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Boy Scout Organization
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.
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.
As you see, the Scoutmaster has many responsibilities.
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
A troop should recruit as many assistant Scoutmasters as
possible. It has been found that many successful troops have
three or more.
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.
The new Scout patrol is composed of new members who have not entered the seventh grade.
The experienced Scout patrol is for those boys who are age 12 and older.
Venture crews 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 - 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 - 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.
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.
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.
Excerpted from BSA Troop Committee Guidebook
Copyright 1990, Boy Scouts of America, ISBN 0-8395-4505-3
Troop 171 Webmaster
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