Project Review & Final Board of Review

Submitting the Eagle Scout Application and Project Completion

After all requirements for the rank of Eagle have been completed, the Scout should prepare the application, obtain all necessary signatures, complete the “Carrying out the Project” section of the workbook, and include all attachments (statement of ambitions, photographs, etc.).

Reference letters should be mailed to the Scoutmaster or Life-to-Eagle coach. They should be delivered — unopened, in the envelopes they were mailed in — to the Eagle Board of Review by the Scoutmaster, Life-to-Eagle coach, or unit representative on the night of the Scout’s Eagle Board of Review.

Make three copies of all documents; the original and each copy should go in separate folders or binders. Then, in order:

1. Submit only the Eagle Rank Application to the Jefferson Scout Center. The cut-off is two weeks prior to the Eagle Board of Review. Retain the original workbook and two copies.
2. Schedule the Eagle Board of Review with the District Advancement Committee by submitting an appointment request.
3. If there’s an error with the Eagle Rank Application, the Etowah District Advancement Committee will contact the Scout with what needs correcting.
4. After certification, the original is delivered to the District Eagle Board Chairman, who brings it to the District Eagle Board meeting on the evening of the Scout’s scheduled appointment.
5. The Scout must bring three copies of the workbook, application, and Life Ambition Statement to the Eagle Board of Review.

Twelve Steps from Life to Eagle

Before a Scout appears before the district Eagle Scout board of review for the final time, their completed application, project planning and completion report forms, and advancement forms are submitted to the Northeast Georgia Council Service Center for approval. A waiting period may be necessary to ensure the application is correct.

Scouting’s highest progress award, that of Eagle Scout, is a significant honor that only a few attain. The following are Northeast Georgia Council specific guidelines to the 12 Steps from Life to Eagle found on the back cover of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook.

1. Upon elevation to Life rank, Scouts should request an Eagle packet from the district advancement chairman. The unit leader is responsible for reviewing the packet with the Scout.
2. It’s the Scout’s responsibility to choose an Eagle Scout project, with the concurrence of the unit leader and approval of the unit committee. See Project Proposal & Approval for what an acceptable project must include.
3. Once the Scout has completed the workbook’s project-description pages, they present it for approval through the following channels, gaining approval at each level: the benefiting religious institution, school, or community representative; the unit leader; the troop committee; and finally the district Eagle Scout board of review chairman (or designee) for project board approval. The project may begin only after District Board approval.
4. Do your project! A Scout may ask for donations only from friends, church members, troop members, and family — all other donation requests must be preapproved by the NEGA Advancement Chairman. Keep detailed notes, logs of time spent, and pictures throughout. Upon finishing, the Scout signs the completion page and secures the unit leader’s and benefiting organization’s signatures (a completion letter is needed only if a signature isn’t present in the workbook).
5. When all merit badges and the project are complete, the Scout completes the Eagle Application form with their unit leader’s assistance — carefully recording dates, verifying leadership position date ranges (six months, starting after the Life Scout board of review date), and completing requirement six (life purpose, positions held, honors and awards).
6. The Scout submits the completed Eagle Scout Award Application with all supporting documentation — including the full Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook (sections 1, 2, and 3) — to the Eagle Scout Service at the Northeast Georgia Council Service Center.
7. Under no circumstances will the District Eagle Scout Board of Review be conducted prior to step six.
8. The completed packet is reviewed by the Eagle Scout Service. Upon acceptance, approval for the district Eagle Scout board of review is granted and the packet is returned to the unit leader of record.
9. Upon successful completion of the district Eagle Scout board of review, the board chairman returns the signed and dated Eagle Scout application to the Eagle Scout Service. The troop is responsible for maintaining supporting documents until the application is approved.
10. The Eagle Scout Service reviews and signs as the Northeast Georgia Council representative, then forwards the application to the Council Scout Executive for certification and approval.
11. The application is submitted to the National Eagle Scout Service Center for final review and approval.
12. All application, documentation, and requirements must be completed prior to the Scout’s 18th birthday.

Reference Letters

The Eagle Scout Rank application’s requirement #2 asks for four references willing to furnish a recommendation concerning your demonstration of the Scout Oath and Law. It’s your responsibility to contact these four individuals and furnish them the reference letter request below. Letters should be sent to the Eagle Board of Review, in care of your unit leader (Scoutmaster, Crew Advisor, or Team Coach) or Life-to-Eagle coach — unopened — and provided to the district advancement committee before your Final Eagle Board of Review begins.

All letters of reference are treated with strict confidence and destroyed after the Eagle Rank is awarded.

Sample Reference Letter Request

Dear Sir or Madam:

The young person presenting this to you is a Life Scout in the Boy Scouts of America and is a candidate for the rank of Eagle Scout.

An Eagle Scout candidate must demonstrate that he/she lives by the principle of the Scout Oath and Law in his/her daily life. In this regard, the candidate has indicated that you know him/her personally and that you would be willing to provide a letter of recommendation on his/her behalf.

If you are willing to provide a letter of recommendation, please place your letter in a sealed envelope and return it to the Eagle Board of Review, in care of his/her Scoutmaster. The Scout should furnish you his/her name and complete address. The contents of your letter will not be shared with the candidate unless you specify otherwise. Of course, you are free to discuss the information with him/her if you so desire, but you are under no obligation to do so.

Your letter of reference will remain secured by the Eagle Board of Review until the Scout has received their award, at which time your letter will be destroyed.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sample Reference Letter Request — Religious Principles

For a Scout who has requested a reference specifically describing their religious principles:

Dear Sir or Madam:

The young person presenting this to you is a Life Scout in the Boy Scouts of America and is a candidate for the rank of Eagle Scout. He/She has requested that you provide a reference that particularly describes their RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES, to the Eagle Board of Review.

The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. In the first part of the Scout Oath or Promise, the member declares, “On my honor, I will do my best to do my duties to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law.” The recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe, and the grateful acknowledgment of His favors and blessings, are necessary to the best type of citizenship. No matter what the religious faith of the member, this fundamental need of good citizenship should be kept before them. The Boy Scouts of America recognizes the religious element in the training of the member, but is nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training — its policy is that the home and the organization or group with which the member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life.

If you are willing to provide a letter of recommendation for this candidate, please forward your letter in a sealed envelope to the Eagle Board of Review, in care of their Scoutmaster. The contents of your letter will not be shared with the candidate unless you instruct otherwise.

Your letter of reference will remain secured until the Scout has received their award, at which time your letter will be destroyed.

What to Expect in an Eagle Board of Review

By David J. Miller

For most, the Eagle Scout board of review is not like any other previous board of review. In our district, you probably do not even know the members of your Eagle board — they may be adults from other troops or community members not otherwise active in Scouting. Nonetheless, the review is generally relaxed: there’s no reason to prove yourself, and while the board hasn’t watched you advance through the ranks, they trust that your scout skills are up to speed. The biggest question the board wants answered is: do you understand what it is to be an Eagle Scout, and will you be able to handle the responsibility that comes with it?

There are two things expected of you before you go to the Board of Review, no matter who is conducting it:

• Wear your uniform if you can. Full field uniform — official scout shirt, pants, hat, and neckerchief (if part of your troop’s official uniform) — is preferred, with badges worn properly. If wearing all or part of it isn’t practical, just be clean and neat in appearance. Per national policy, a board of review must not reject a candidate solely for reasons related to uniforming or attire.
• Know the Scout Oath, Law, motto, slogan, and Outdoor Code cold. One of the first things the board will ask you to do is recite them.

Be calm — the board of review will go well. Don’t hesitate to take a few seconds to think before answering, and it’s OK to say “I don’t know.” Be honest, but “Be Prepared.”

Board of Review Guidelines

The Board of Review for an Eagle candidate is composed of at least three but not more than six members, all at least 21 years of age. Members don’t have to be registered in Scouting, but must understand the importance and purpose of the review. One member serves as Chairman. Unit leaders, assistant unit leaders, relatives, or guardians must not serve as members of a Scout’s Board of Review. The Scout’s parents, relatives, or guardians should not attend in any capacity — including as an observer — since their presence can change how the candidate answers questions. However, if a parent or guardian still insists on attending, they must be permitted to attend as an observer. The contents of the Board of Review are confidential.

Before the Board of Review, members convene 15–30 minutes early to review the candidate’s application, reference letters, and service project report/pictures, and to review these guidelines. The Chairman ensures everyone is introduced and understands the Board’s goals:

1. Confirm the Eagle project was successfully carried out — did the candidate demonstrate leadership and direct the project themselves (rather than do all the work or let someone else direct it)? Was it of value to the benefiting group? Did it follow the plan, or were modifications necessary — what did the candidate learn from them?
2. Be assured of the candidate’s participation in and understanding of the Scouting program.
3. Hold a thorough discussion of their successes and experiences in Scouting.

The review is not an examination — the Board does not formally test the candidate, though appearance before the Board doesn’t guarantee automatic attainment of the rank. The Board should determine the Scout’s attitude toward Scouting’s ideals, make sure good standards of performance have been met, discuss the Scout Oath and Law, and encourage the Scout to talk rather than answer yes/no.

The interview typically begins with the Scout reciting the Scout Oath and Law, followed by questions about their understanding of the Oath and Law, their camping and outdoor experiences, their Scouting experience and leadership positions, details of their Eagle project from start to finish, and their plans for the future. There’s no set length — 15 minutes is probably too short, an hour is probably too long.

After the review, the candidate and unit leader step out while the board discusses the candidate’s acceptability. Because of the importance of the Eagle Scout Award, the decision must be unanimous. If the candidate meets the requirements, they’re informed the Board will recommend them for the Eagle award, and the signed application is turned in to the Council Service Center along with an Advancement Form. If the candidate is found unacceptable, they’re told the reasons and how they may meet the requirements within a given period, with appeal procedures explained if they disagree with the decision.

General information adapted from Scoutingaround.com.

Final Board of Review Checklist

Boards use a check-in checklist to confirm, before and after the review: that the project approval and completion signatures are in place, the three copies of the advancement form are ready, the application has Council approval, signatures, a life purpose statement, and reference letters, and that the Scout has the required 21 merit badges (dated before their 18th birthday) and appropriate leadership roles. After the review, the checklist also confirms the advancement forms, application, congratulations letter, and Scout handbook are all signed, and next steps have been explained to the new Eagle Scout.

Congratulations Letter

Once the Board recommends a candidate for Eagle:

Congratulations, you have successfully completed your Eagle Board of Review and the Board has recommended you for the rank of Eagle. The Etowah District Advancement Committee congratulates you on this milestone.

Your Eagle Application will be submitted to the National BSA office for processing and/or final approval. Please be aware that your Board has recommended you be awarded the rank of Eagle, but the National BSA office provides the final approval. Our Etowah District Advancement Chair will notify your Scoutmaster or parents upon final approval — normal time frame is typically four to six weeks.

You will be invited to an upcoming Etowah Leader Roundtable meeting to be recognized for your Eagle award, and our Council honors new Eagle Scouts each year with a banquet in your honor.

You may begin preparations for your Eagle Court of Honor, but we suggest scheduling it no less than six weeks from the date of your Board of Review.