Scouts,

As of January 1, 2017, the new BSA rank requirements officially go into effect. Beginning in January 2016, BSA started the sale of the new 13th Edition Scout Handbook, with many revised requirements for each rank. All the boys who joined Troop 233 in 2016 should have purchased this new edition and thus have been following the current requirements.

For scouts who joined prior to January 2016, this past year had been considered a transition year. The old rank requirements (as per 12th Edition Scout Handbook) were applicable to you for purposes of rank advancement. However, effective January 1, 2017, the 12th Edition requirements are obsolete, and can no longer be the basis of rank advancement.

For those Scouts who have purchased the 12th Edition, you have two options:

1.  Buy a new 13th Edition handbook, or

2.  Print the new rank requirements insert available at 

2016 Boy Scout Rank Requirements

2016 Boy Scout Rank Requirements – Printable Insert

Note the page orientation for the insert. You should be able to print out double-sided and fold down the middle. If you have previously purchased the zippered canvas cover for your Scout Handbook, the insert should fit within. We will have some copies of the insert available at our next meeting.

With regard to any rank requirements partially completed as of January 1, 2017, the old signed off items must be converted (if possible) to signoffs of new requirements.  A comparison of the old and new requirements can be found at

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/2016BoyScoutRequirements_8.14.2015.pdf

These and other useful documents can be found on our Troop 233 Google Drive.

A junior scout will probably need a session with a senior scout (or perhaps an adult leader) to “convert” old requirement signoffs into new requirement signoffs.  Scouts who are already First Class or above will need to retain the signature pages from their old book if they get a new one. The Eagle process requires submitting the signature pages for First Class and above. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Scoutmaster or any of the Assistant Scoutmasters for guidance.