, like I said, plan in advance

[Mick Scouter]

I like your humor Old Grey Bear.