Advancement Documentation and Patches
Advancement Documentation and Patches
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Many of our newest Scouts have already earned their first boatload of merit badges, rank advancements, other awards and various paper documentation - so now what?
OK, lets talk about the merit badge patches first. These are sewn onto a merit badge sash, in horizontal 3-patch rows. Be careful not to sew the patches on the wrong front - the sash is worn across the chest from the right shoulder to the left hip. The patches are sewn in chronological order, horizontally with respect to the sash being held vertically - not with respect to vertical when the sash is being being worn (in other words, the patches will appear to be at an angle when the sash is worn). If I terminally confused you, either call me or ask to see the sash of one of the older Scouts who has made at least Star rank - a picture worth a thousand words. The sashes, by the way, can be bought at Scout Headquarters in Bethesda (and sometimes at Casual Adventure).
Incidentally, no other patches may be sewn onto the merit badge sash; this includes, for example, mile swim patches or 50 Miler Awards. The sash is for merit badges only.
Now, with respect to the "blue cards", these are vital documents and must be kept for proving that the Scout actually earned the merit badge! The merit badge itself is not proof of anything - this is because their sale is unrestricted - anyone can walk in off the street and buy as many merit badges as they want (and yes, people do just that, don't ask me why). If and when your son makes it to his Eagle Board, all documentation of his badges must be presented - yes, borderline Eagles have been denied for atrocious records. Several of our most recent Eagles have not had complete records, despite all my coaching and warnings through the years; fortunately, we had backups - but someone's eventually going to get tagged on this issue.
You may surmise that the same is true for all other advancement documentation - and you're correct! You need to keep all rank cards (Tenderfoot, Second Class, etc.), for eventual presentation to the Eagle Board. This is most critical for Scouts transferring out of the area; while Troop 111 maintains formal back-up records for all its Scouts, many other Troops do not, and what you show up with is what you've got. Keep everything!!! Most Scouts keep all their various cards (merit badges, ranks, Mile Swims, etc.) in a baseball card type notebook folder - the plastic sleeves keep everything fairly pristine and properly organized. If this is more than you want to bother with, at the very least put everything in a shoe-box or letter-box; don't just shove them in a drawer someplace, or for sure something will eventually get misplaced. Whatever option you use, be sure to clearly mark the outside of the box, notebook, etc., so that it's obvious what it is. I didn't do this with my stuff and my younger sister mistakenly threw out several hundred of my Scouting photos (almost everything I had) during a house cleanup while I was in Graduate School. Words for the wise(r).
You may note that I mentioned backups above. For merit badge blue cards only, there is a "Troop Section" which we keep on file for all active Scouts. Thus, we have been able to replace misplaced or lost cards for several Scouts. However, this is the only hard copy backups - there are no backups to rank cards, awards, etc. The copy your son has - is it. I always cringe when I see the Scouts just shoving these items in a convenient pocket (doubtless to be turned back into wood pulp at the next washing.) If your son has just earned a merit badge, made rank or gotten an award, you should always ask where is the card and (where applicable) the patch. If you don't, no-one else will!
Next, you have all seen how I publish each merit badge, rank or award in the Scoutmaster's Minute, along with attendance at events. This is to both recognize the Scout for his achievements (in a public forum) and to act as a safety net for the formal documentation that we have to send to Council. If any of your son's achievements are not listed in a "Minute," it probably means we didn't get it or misplaced it ourselves; remember, with 50-plus Scouts, keeping everything organized is a monumental task, and yes, things do occasionally slip through the cracks. You are the safety net - if your son earned something, and it hasn't appeared within 2 "Scoutmaster's Minutes," it's time to make some phone calls. Believe me, it's a lot easier to straighten out right away then 2 to 4 years down the road.
Finally, you may recall that we try to give a xerox copy of your son's (now computerized) Individual Scout Records once a year, usually around February. This lists all advancement, ranks, awards, activities, etc., for your son since he joined the Troop. It is a vital document for you! - first, it's the primary backup if the computer dies (or falls prey to some other disaster), and second, it's the last safety net to review prior awards - if it ain't on here, we definitely don't have it. I am pained how many of these are apparently tossed right in the trash upon arrival; many of our current Senior Scouts (including Eagles) have but one or two of them, often from years ago. This is not being prudent, folks!
OK, to summarize:
Dr. Bob, SM-111
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