ARCHIVE – New Birth of Freedom Council, BSA Website for the New Birth of Freedom Council, BSA
Quick heads up for anyone still using pre-2016 Boy Scout rank requirements.
As of Jan. 1, 2017, all Boy Scouts — regardless of rank — must begin using the new Boy Scout requirements that appeared in the Bryan on Scouting blog last year.
You got a first look at the Boy Scout requirement changes way back in January 2014; the requirements themselves were released to the public in May 2015.
The BSA established 2016 as a transition year, allowing Boy Scouts to choose whether to use the new requirements or finish up their current rank with the old ones.
Now that it’s 2017, every Boy Scout must use the new requirements. Here’s the scoop:
Where can I find the new Boy Scout requirements?
The BSA has made it easy for you, providing this printable Handbook insert and this PDF. (Here is the Spanish version.)
Want a side-by-side comparison of old vs. new? That’s here.
When do my Scouts start using these new Boy Scout requirements?
Beginning Jan. 1, 2017, all Boy Scouts must use the current requirements regardless of rank.
For those who are curious, here’s a look back at how Boy Scouts transitioned from the old to the new requirements. It was a very transparent, Scouter-friendly process.
What are the big changes?
Click each of these below to take a closer look:
- Number of required camping nights has increased
- Number of required service hours has increased
- Emphasis on physical fitness has increased
- Scout is now its own rank
- Boy Scouts are required to tell about their duty to God at each rank
What if I still have questions?
They’re probably answered on the BSA’s Program Updates page. Make it your go-to source for information on — what else? — BSA program updates.
