How Troop 631 does Scouting (at least as seen by the Troop Chair who does not see everything and needs comments from those who see more ... so if-you-see-something-say-something) is documented so far in the Troop 631 Operating Manual and the links and resources from those pages.

• This includes how functions have been handled and how they might be handled better into the future with greater involvement by more parents.
  
• More resources can be added and corrected for future use by those who will lead Troop 631.
• If you have updates or improvements to those pages or other resources here, please email the Webmaster at webmaster@atlanta631.mytroop.us or the Chair at chair@atlanta631.mytroop.us. 

See this page for how Scouts BSA Troop 631 applies the Advancement Method of the Scouting program.

Key Topics are Listed below -- click on the link to jump to that Section: 

• Advancement Overview
• Four Steps of Advancement (A Scout Learns, is Tested, is Reviewed, is Recognized)
• Rank Requirements 
  
• Advancement through First Class 
• Advancement from First Class to Eagle
• Advancement Details, Instruction and Signoff
• Scout Spirit
• A Note about Parent Advancement Signoff
• Merit Badges
• Merit Badge Process
• First: Find A Merit Badge Program or Counselor
• Second: Obtain “Initial Merit Badge Approval” From the Troop
• Third: Attend the Program / Meet with the Counselor
• Fourth: Complete the Requirements – Be Tested
• Fifth: Obtain Signoff of Completed Requirements
• Last: Report to the Troop Your Merit Badge Signoff
• Three Notes about Merit Badge Signoffs
• Advancement Process and Rank Advancement Paperwork
• Scoutmaster Conference
• Board of Review
• Court of Honor
• “Scout of the Year” Award  

Here is the beginning of the content of this Section of the Troop 631 Operating Handbook:

Advancement Overview.  Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them – skills to learn and master – through the advancement method.  Scouts plan their own advancement and progress at their own pace as they meet each challenge.  Scouts are recognized and rewarded for each achievement, which helps them gain self-confidence.  The steps in the advancement system help a Scout grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others.  The Scouts BSA advancement program provides a ladder of skills that a Scout climbs at the Scout’s own pace.  A Scout is assisted by and supported by the Troop in acquiring these skills and moving up through a series of ranks for which badges are awarded.  Upon joining the Troop, one may work not only on the Scout rank, but also Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class because there are similar skill elements at each level; after First Class, a Scout works in sequence towards Star, Life, and, eventually, Eagle.  The higher the Scout climbs, the more challenging the tasks, and the more rewarding it becomes.  All advancement must be completed before the Scout’s eighteenth birthday. 

The Advancement method includes:

• Learning skills that enable the Scout to experience Scouting’s more exciting outdoor challenges.
• Developing body and mind, growing self-confidence, and helping younger Scouts climb the advancement ladder.
• Discovering how it feels to go further than you ever thought you could.
• Becoming a true leader. 

Advancement is a natural outcome of a planned, quality Troop program.  And Advancement is but one method of Scouting, no more important than the Ideals, the Patrol method, Leadership Development, and the Outdoor Program, all of which help meet the aims of Scouting.  

There are four steps of advancement:

1)    The Scout learns

• The Scout learns by doing, and as they learn, they grow in the ability to do their part as a member of the Patrol and Troop.  
• As they develop knowledge and skill, they are asked to teach others, and by this the Scout learns about developing leadership.

2)    The Scout is tested

• The Scout approaches a qualified adult to sign-off on specific requirements.  
• Unit leaders such as the Scoutmaster and trained Assistant Scoutmasters test and pass the Scout on rank requirements.  
• Merit Badge Counselors teach and test them on requirements for Merit Badges.  

3)    The Scout is reviewed

• After a Scout has completed all requirements for a rank, the Scout meets with the Scoutmaster for a Scoutmaster Conference.  
• Once this is completed, the Scout requests a Board of Review with the Advancement Team – the Scout may sign up for a Board of Review (often, on the Troop Website).  

4)    The Scout is recognized

• When a Scout’s advancement has been approved by a Board of Review, the Scout deserves recognition as soon as possible.  This is typically done at the next Troop meeting or event.  
• The certificate for their new rank will be presented later, during a formal Troop Court of Honor.   

More on advancement is found in the links above and in the Advancement Files and Advancement Links on the Troop Website, and in this BSA National page on Advancement and Awards. 

See the Help Wanted Page, which will show you who is doing what and where we have nobody doing the tasks (or someone who is doing too many tasks so a Parent needs to step up), and that page will link you to details about how to do the job and succeed at the job, from the Troop Operating Manual. Wanna help?  Email bert.bender@alston.com.  Click below for what is on the Help Wanted Page today:

Adult Leader and Parent Roles: In many years, the late spring Parent Meeting begins selection of Troop Committee Officers (Adults) for the upcoming year.

• See the Troop Operating Manual for how the Troop Operates (revised significantly in September of 2023), and needs Adult Support to provide our Scouts with the program they deserve.
• Job Descriptions (with detail on how to perform functions) is found in the Adult Leader Roles Appendix to the Operating Manual.

Roles and Vacancies 2025-2026 and Beyond:  Links to those jobs and functions from the Adult Leader Roles Appendix appear below with description about who is performing those functions. With updates through April 2025, current jobs and those serving are listed below, but many spots remain open.  Contact the Scoutmaster or Troop Chair if you can take any of these jobs, or any part -- NOTE: in many (but not all) cases, the person who has been doing a role will be willing to continue, with help, but in several cases, there will be a change. 

• So if you need to step back, downsize or swap roles, let the Scoutmaster or Troop Chair know. 
• Some roles show possible smaller roles, even though one person may be doing all of the smaller roles now. 
• There is a value in bringing on helpers in smaller roles.
• Also, succession in a “role” does not mean either (a) do everything the last person did, or (b) do it just like the last person did. 
• There’s lots of ways to slice and dice, split off and/or recombine support roles, and we have evolved that over time. 
• The key for all is to communicate among those with a hand in a function or a need to know. 
  

Youth Facing Roles (Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster and Youth Officer Advisors) -- click links for function descriptions: 

• Scoutmaster -- 2026-2027: _________OPEN; 2023-2026: Renee Bottie-Wheeler (yes, Renee will retire as SM at the end of the 25-26 School Year); 2021-2022: Josh Flannigan;  2016-2021: Rich Taylor; 2007-2016: Jim Waddell 

Adelia Murphy, Grandmother of Scout Risdon Rodgers (and Cub Scout Riley Rodgers), mother of Erin Rodgers and mother in law of Cubmaster Steve Rodgers, has passed away.  Obituary here.  May our thoughts and prayers be with the family, and may her memory be a blessing.

The Official Signup for Troop 631 for the 2025-2026 School Year is underway - the number for Local Troop Program Fees (a/k/a "Dues") is “$65 by Zelle (or check) or $68 by PayPal”.  Please go to https://atlanta631.mytroop.us/node/10983 to "Register" and see how to pay.