rank : eagle

The official BSA document for attaining the rank of Eagle is the ruling source for requirements.

1.  Be active in your troop for a period of at least six months as a Life Scout.

2.  As a Life Scout, demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law.  Tell how you have done your duty to God, how you have lived the Scout Oath and Scout Law in your everyday life, and how your understanding of the Scout Oath and Scout Law will guide your life in the future.  List on your Eagle Scout Rank Application the names of individuals who know you personally and would be willing to provide a recommendation on your behalf, including parents/guardians, religious (if not affiliated with an organized religion, then the parent or guardian provides this reference), educational, employer (if employed), and two other references.

3. Earn a total of 21 merit badges (10 more than required for the Life rank), including 14 from the list of eagle required merit badges.

• Only one merit badge from each of the following groups will be counted towards fulfilling this requirement:

  • • • cycling, hiking or swimming; 

      • emergency preparedness or lifesaving;

      • environmental sceince or sustainability

•  Any additional merit badge(s) earned from these groups may be counted as one of the seven optional merit badges.

4. While a Life Scout, serve actively in your troop for six months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility: 

• patrol leader,

• assistant senior patrol leader,

• senior patrol leader,

• troop guide,

• Order of the Arrow troop representative,

• den chief,

• scribe,

• librarian,

• historian,

• quartermaster,

• junior assistant Scoutmaster,

• chaplain aide,

• instructor,

• webmaster, or

• outdoor ethics guide 1

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 must benefit an organization other than the Boy Scouts of America.)  A project proposal must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, your Scoutmaster and unit committee, and the council or district before you start.  You must use the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, BSA publication No. 512-927, in meeting this requirement.  (To learn more about the Eagle Scout service project, see the Guide to Advancement, topics 9.0.2.0 through 9.0.2.15.)

6. While a Life Scout, participate in a Scoutmaster conference.

In preparation for your board of review, prepare and attach to your Eagle Scout Rank Application a statement of your ambitions and life purpose and a listing of positions held in your religious institution, school, camp, community, or other organizations, during which you demonstrated leadership skills.  Include honors and awards received during this service.

7. Successfully complete your board of review for the Eagle Scout rank.2 (This requirement may be met after age 18 in accordance with Guide to Advancement, topic 8.0.3.1.)3

Notes:

1 Assistant patrol leader and bugler are not approved positions of responsibility for the Eagle Scout rank.  Likewise, a Scoutmaster-approved leadership project shall not be used in lieu of serving in a position of responsibility.

2 APPEALS & EXTENSIONS

If a Scout believes all requirements for the Eagle Scout rank have been completed but a board of review is denied, the Scout may request a board of review under disputed circumstances in accordance with Guide to Advancement topic 8.0.3.2.

If the board of review does not approve the Scout's advancement, the decision may be appealed in accordance with Guide to Advancement topic 8.0.4.0.

A Scout who foresees that, due to no fault or choice of their own. it will not be possible to complete the Eagle Scout rank requirements before age 18 may apply for a limited time extension in accordance with Guide to Advancement topic 9.0.4.0. These are rarely granted and reserved only for work on Eagle.

3 AGE REQUIREMENT ELIGIBILITY.

Merit badges and badges of rank may be earned by a registered Scout may earn these awards until their 18th birthday.  Any Venturer or Sea Scout who has achieved the First Class rank as a Scout in a troop or as a Lone Scout may continue working up to their 18th birthday toward the Star, Life, and Eagle Scout ranks.

An Eagle Scout board of review may occur, without special approval, within 24 months after the 18th birthday.  Consult the Guide to Advancement, topic 8.0.3.1, if a board of review is to be conducted more than 24 months after a candidate's 18th birthday.

If you have a permanent physical or mental disability, or a disability expected to last more than two years or beyond age 18, you may become an Eagle Scout by qualifying for as many required merit badges as you can and qualifying for alternative merit badges for the rest.  If you seek to become an Eagle Scout under this procedure, you must submit a special application to your local council service center.  Your application must be approved by your council advancement committee before you can work on alternative merit badges.

A Scout with a disability may also qualify to work toward rank advancement after reaching 18 years of age if the guidelines outlined in section 10 of the Guide to Advancement are met.