Your Eagle Scout Board of Review
The last requirement for the Eagle rank is to successfully complete a boardof review.
Scheduling
Afteryour application and other paperwork have been delivered to the chair of yourboard of review, your Scoutmaster willcontact the board of review chair and schedule your board ofreview. The board of review can occurafter your 18thbirthday if all the other requirements have been completed before your 18thbirthday.
Preparation
Besure you know your Joining/Tenderfoot material. You should know the ScoutOath (Promise) and Scout Law flawlessly. Check over your uniform to besure you will present the best impression. Be sure all your insignia arein the correct places. Wear a complete class "A" uniform.If you do not have a complete uniform, talk with your Scoutmaster about how youmight obtain the missing pieces. Wear your merit badge sash (over your sholder), even if youhave not received allof your merit badge patches.
A past Scouting Magazine article pointed out 3 common Scout uniforming errors:
• wearing the Boy Scout neckerchief over an open collar. (According tothe Insignia Guide, BSA No. 33066, the neckerchief can only be worn"over the collar (with the collar tucked in) or under the [unbuttoned]collar.")
• wearing an Order of the Arrow sash on inappropriate occasions. (TheOrder of the Arrow Handbook, No. 34996, states that the sash is onlyworn "at Order of the Arrow functions and special Scouting activities,when members need to be identified as Arrowmen rendering specialservices.")
• wearing a folded merit badge sash over the belt. (The Insignia Guide says, "A merit badge sash is never worn on thebelt.") If you have one, a merit badge sash is very appropriate attire for an Eagle Scout board of review. Seehttp://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2014/03/21/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-merit-badge-sashes/ for more information on wearing it correctly.
• I would add a fourth that I see frequently: Wearing a temporary (camp,trail, training, orother event) patch above the right pocket. (According to the Insignia Guide, BSA No. 33066,one temporary (event) patch can be worn centered on the right pocket. Onlyone such patch may be worn at a time. Only a world or national jamboreepatch is worn above the right pocket.)
Beloware links to several web sites with information about preparing for your boardof review. There is a good bit of duplication but many goodthoughts. Take a few minutes to read through these suggestions and takeadvantage of their advice.
-
http://www.eaglescout.org/finale/bor.html contains good information to review when preparing for your board of review.
-
http://www.macscouter.com/Scoutmaster/BoR_Guide.asp has more sample questions.
Materialto be Covered
Theboard of review is not an examination. It is not a retesting of the testsyou have already passed. It is a review. Your Eagle Scout Board ofReview will cover your entire Scouting career. You may be asked about anyof your experiences since you joined Scouting. You may be asked forsuggestions about how the program can be improved. There will probably besome questions about what you see ahead in your life.
TheBoard of Review
Theboard will consist of three to six adults. At least one of the memberswill be from the district or council advancement committee. The board may ask youquestions about your entire Scout career. It will typically last from 30to 60 minutes. At the end of the questioning you will be asked to step outwhile the board discusses your qualifications as an Eagle Scout. Then youwill be asked to return. Before youleave they will tell you whether you have passed or not. If there areproblems, they will explain to you what, if anything, you can do to correct theissues. Most Eagle candidates are approved by their board of review.
Appeals and Special Circ*mstances
Ifeither your Scoutmaster orUnit Committee Chairman do not sign your application or project report, or there is any reason that you feel you may not receive a fair hearing at your Board of Review, you may request an "Eagle Scout Board of Review Under Disputed Circ*mstances", contact the Council Advancement Chair or your District Advancement Chairfor guidance and assistance.
Ifyour advancement is not approved at your board of review you may appeal thedecision. At the conclusion of your board of review you will be informed and told of the process to follow if you want to appeal the decision. This is a very rare circ*mstance.
