Board Members

Hand this page to anyone serving on a board for the first time. The rules below are national policy, quoted from Section 8 of the Guide to Advancement, and are not optional.

Ground rules

• “There must be no fewer than three and no more than six members, all at least 21 years old. They need not be on an advancement committee nor be registered with Scouting America, but they must have an understanding of the rank and the purpose and importance of the review.”
• “Unit leaders and assistants must not serve on a board of review for a Scout in their own unit. Parents, guardians, or relatives must not serve on a board for their child. The candidate or the candidate’s parent(s) or guardian(s), or relative(s) must have no part in selecting any board of review members.”
• “Board members who cannot be fair and impartial should recuse themselves.”
• “It must never become a retest or ’examination,’ nor a challenge of the Scout’s knowledge. In most cases it should, instead, be a celebration of accomplishment.” “Asking ‘Tell us about when you learned how to tie a square knot’ is appropriate, but ‘Here is a rope; tie a square knot’ is not. Questions about specific rank requirements may only be about the rank under discussion.”
• “Practice boards of review are not allowed at any level.”
• “Taking notes during a Board of Review is acceptable, and even recommended for Eagle Scout Boards of Review, but recording, either voice or video, is prohibited. Notes should be destroyed after the Scout passes the board.”
• “Regardless of unit, district, or council expectations or rules, boards of review must not reject candidates solely for reasons related to uniforming or attire, as long as they are clean and neat in appearance.”
• “A board of review must not be denied or postponed due to unresponsive references.” “If after diligent effort four recommendations are not received, the board of review can go forward without them. If the Scout chooses to go forward, the board may ask about their efforts, but may not deny advancement based only on lack of references.”
• “The Scout must not be rejected for not bringing a Scouts BSA Handbook.”

Who may be in the room

“The unit leader may remain in the room, but only to observe, not to participate unless called upon. The number of ‘observers’ at a board of review should otherwise be minimized.” “Youth observers are not permitted in boards of review for Scouts BSA advancement.” “The Scout’s parents, relatives, or guardians should not be in attendance in any capacity—not as members of the board, as observers, or even as the unit leader. Their presence can change the discussion dynamics. In cases where parents or guardians insist on attending a board of review, they should be counseled that their presence can change how their child addresses questions and that the opportunity to further self-reliance and courage may be lessened. However, if parents or guardians still insist on being present, they must be permitted to attend as observers.”

Board procedure

Before the Scout comes in, the members read the application, the reference letters, and the service project report and pictures. One member chairs, makes sure everyone is introduced, and agrees the board’s goals:

1. Confirm the Eagle project was successfully carried out. Did the candidate demonstrate leadership and direct the project themselves, instead of doing all the work or letting someone else direct it? Was it of value to the benefiting group? Did it follow the plan, or were modifications necessary, and what did the candidate learn from them?
2. Be assured of the candidate’s participation in and understanding of the Scouting program.
3. Discuss their successes and experiences in Scouting thoroughly.

The interview typically begins with the Scout reciting the Scout Oath and Law. Questions follow about what they mean to the Scout, their camping and outdoor experiences, their leadership positions, their Eagle project from start to finish, and their plans for the future. Encourage the Scout to talk instead of answering yes or no. “Eagle boards generally last 30 minutes or somewhat longer. This is the highest rank a Scout may achieve; there should be a discussion of his or her successes, experiences, and future plans, but rarely should one last longer than 45 minutes.”

After the interview, “the Scout is asked to wait outside the room or out of hearing range while the board deliberates. To approve awarding a rank, the board must agree unanimously.” “The board of review date—not that of a subsequent court of honor—becomes the rank’s effective date.”

Reference letters are confidential

“Completed reference responses of any kind are the property of the council and are confidential, and only review-board members and those officials with a specific need may see them after the board. The responses are not to be viewed by or returned to the Scout.” Return them to the district advancement chair with the signed application after the board.

Signing the paperwork

The board instructions template walks through which lines each member signs. In short, on the Eagle Scout Rank Application the board chair signs “Signature of Eagle Scout board of review chair” with the date of the board, and the district’s representative signs “Signature of council/district board representative.” Sign the Scout’s handbook for the Eagle rank if they brought it.

The Eagle Scout Challenge

The Eagle Scout Challenge (No. 542-900) is the short charge on honor, loyalty, courage, cheerfulness, and service that the colors of the Eagle badge represent. It is traditionally read at the Eagle court of honor, and some boards read it to the candidate after recommending them. Keep a printed copy in the board’s folder.