A Boy Scout Troop Organization
Excerpted from BSA Troop Committee Guidebook
Copyright 1990, Boy Scouts of America, ISBN 0-8395-6505-4
Let's
take a look at how a troop functions.
In
order to support the troop's operation, you will need to know its
structure.
The
Scoutmaster
The Scoutmaster is the adult leader
responsible for the image and program of the troop. The Scoutmaster and
his assistant Scoutmasters work directly with the Scouts. The importance
of the Scoutmaster's job is reflected in the fact that the quality of
his guidance will affect every youth and adult involved in the troop.
The Scoutmaster can be male or female,
but must be at least 21 years old. The Scoutmaster is appointed by the
head of the chartered organization.
The Scoutmaster's duties include:
General
-
Train and guide boy leaders.
-
Work with other responsible adults to bring
Scouting to boys.
-
Use the methods of Scouting to achieve the aims
of Scouting.
Meetings
-
Meet regularly with the patrol leaders' council
for training and coordination in planning troop activities.
-
Attend all troop meetings or, when necessary,
arrange for a qualified adult substitute.
-
Attend troop committee meetings.
-
Conduct periodic parents' sessions to share the
program and encourage parent participation and cooperation.
-
Take part in annual membership inventory and
uniform inspection, charter review meeting, and charter
presentation.
Guidance
-
Conduct Scoutmaster conferences for all rank
advancements.
-
Provide a systematic recruiting plan for new
members and see that they are promptly registered.
-
Delegate responsibility to other adults and
groups (assistants, troop committee) so that they have a real part
in troop operations.
-
Supervise troop elections for the Order of the
Arrow.
Activities
-
Make it possible for each Scout to experience at
least 10 days and nights of camping each year.
-
Participate in council and district events.
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Build a strong program by using proven methods
presented in Scouting literature.
-
Conduct all activities under qualified
leadership, safe conditions, and the policies of the chartered
organization and the Boy Scouts of America.
Assistant Scoutmasters
To fulfill his obligation to the troop, the
Scoutmaster, with the assistance of the troop committee, recruits
assistant Scoutmasters to help operate the troop. Each assistant
Scoutmaster is assigned specific program duties and reports to the
Scoutmaster. They also provide the required two-deep leadership
standards set by the Boy Scouts of America (there must be at least two
adults present at any Boy Scout activity). An assistant Scoutmaster may
be 18 years old, but at least one in each troop should be 21 or older,
so he or she can serve in the Scoutmaster's absence.
Types of assistant Scoutmasters include:
-
Assistant Scoutmaster - New Scouts
-
Assistant Scoutmaster - Venture
-
Assistant Scoutmaster - Varsity
Patrols
The Scout troop is made up of patrols. A patrol is
a grouping of six to eight boys who work together. Each patrol
elects its own boy leader, called a patrol leader every 6 months through
a general campaign/election process.
The new Scout patrol is composed of new
members who just join Boy Scouts to help ease into BSA plus work as a
team to accomplish initial requirements
The experienced Scout patrol is for those
boys who are age 12 and older but are mixed based on skill, rank, and
knowledge for a well balanced group. This grouping helps all work
together and utilize each others unique skills sets, backgrounds and
leadership abilities. Its no different in the world and what
better way to equip and enable them for their future.
Venture patrols are made up of boys who are
age 13 and older who want more challenging high-adventure experiences.
Varsity teams are made up of boys who are
age 13 and older who want team sport activities.
Both Varsity and Venture Scouting activities may
include the participation of girls, but the young women may not register
as crew or team members. When girls participate in Venture and Varsity
activities, a woman 21 years of age or older must be present along with
the adult male leader.
The
Troop's Youth Leaders
The troop is actually run by its boy leaders. With
the guidance of the Scoutmaster and his assistants, they plan the
program, conduct troop meetings, and provide leadership among their
peers.
Junior Leader Positions
-
Senior Patrol Leader (elected by
Troop peers) - top junior leader
in the troop. He leads the patrol leaders' council
and, in
consultation with the Scoutmaster, appoints other junior leaders and
assigns specific responsibilities as needed.
-
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader
(selected by Senior Patrol Leader and Scoutmaster) - fills in
for senior patrol leader in his absence. He is also responsible for
training and giving direction to the quartermaster, scribe, troop
historian, librarian, and instructors.
Below positions are selected by Senior Patrol
Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders, kind of like the
President of the USA Cabinet to
manage and carryout daily details of the Troop:
-
Troop Historian
- collects and maintains troop memorabilia and information on former
troop members.
-
Librarian - keeps troop books, pamphlets,
magazines, audiovisuals, and merit badge counselor list available
for use by troop members.
-
Instructor
- teaches one or more advancement skills to troop members.
-
Chaplain Aide
- assists in troop religious services and promotes religious emblems
program.
-
Junior assistant Scoutmaster - a Scout 16
or older who supervises and supports other boy leaders as assigned.
-
Patrol leader
- gives leadership to members of his patrol and represents them on
the patrol leaders' council.
-
Assistant patrol leader - fills in for the
patrol leader in his absence.
-
Venture crew chief - leader of a troop's
Venture crew.
-
Varsity team captain - leader of a troop's
Varsity team.
-
Troop guide
- advisor and guide to the new Scout patrol.
-
Den chief - works with a Cub Scout den as
a guide.
-
Quartermaster
- responsible for troop supplies and equipment.
-
Scribe - the troop secretary.
Structure of Junior
Patrol Leadership Council (PLC) Positions
The
Patrol Leaders' Council
The patrol leaders' council, not the adult
leaders, is responsible for planning and conducting the troop's
activities. The patrol leaders' council is composed of the following
voting members: senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader,
patrol leaders, troop guide, Venture crew chief, Varsity team captain.
The troop's activities are selected and planned at
the annual program planning conference. The troop's yearly plan is then
submitted to the troop committee for approval. The troop committee
either approves the plan or makes alternative suggestions for the patrol
leaders' council to consider. At its monthly meetings, the patrol
leaders' council organizes and assigns activity responsibilities for the
weekly troop meetings. The troop committee interacts with the patrol
leaders' council through the Scoutmaster
This site was last updated
02/22/09