Advancement

Commissioners, Troop Unit leaders and especially Scoutmasters must be familiar with the Merit Badge Process. We will be providing some mini training in this section each month.

This month’s True or False Question-If the requirements for a merit badge differ between the merit badge pamphlet and the current edition of Boy Scout Requirements, the requirements in the Boy Scout Requirements book supersede all others.

True. The Boy Scout Requirements book is revised annually and reflects any changes that have been made, whereas the merit badge pamphlets are not revised annually and may be outdated.

For example, the Personal Fitness merit badge pamphlet was last updated in 2006 but the requirements changed in 2010.   You can find the current requirements online at:

     http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/MeritBadges.aspx

The US Scouting Project website (http://usscouts.org/meritbadges.asp) tracks changes in merit badge requirements. This is also a great location to find information on editorial errors in pamphlets such as editorial error in the personal fitness pamphlet. In the text of the pamphlet, and in the current edition of Boy Scout Requirements, the Scout is told to record his performance on all three tests (Sit-ups, Push-ups, and Pull-ups). This was a change made in 2006/2007. In the table on page 72 of the black and white (33286B) pamphlet, and the same table in the color (35927) edition, the table was not changed to reflect the changed requirement, and the Scout is incorrectly directed to do the Sit-ups and either Push-ups or Pull-ups. TIP-You could print and paste this correction into pamphlets in your troop library.

Does your troop have a sit-and reach box for a Scout to use with the Flexibility Test required for this merit badge?   If you are considering building one, attach paper measuring tape (like an IKEA measuring tape) with the metric side up and then the Scout can easily see his progress. See how to build a Sit and Reach Box:

                                       http://usscouts.org/mb/patch/reachbox.gif

If you have questions you would like in future Test your knowledge contact Melinda Young, Tyee District Advancement Chair can be contacted at      melinda_young@verizon.net