Recent Comments

What You Need to Know About the Rank of Scout

When you join a Scouts BSA troop, one of the first things you’ll work on is earning the rank of Scout.

Good news! You’ll complete many of these same requirements when you’re a Webelos Scout. Then after you join a Scouts BSA troop, all you have to do is show an adult Scouts BSA leader what you’ve learned.

The key is to pay attention now, so you don’t have to relearn everything later.

First — if you haven’t already — work on memorizing the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout motto, Scout slogan and Outdoor Code. Explain what Scout spirit is. Give the Scout sign, salute and handshake. And memorize the Pledge of Allegiance.

STEPPING UP

The next thing you’ll need to do is study the Scouts BSA First Class badge. The rank of First Class is the fourth rank that you’ll earn in Scouting, and the badge is an important symbol of the Boy Scouts of America. In fact, Scouts in other countries have their own badges that look very similar.

You’ll also need to show that you can tie three different knots: a square knot, two half-hitches and a taut-line hitch. Don’t worry; they’re all pretty simple — and also very handy to know!

Speaking of rope, you’ll learn how to whip and fuse the ends of different kinds of rope. This will keep the ends of your rope from unraveling. You know how shoestrings look if you don’t keep them tied? You don’t want that to happen to your rope!

THE PATROL METHOD

Another thing you’ll need to do to earn the rank of Scout is to learn how a Scouts BSA patrol works and how Scouts BSA advancement works. You’ll practice this in your Arrow of Light den, so all you have to do is explain it to a Scouts BSA leader.

Finally, you’ll have to show that you know how to responsibly use a pocketknife. Remember the Whittling Chip you earned? That’s it! That’s all you have to know.

In Scouts BSA, by the way, you’ll earn a Totin’ Chip, which is kind of like the Whittling Chip, only even more awesome because you get to use an ax and saw, too.

9 Comments on What You Need to Know About the Rank of Scout

  1. i want to be a scout!

  2. Initially it wasn’t a rank. It was more of a “joining” rank. It became an actual rank a few years ago.

  3. Have things changed? The Scoutmastership Fundamentals course, which I taught for many years, says that “Scout” is not a rank.

  4. The old man of 252 // August 23, 2020 at 2:50 pm // Reply

    Learning the knots becomes very important, Not only to Rankin but the come in real handy while camping.once learned they become useful later in life also, case in point.
    My four boys are Eagle Scouts,three are in the military, When in boot camp they had to know their knots and for the guys in their company the used the EDGE method to help those who had trouble with their knots tying as they had to show proficiency to move on. They made a lot of friends that way.

Leave a Comment

Please don't use your real name.