Troop 849
Manhattan Beach, CA
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Rank Advancement

Scout Rank Requirements

1. Meet age requirements: Be a boy who has completed the fifth grade and be at least 10 years old, be 11 years old, or have earned the Arrow of Light Award and be at least 10 years old, and be under 18 years old.
2. Complete a Boy Scout application and health history signed by your parent or guardian.
3. Find a Scout Troop near your home.
4. Repeat the Pledge of Allegiance.
5. Demonstrate the Scout sign, salute, and handshake.
6. Demonstrate tying the square knot (a joining knot).
7. Understand and agree to live by the Scout Oath or promise, Law, motto, and slogan, and the Outdoor Code.
8. Describe the Scout badge.
9. Complete the Pamphlet Exercises: With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet "How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide".
10. Participate in a Scoutmaster conference. Turn in your Boy Scout application and health history form signed by your parent or guardian, then participate in a Scoutmaster conference.

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Tenderfoot Rank Requirements

NOTE: These requirements may be worked on simultaneously with those for Second Class and First Class; however these ranks must be earned in sequence.

1. Present yourself to your leader, properly dressed, before going on an overnight camping trip. Show the camping gear you will use. Show the right way to pack and carry it.
2. Spend at least 1 night on a patrol or troop campout. Sleep in a tent you have helped pitch.
3. On the campout, assist in preparing and cooking one of your patrol's meals. Tell why it is important for each patrol member to share in meal preparation and cleanup, and explain the importance of eating together.
4. a. Demonstrate how to whip and fuse the ends of a rope.
   b. Demonstrate you know how to tie the following knots and tell what their uses are: two half hitches and the tautline hitch.
5. Explain the rules of safe hiking, both on the highway and cross-country, during the day and at night. Explain what to do if you are lost.
6. Demonstrate how to display, raise, lower, and fold the American flag.
7. Repeat from memory and explain in your own words the Scout Oath, Law, and slogan.
8. Know your patrol name, give the patrol yell, and describe your patrol flag.
9. Explain why we use the buddy system in Scouting.
10. a. Record your best in the following tests:
    • Pushups
    • Pull-ups
    • Sit-ups
    • Standing long jump
    • 1/4 mile walk/run
    b. Show improvement in the activities listed in requirement 10a after practicing for 30 days.
11. Identify local poisonous plants; tell how to treat for exposure to them.
12. a. Demonstrate the Heimlich maneuver and tell when it is used.
    b. Show first aid for the following:
    • Simple cuts and scratches
    • Blisters on the hand and foot
    • Minor burns or scalds (first degree)
    • Bites and stings of insects and ticks
    • Poisonous snakebite
    • Nosebleed
    • Frostbite and Sunburn
13. Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
14. Participate in a Scoutmaster conference.
15. Complete your board of review.

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Second Class Rank Requirements

NOTE: These requirements may be worked on simultaneously with those for the Tenderfoot and First Class ranks; however these ranks must be earned in sequence.

1. a. Demonstrate how a compass works and how to orient a map. Explain what map symbols mean.
   b. Using a compass and a map together, take a 5-mile hike (or 10 miles by bike) approved by your adult leader and your parent or guardian. *
2. a. Since joining, have participated in five separate troop/patrol activities (other than troop/patrol meetings), two of which included camping overnight.
   b. On one of these campouts, select your patrol site and sleep in a tent that you pitched.
   c. On one campout, demonstrate proper care, sharpening, and use of the knife, saw, and ax, and describe when they should be used.
   d. Use the tools listed in requirement 2c to prepare tinder, kindling, and fuel for a cooking fire.
   e. Discuss when it is appropriate to use a cooking fire and a lightweight stove. Discuss the safety procedures for using both.
   f. Demonstrate how to light a fire and a lightweight stove.
   g. On one campout, plan and cook over an open fire one hot breakfast or lunch for yourself, selecting foods from the food pyramid. Explain the importance of good nutrition. Tell how to transport, store, and prepare the foods you selected.
3. Participate in a flag ceremony for your school, religious institution, chartered organization, community, or troop activity.
4. Participate in an approved (minimum of 1 hour) service project.
5. Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds of wild animals (birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, mollusks) found in your community.
6. a. Show what to do for "hurry" cases of stopped breathing, serious bleeding, and internal poisoning.
   b. Prepare a personal first aid kit to take with you on a hike.
   c. Demonstrate first aid for the following:
   • Object in the eye
   • Bite of a suspected rabid animal
   • Puncture wounds from a splinter, nail, and fish hook
   • Serious burns (second degree)
   • Heat exhaustion
   • Shock
   • Heatstroke, Dehydration, Hypothermia, and Hyperventilation
7. a. Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe swim.
   b. Demonstrate your ability to jump feetfirst into water over your head in depth, level off and swim 25 feet on the surface, stop, turn sharply, resume swimming, then return to your starting place. **
   c. Demonstrate water rescue methods by reaching with your arm or leg, by reaching with a suitable object, and by throwing lines and objects.** Explain why swimming rescues should not be attempted when a reaching or throwing rescue is possible, and explain why and how a rescue swimmer should avoid contact with the victim.
8. Participate in a school, community, or troop program on the dangers of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, and other practices that could be harmful to your health. Discuss your participation in the program with your family.
9. Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
10. Participate in a Scoutmaster conference.
11. Complete your board of review.

* If you use a wheelchair or crutches, or if it is difficult for you to get around, you may substitute "trip" for "hike".

** This requirement may be waived by the troop committee for medical or safety reasons.

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First Class Rank Requirements

NOTE: These requirements, and those for Tenderfoot and Second Class may be worked on simultaneously; however these ranks must be earned in sequence.

1. Demonstrate how to find directions during the day and at night without using a compass.
2. Using a compass, complete an orienteering course that covers at least 1 mile and requires measuring the height and/or width of designated items (tree, tower, canyon, ditch, etc.)
3. Since joining, have participated in ten separate troop/patrol activities (other than troop/patrol meetings), three of which included camping overnight.
4. a. Help plan a patrol menu for one campout that includes at least one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner that requires cooking at least 2 meals. Tell how the menu includes the food pyramid and meets nutritional needs.
   b. Using the menu planned in requirement 4a, make a list showing the cost and food amounts needed to feed three or more boys and secure the ingredients.
   c. Tell which pans, utensils, and other gear will be needed to cook and serve these meals.
   d. Explain the procedures to follow in the safe handling and storage of fresh meats, dairy products, eggs, vegetables, and other perishable food products. Tell how to properly dispose of camp garbage, cans, plastic containers, and other rubbish.
   e. On one campout, serve as your patrol's cook. Supervise your assistant(s) in using a stove or building a cooking fire. Prepare the breakfast, lunch, and dinner planned in requirement 4a. Lead your patrol in saying grace at the meals and supervise cleanup.
5. Visit and discuss with a selected individual approved by your leader (elected official, judge, attorney, civil servant, principal, teacher) your constitutional rights and obligations as a U.S. citizen.
6. Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds of native plants found in your community.
7. a. Discuss when you should and should not use lashings
   b. Demonstrate tying the timber hitch and clove hitch and their use in square, shear, and diagonal lashings by joining two or more poles or staves together.
   c. Use lashing to make a useful camp gadget.
8. a. Demonstrate tying the bowline knot and describe several ways it can be used.
   b. Demonstrate bandages for a sprained ankle. and for injuries on the head, the upper arm, and collarbone.
   c. Show how to transport by yourself, and with one other person, a person:
   • from a smoke-filled room
   • with a broken leg, for at least 25 yards.
   d. Tell the five most common signs of a heart attack. Explain the steps (procedures) in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
9. a. Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe trip afloat.
   b. Successfully complete the BSA swimmer test. *
   c. With a helper and a practice victim, show a line rescue both as tender and rescuer. (The practice victim should be approximately 30 feet from shore in deep water.)
10. Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
11. Tell someone who is eligible to join Boy Scouts, or an inactive Scout, about your troop's activities. Invite him to join a troop outing, activity, service project, or meeting. Tell him how to join, or encourage the inactive Scout to become active. (Scouts already working on their First Class rank prior to January 2006 will have until June 30, 2006 to complete the rank without fulfilling requirement.)
12. Participate in a Scoutmaster conference.
13. Complete your board of review.

* This requirement may be waived by the troop committee for medical or safety reasons.

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Star Rank Requirements

1. Be active in your troop or patrol for at least 4 months as a First Class Scout.
2. Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
3. Earn six merit badges, including four from the required list for Eagle.
4. While a First Class Scout, take part in service projects totaling at least 6 hours of work. These projects must be approved by your Scoutmaster.
5. While a First Class Scout, serve actively 4 months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility (or carry out a Scoutmaster-assigned leadership project to help the troop):
   • patrol leader
   • assistant senior patrol leader
   • senior patrol leader
   • troop guide
   • den chief
   • scribe
   • librarian
   • historian
   • quartermaster
   • bugler
   • junior assistant scoutmaster
   • chaplain aide
   • instructor
   • Order of the Arrow troop representative
6. Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.
7. Complete your board of review.

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Life Rank Requirements

1. Be active in your troop or patrol for at least 6 months as a Star Scout.
2. Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
3. Earn five more merit badges (so that you have 11 in all), including any three more from the required list for Eagle.
4. While a Star Scout, take part in service projects totaling at least 6 hours of work. These projects must be approved by your Scoutmaster.
5. While a Star Scout, serve actively 6 months in one or more of the positions of responsibility listed in requirement 5 for Star Scout (or carry out a Scoutmaster-assigned leadership project to help the troop).
6. Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.
7. Complete your board of review.

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Eagle Rank Requirements

1. Be active in your troop or patrol for at least 6 months as a Life Scout.
2. Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
3. Earn a total of 21 merit badges (10 more than you already have), including the following:
   • First Aid
   • Citizenship in the Community
   • Citizenship in the Nation
   • Citizenship in the World
   • Communications
   • Personal Fitness
   • Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving
   • Environmental Science
   • Personal Management
   • Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling
   • Camping
   • Family Life
4. While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of 6 months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility:
   • patrol leader
   • assistant senior patrol leader,
   • senior patrol leader
   • troop guide
   • den chief
   • scribe
   • librarian
   • historian
   • quartermaster
   • junior assistant scoutmaster
   • chaplain aide
   • instructor
5. While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community. (The project should benefit an organization other than Boy Scouting.) The project idea must be approved by the organization benefitting from the effort, your Scoutmaster and Troop Committee and approved by the council or district before you start. You must use the "Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook", BSA publication No. 18-927D, in meeting this requirement.
6. Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.
7. Successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review.

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Eagle Palm Rank Requirements

After becoming an Eagle Scout, you may earn Palms by completing the following requirements:

1. Be active in your troop and patrol for at least 3 months after becoming an Eagle Scout or after award of last Palm.
2. Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
3. Make a satisfactory effort to develop and demonstrate leadership ability.
4. Earn five additional merit badges beyond those required for Eagle or last palm. (Merit Badges earned any time since becoming a Boy Scout may be used to meet this requirement.)
5. Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.
6. Complete your board of review.

You may wear only the proper combination of Palms for the number of merit badges you earned beyond the rank of Eagle. The Bronze Palm represents five merit badges, the Gold Palm 10, and the Silver Palm 15.

NOTE: Scouts who earn three Palms may continue to earn additional Palms in the same order - bronze, gold, and silver.

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Alternate Requirements

Alternate Requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class Ranks

A Scout who is unable to complete any or all of the requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, or First Class rank because he is physically or mentally disabled may complete alternative requirements if the following criteria are met:

1. The physical or mental disability must be of a permanent rather than a temporary nature.
2. A clear and concise medical statement concerning the Scout's disabilities must be submitted by a physician licensed to practice medicine. In the alternative, an evaluation statement certified by an educational administrator may be submitted. The medical statement must state the doctor's opinion that the Scout cannot complete the requirement(s) because of a permanent disability.
3. The Scout, his parents, or leaders must submit to the council advancement committee, a written request that the Scout be allowed to complete alternative requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, or First Class rank. The request must explain the suggested alternate requirements in sufficient detail so as to allow the advancement committee to make a decision. The request must also include the medical statement required in paragraph two above. The written request for alternate requirements must be submitted to and approved by the local council prior to completing alternate requirements.
4. The Scout must complete as many of the regular requirements as his ability permits before applying for alternate requirements.
5. The Alternate requirements must be of such a nature that they are as demanding of effort as the regular requirements.
6. When alternate requirements involve physical activity, they must be approved by the physician.
7. The Unit Leader and any board of review must explain that to attain Tenderfoot, Second Class, or First Class rank a candidate is expected to do his best in developing himself to the limit of his resources.
8. The written request must be approved by the council advancement committee, utilizing the expertise of professional persons involved in Scouting for disabled youth. The decision of the council advancement committee should be recorded and delivered to the Scout and his leader.

Alternate Merit Badges for the Eagle Scout Rank

1. The eagle Scout rank may be achieved by a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or qualified* Explorer who has a physical or mental disability by qualifying for alternate merit badges. This does not apply to individual requirements for merit badges. Merit badges are awarded only when all requirements are met as stated.
2. The physical or mental disability must be of a permanent rather than a temporary nature.
3. A clear and concise medical statement concerning the Scout's disabilities must be submitted by a physician licensed to practice medicine, or an evaluation statement must be certified by an educational administrator.
4. The candidate must earn as many of the required merit badges as his ability permits before applying for an alternate Eagle Scout merit badge.
5. The candidate must complete as many of the requirements of the required merit badges as his ability permits.
6. The Application for Alternate Eagle Scout Merit Badges must be completed prior to qualifying for alternate merit badges.
7. The alternate merit badges chosen must be of such a nature that they are as demanding of effort as the required merit badges.
8. When alternates chosen involve physical activity, they must be approved by the physician.
9. The Unit Leader and the board of review must explain that to attain the Eagle Scout rank a candidate is expected to do his best in developing himself to the limit of his resources.
10. The application must be approved by the council committee responsible for advancement, utilizing the expertise of professional persons involved in Scouting for the disabled.
11. The candidate's application for eagle must be made on the Eagle Scout Rank Application, with the Application for Alternate Eagle Scout Award Merit Badges attached.

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All requirements are as of 6/14/06