Reference Letter Requests

The Eagle Scout Rank Application asks for four references. It’s the Scout’s job to contact them and give each one a request letter. Include these letters in the packet you give Scouts at their proposal review.

Who may serve, from the Guide to Advancement: “These may be Scout leaders, teachers, employers, coaches, other Scouts, etc. References do not need to be 21 or older. Parents and other relatives are strongly discouraged from serving as references. The current unit leader and committee chair are not eligible to serve as references; their signature on the application is their endorsement.”

The 2026 application added a parent/guardian line near requirement 2. Scouting America clarified in March 2026: “That field was added solely to collect contact information in case we need to reach a parent or guardian — it was never meant to imply that a reference letter or recommendation from parents was required or even recommended. In fact they are still strongly discouraged.”

Responses go to the unit leader, or another adult the Scout designates, in a sealed envelope, not to the Scout. Suggest the Scout mark the outside of the return envelope “Eagle Reference Letter for [Scout’s name], DO NOT OPEN.”

General request

Dear Sir or Madam:

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

An Eagle Scout candidate must demonstrate that they live by the principles of the Scout Oath and Scout Law in their daily life. In this regard, the candidate has indicated that you know them personally and that you would be willing to provide a letter of recommendation on their 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 the candidate’s [Scoutmaster]. The Scout should furnish you with the [Scoutmaster]’s name and complete mailing address. The contents of your letter will not be shared with the candidate by the Board; the letter is held in confidence and destroyed after the Scout receives the award. You are, of course, free to discuss your letter with the candidate yourself if you wish, but you are under no obligation to do so.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Religious principles

For a Scout who has asked a reference to describe their religious principles specifically:

Dear Sir or Madam:

The young person presenting this to you is a Life Scout in Scouting America and is a candidate for the rank of Eagle Scout. They have requested that you provide a reference that particularly describes their RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES to the Eagle Board of Review.

Scouting 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, the member declares, “On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty 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. Scouting 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 by the Board.

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

Response handling

From the Guide to Advancement:

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. Doing so could discourage the submission of negative information. Those providing references do not have the option of waiving confidentiality. Once a review has been held, or an appeal process conducted, responses must be returned to the council, where they will be destroyed after the Eagle Scout credentials are released or the appeal is concluded.