BSA Troop 789

Camp Pendleton, CA

Merit Badges

Merit badges are required to advance beyond the rank of First Class. Twelve specific merit badges are required for Eagle. Star requires that four of these badges are completed (with two additional merit badges of the Scout’s choice) and Life requires that three more Eagle required badges be completed (along with an additional two). The requirements for badges should be followed as they are written (according to the Boy Scout handbook) unless there are medical or safety reasons to deviate from the requirements. Partial badges should be completed within a reasonable amount of time. Requirements that were met before applying for the badge should be within a reasonable amount of time. It is up to the counselor to determine what is allowable and reasonable.

After a Scout successfully completes the requirements, the counselor will sign the merit badge card, which must also be signed by the Scoutmaster. The counselor gets part of the card for his records, the advancement person gets part of the card for his records, and the Scout gets the last part. It is important to hang onto the cards that are received with the badge. These cards prove that a badge has been completed, and proof will be required for advancement to the rank of Eagle. Don’t lose them. Many Scouts put their cars in a three-ring binder in clear plastic pages designed to hold sports cards.

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The link below is to some additional information from Boy Scouts of America about the merit badge process, including a complete list of all the merit badges the scouts can earn. As always, if scouts have questions regarding merit badges, please have them speak to the Scoutmaster, one of the Assistant Scoutmasters, their Patrol Leader or their Merit Badge Counselor. There are also merit badge books in the library at the Scout Hut they can refer to.

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