Advancement
Internet Advancement TrackingUnits can now use Internet Advancement to record their youth member advancement from any online location: at home or at the office. Learn more about online advancement here. Merit Badge CounselorsMerit Badge Counselors must be at least 18 years of age and be registered with the Boy Scouts of America. If they are already BSA members they need to fill out a Merit Badge Counselor Data Collection Form. For non-registered adults, they need to fill out an adult leader application and the data collection form. There is no charge to serve as a Merit Badge Counselor. Advancement ReportsAll Units must complete an advancement report prior to purchasing awards. The advancement report must be either the official BSA form or two copies from Troop Master or Pack Master. The Advancement Report should be signed by the unit Advancement Chairman. The forms must have the required signatures. Troops must also bring the blue merit badge application (aka Blue card) for verification of counselor. Try internet advancement to make this process a lot easier! |
 |
Arrow of Light/Cross Over Ceremonies
The Arrow of Light is the highest award a Cub Scout can earn. Help ensure it is a memorable ceremony by checking out the ceremony books that are available in the Scout Hut. Don't forget to invite your local Scout Troop to help with the ceremony.
Online Rank Videos
The National BSA Website has videos to help scouts and leaders through all the requirements from Tenderfoot thru First Class Ranks. It is highly recommended to check this out. You can access the website here.
Eagle Scouts
When a Scout or Venturer earns his Life Rank he begins to work on the remaining
requirements for the Eagle Scout Rank. Troops/Crews should assign a mentor,
e.g., Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop Committee Chair, Crew Advancement Chair,
etc., to mentor and "enable" the Scout or Venturer through the remaining
requirements for the Eagle Scout Rank. Troops/Crews are encouraged to
call/e-mail the Chair, Great Okinawa District Advancement and Recognition
Committee to coordinate a Life to Eagle Seminar (add link to page that has Life
to Eagle Seminar .ppt, FEC's Supplement to 12 Steps from Life to Eagle, sample
letter to request letter of recommendation, sample letters of recommendation,
Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, and Eagle Scout Rank
application) for its Scouts/Venturers, Scouters, and parents. The seminar will
outline the policies and procedures for completing the requirements for the
Eagle Scout Rank. The Scoutmaster, entire Troop/Crew Committee, and the Chair,
Great Okinawa District Advancement and Recognition Committee must approve Eagle
Scout Leadership Service Project plan before any work can begin toward the
project. The Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook (add link to
Workbook) must be used to document plan and all work accomplished during
execution of Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project. Contact the Chair, Great
Okinawa District Advancement and Recognition Committee to make arrangements for
a review of
Scout's/Venturer's Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project plan. The Chair,
Great Okinawa District Advancement and Recognition Committee will schedule the
Eagle Scout Board of Review only after confirmation from Far East Council that
all required paperwork, e.g., Eagle Scout Rank Application, Letters of
Recommendation, Statement of Ambitions, Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project
Workbook, etc. are complete with all required signatures.
Attention Scouts, Leaders, and Parents or Guardians
Eagle Scout rank requirement 5 has been reworded. To support that change, a new Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook has been created. Through Dec. 31, 2011, Scouts have a choice to use either the new workbook or the one it is replacing. Scouts whose Eagle Scout service project has already been approved by the council or district under the former wording of requirement 5—and using the former workbook—should continue with the same workbook. If their project has not yet been approved by the council or district, they may elect to use the revised requirement 5 and the new workbook. Starting Jan. 1, 2012, Eagle Scout candidates—unless they have already submitted a plan for approval by the council or district under the former requirement—will be expected to fulfill the revised service project requirement 5 using the new workbook. The new workbook can be found here.
Adams Service Project Award
The National Eagle Scout Association has established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award to recognize valuable service of an exceptional nature by a Scout to a religious institution, a school, community, or other entity. The award recognizes the Scout for his Eagle Scout service project, which is part of the requirements for earning the Eagle Scout Award. Each local council will choose a council-level winner, and from that pool each region will pick a region-level winner. From the four regional finalists, an overall winner will be selected. Learn more about it from the flyer or at the National Eagle Scout website.
Golden Spark Plug Award
The Golden Spark Plug Award is the opportunity for Units to recognize a leader for outstanding service to the Unit. The Golden Spark Plug Awards are presented at the District Dinner in February. Names must be turned in by the January Roundtable.
Silver Shisa Award
The Silver Shisa is an annual award given by the Great Okinawa District to Scouters at each level of Scouting for outstanding service that year. The awards are presented at the District Dinner in February.
District Award of Merit
The District Award of Merit is the highest award the District may present to a Scouter. The Award of Merit is presented at the District Dinner in February. To nominate a Scouter for the Award of Merit, the nomination form must be returned to the Scout Office by January Roundtable. Nomination forms are available at the Scout Service Center.