Scout Leadership......

Troop Structure

Two of the basic principles of scouting are that: (a) scouts are organized into patrols, and (b) the troop is boy-led. The troop leadership structure is designed to put these principles into action.

The Senior Patrol Leader (“SPL”) is the boy leader elected by the troop to preside at troop meetings, ceremonies and activities. The SPL serves as leader of the troop's other scout leaders and chairs the Patrol Leaders Council (“PLC”). The SPL has a big job but he has help, he appoints an Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (“ASPL”) to work with him. The ASPL joins with the SPL to guide the troop and the ASPL steps in to be in charge in the SPL's absence. The SPL and ASPL can turn to the Scoutmaster for counsel.

As mentioned above, the patrol is the functional unit of organization in scouting, so the PL position is an important responsibility to the other boys. The Patrol Leaders (“PLs”) are elected by the Patrols. The PL role is an opportunity for a boy to learn-by-doing. He can grow and learn from both the rewards as well as the challenges of leading a small group of his peers. Each patrol leader needs to keep his patrol informed about troop happenings, help patrol members with their individual advancement steps, help the patrol organize themselves on outings, lead them in patrol competitions and resolve conflicts.

The Patrol Leader Council (PLC) is the boy-run representative body that, with the advice and consent of the Scoutmaster and Troop Committee, does the following:

¨ Plans and organizes the annual activities of the troop.
¨ Plans each month's troop meetings.
¨ Defines troop rules.
¨ Handles issues that need resolution at the troop level.

Members of the PLC include the SPL, ASPL and Patrol Leaders. Other people attend PLC meetings including the Scoutmaster, the Scribe and others.

Developing Leadership Skills

So how does a scout know what to do in one of these positions? A scout can learn about leadership roles by seeing the examples set by his own leaders. Hopefully he will have mostly good role models but he may also form his own opinions about how he would do things if (or when) he were the leader. Once he becomes a leader a PL can ask the SPL, ASPL or senior scouts for guidance. As a second line of support he can turn to the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmasters.

In addition there are also several forms of BSA leadership training and materials available to boys, including the following:

New Leader Training – a one-day class given periodically by the Council.
National Youth Leadership Training – a one week program for leadership skills (see the Training page for more info)
Publications such as the Patrol Leader Handbook and the Senior Patrol Leaders Handbook.

PL Handbook SPL handbook

Leadership "Contracts"

The Troop makes explicit what our expectations are for those scouts who are stepping up to leadership positions. For each position there is a “contract” that lists the responsibilites for that position. The scout signs the agreement to acknowledge that he is accepting those responsibilities. Click on the badge of any position in the table below to see the specific responsibilities for that position.

A reminder of requirements for serving in these roles:

Senior Patrol Leader: Must be Life rank and member of Senior Patrol
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader: appointed by Senior Patrol Leader
Patrol Leader: Must be First Class rank prior to the elections (and preferably 7th grade or higher)

There currently are no term limits for serving as Patrol Leader, but the SM will strongly encourage a scout who has already served as Patrol Leader (long enough to advance a rank) to defer to a scout who has not been Patrol Leader before and who really wants to be one!

Click on the badges below to learn more about these positions.

Leadership Requirements

for Rank Advancement:

Participation Standards

Youth Leadership Training

Scout Leadership......

Troop Structure

Developing Leadership Skills

Leadership "Contracts"