Boards of Review for Scout Rank Advancement
Scouters interview Scouts to ensure they have earned their next rank
A Board of Review is an opportunity to:
- discuss the accomplishments and goals of the Scout.
- to give feedback to the Scout.
- to get feedback from the Scout.
- to give the Scout practice presenting themselves in an interview environment.
The Board of Review is a final check to ensure that Scouts have truly earned their rank before they are advanced. The Board is an important part of a four-step Scout rank advancement system:
- The Scout learns by doing.
- The Scout is tested (badge achievement).
- The Scout is reviewed (Board of Review).
- The Scout is recognized (rank presentation).
The guidelines in this document are geared towards Scout troops in Canada. Troops should feel free to adapt it to their needs.
Who to Involve
The Board is usually composed of two to four Scouters drawn from the group. It is preferable that the Scout's own Scouters not be included to allow for greater candour from the Scout. The inclusion of a Scouter from a different Scout group provides the opportunity for outside feedback on the troop's program.
Procedure
Before the interview begins, the Board should take time to review the Scout's record, including badges earned and events attended. This will help Board members to formulate questions.
When the Scout arrives, someone the Scout knows should welcome them and introduce the members of the Board. The Scout should be assured that what is said during the Board is between the Scout and the Board. It will not be repeated outside of the Board. However, information gathered during the reviews should be used to help improve troop programs.
The Board should give the Scout a "once over" on their uniform. This is a chance for the Scout to show pride in their uniform and in badges earned. This is not meant to be a formal uniform inspection, but it should be used as another opportunity to make certain that the uniform is worn correctly. The Board should also looks at how the Scout presents themself. Do they hold their head high or do they slouch? Do they shake hands confidently? The Board should coach the Scout on how they can better make a positive, confident impression on the people they meet.
The main part of the Board is a conversation facilitated through a series of questions to the Scout.
Questions
Below is a series of sample questions that may be used by a Board of Review. These are a starting point. A board will not use all of these questions and other questions may need to be added to help the Board assess if a Scout has earned their rank advancement.
There is not a single right or wrong answer to any of the questions. They are a tool. The Board's first responsibility is to make certain that Scouts understand what they have achieved with their pending rank advancement and the additional responsibilities that they will assume as they grow within the Troop. One of the greatest needs of young people is confidence. In advancing, the Scout builds that confidence. Scouts should walk away from the Board knowing that what they have achieved is something very worthwhile. Make it a pleasant experience for the Scout and the Board. There are times when criticism can motivate a person to do better. There should still be an overall positive outcome to the meeting. The type of criticism, if any, should be discussed by Board members beforehand.
The Board of Review is not just a question and answer period. The Board does not retest the candidate on specific badge requirements. Rather, the Board should attempt to determine the Scout's attitude and their acceptance of Scouting's ideals. A discussion of the Scout Promise and Law is in keeping with the purpose of the review, in order to make certain that the candidate recognizes and understands the value of Scouting in their home, troop, school, and community. The Board should remember that the Scout advancing to Voyageur will not have the same kind of answers as a Scout advancing to the rank of Chief's Scout. During the review, each member of the board must form a judgement concerning the Scout's qualifications.
Passing
A Board of Review for advancement to Voyageur Scout or Pathfinder Scout should last about 15 minutes. A Board for Chief's Scout should be 20-30 minutes. Once Board members are finished speaking with the Scout, the Scout leaves the room while the members take a few minutes (in addition to the times given above) to deliberate. Some questions Board members should ask themselves:
- Has the Scout accomplished the tasks that are required? This is not a review of the requirements but of the experiences the Scout had in completing these tasks.
- What sort of experience is the Scout having in the Troop and Patrol?
- Is the Scout ready for advancement and the responsibilities that come with the next rank?
- Where does the Scout plan to go from here? Encourage the Scout to verbally set goals.
If the members of the Board are satisfied that the Scout has earned their next rank, they congratulate the Scout and inform the Scoutmaster. Rank advancement formally takes place in a ceremony which should follow very soon after the completion of the Board of Review.
If the Scout is not actively participating in the Board of Review, or does not appear to be taking the process seriously, the Board is obligated to inform the Scout that they will need to come back at a later date when truly prepared to fully participate in the meeting. Wearing a sloppy uniform is one way that Scouts could show that they are not taking the process seriously.
If the members of the Board are not satisfied that the Scout has earned their next rank, the Board is required to specify to the Scout exactly why they did not pass. The Board must list specific and reasonably obtainable goals which the Scout must achieve. A written copy of these goals must be given to the Scout and the Scoutmaster at the conclusion of the Board of Review.
Voyageur Scout
Personal Data (Good ice breaker)
- When did you join the Troop?
- What grade are you in? What school?
- What hobbies do you have?
- Why did you join Scouts?
What Do You Think...
- How do you live the Scout Promise and Law in your daily life? If you find it a challenge how do you overcome it?
- What is a good turn? What good turns have you done lately?
- What troop outings have you attended? What do you think of them?
- What does "On My Honour" mean to you?
- What do you think people expect from you as a Scout?
Teamwork...
- Have you been able to make it to most of the troop meetings so far?
- What is the name of your patrol? Do you have a flag?
- Do you feel that you and your patrol are getting along?
- Is there anything you would like to see changed in the patrol or troop meetings?
The Big Picture...
- What do you like best about Scouting?
- How (or how not) has Scouting been what you thought it would be?
- Have you taken part in any recent service projects? Which ones?
- What are your long term plans in Scouting?
- What are your plans for Pathfinder?
Do you have any questions or concerns of us, your board?
Pathfinder Scout
Personal Data (Good ice breaker)
- Do your friends at school know you're in Scouts?
- What do you like about school? What is your favourite subject?
- Do you ever take the time and just talk with members of your family? If so, who?
- Do you have a hero? If so, who and why?
What Do You Think
- In the Scout Promise, what does "do my best" mean to you?
- Do you ever do more than one Good Turn Daily? What kinds?
- What point of the Scout Law is the most important to you? Why?
- Do you have a favourite Scout or Scouter? If so, what makes that person a good leader?
- The Scout Motto is "Be Prepared". What does it mean to you?
- What do you think it means to be a Pathfinder Scout? What should people expect of you?
Teamwork
- What did you do for your Service Projects required for Pathfinder? What did you think of the projects?
- What type of service projects would you like to work on?
- Does your patrol have patrol meetings? Do you find them helpful? Is there something the troop can do to help your patrol have productive patrol meetings?
- Is there any part of the patrol program that you would like changed? How would you make these changes? What is the benefit of these changes?
Your Progress
- What requirement for this rank was the hardest? Easiest?
- What Challenge Badges interest you and why?
- Do you have any difficulty setting goals for yourself?
- What did you like/dislike about outdoor cooking?
- What outdoor skills do you like best?
The Big Picture
- What are your plans for Chief's Scout?
- Is there anything the troop can do to help you?
- What are your long term plans in Scouting?
- What part of Scouting interests you the most?
- Are you enjoying Scouting? Why or Why not?
- Have you had a leadership position in the troop? If not, what position would you like to hold?
- Can you give us an example of how the Scout Law has helped you recently?
Do you have any questions or concerns of us, your board?
Chief Scout's Award
It is particularly important that Boards of Review for the Chief Scout's Award candidates uphold the significance of this rank. The Scout must demonstrate that they have achieved the high standards of commitment to Scouting's values that are expected from a Chief's Scout.
Personal Data (Good ice breaker)
- What do you tell your friends about the things you learn and do in Scouts?
- What do you do with your spare time?
- What other activities do you participate in? (i.e. sports, music, social/religious groups, etc.)
- Tell us a bit about your family.
- Who makes sure your uniform is clean and the badges are all sewn on for you to wear?
- How do you help out at home? Do you do it to "chip in" or earn money?
- What do you consider to be your strongest attribute? Why?
- What do you consider to be your greatest weakness? What are you doing to overcome this weakness?
- How does Scouting influence your interactions with people?
- How have you changed since you joined Scouting?
- Have you ever entered into a competition (sports, band, individual events) that you knew you would win "hands-down", only to come out second in the end? How did you handle it?
- If you had the opportunity to meet and talk for an hour with any person in the world (alive or dead). Who would it be and what would you ask that person?
What Do You Think
- Please stand, give the Scout Sign, and SLOWLY recite the Scout Promise and Law.
- What point of the Scout Law is the hardest for you to live up to?
- What more does "Be Prepared" mean to a Chief's Scout than to a Pioneer Scout?
- How do you live the Scout Promise and Law in your daily life?
- What is the Scout Slogan? (Answer: "Do a Good Turn Daily") What type of "Good Turns" do you do?
- Have you ever felt you had to defend yourself because someone knew you were in Scouts?
- Outside of Scouting, tell me about a time when you have had to be a leader. How did it make you feel afterwards?
- Other than your parents, who do you think has influence your life the most? Why? Who's life do you think you have the most influence over? Why?
- To you, what does it mean to "Do my Duty to God"? (This question should be used with Scouts who are known to be active members of a religious community. For Scouts who are not, it is unlikely to generate an answer that addresses the spiritual dimension of Scouting.)
Teamwork
- How does your Patrol function as a team? What part do you take in helping your Patrol?
- What was the last project your patrol worked on as a unit?
- Have you ever tried to instill a change (long or short term) in your patrol? What was it? How? Did you get the results you wanted?
- How do you apply teamwork in your home? With friends?
- What part do you take in the Troop Meetings? Are you a leader or a follower?
- Do you hold a leadership position in the troop now? If so, which one and what are your responsibilities? If no, which position(s) have you held? Tell me a short story about your time as a leader.
- Have you had a chance to teach the younger Scouts any of your recently learned Scout skills? What did you teach?
- What is "Shared Leadership"? How do you see it in your Patrol and in the Troop?
- What do you think is the most important skill for a leader? Why?
- What do you think of the Patrol System? How has the Troop performed in giving the Patrols the support they need?
- How can the Troop improve on it's training of youth leaders?
- How do you see your role in the Troop changing after becoming an Chief's Scout?
Your Progress
- What Challenge Badges do you have?
- Which Challenge Badge was the most valuable to you? Why?
- What was the most interesting and/or unique requirement you have had in a Challenge Badge?
- Do you think that your first aid knowledge will actually help you? How? Have you had an opportunity to use any of it?
- What was the most difficult Challenge Badge for you to earn? How often did you meet with your badge counsellor for that one?
- If a Pioneer Scout asked you for help in working on a Challenge Badge, would you help him, send him to someone else, or tell him to concentrate on the skills needed for Voyageur? Why would you advise him this way?
- Give an example of a skill you have learned in Scouting that might help you as an adult.
Service Projects
- Tell me about your Service Projects.
- Did you have any difficulty planning your Service Projects? How did you chose what to do?
- How did you demonstrate leadership during your projects?
- What problems did you encounter and how did you overcome them?
- What help did you require in completing your Service Projects?
- What suggestions do you have for other Chief's Scout candidates working on Service Projects?
The Big Picture
- Pick a part of the uniform and explain why it is worn.
- Show the main parts and the symbolism of the World Scouting Badge.
- If you had the opportunity to add or delete one requirement for advancement in Scouting, what would it be and why?
- What effect has Scouting had on your life?
- What do you feel the troop can do most to help the younger Scouts so they will make it to Pathfinder and beyond?
- What type of career interests you? Have you earned a related Challenge badge?
- Do you have a long term goal for your Scouting career?
- Is the Troop's outdoor program adequate to develop skills and maintain the interest of the Scouts? What changes would you make?
- What do you consider to be the purpose of the Challenge badge program?
- What is your most memorable Scouting experience?
- Have you ever felt that any one person (youth or adult) epitomized leadership? What made this person such a strong role model for leadership?
- If for any reason this Board were to not pass you today, what would you do? Assuming you pass, where will you go from here?
Do you have any questions or concerns of us, your board?
— Adapted by Scouter Jay Treacy.
This document is based on a similar US-oriented document which appears without citation on several web sites.
