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Many of these questions and more are answered in your Troop Guide (notebook) and in your Boy Scout handbook.

Q: What is a “Class A”?

A: “Class A” refers to your full Field Uniform (and should be called “Field Uniform”) and consists of the khaki scout shirt with appropriate patches, neckerchief, scout belt, scout pants, scout socks and optionally a scout hat

Q: What is a Class B?

A: “Class B” uniform consists of the Troop 606 T-shirt along with casual but not sloppy clothing.

Q: Where do all these patches go?

A: There are basic diagrams of patch placement inside the covers of the Boy Scout Handbook. The insignia guide covers everything else (the scout is not required to have an insignia guide, so just ask a troop leader). Our troop provides for displaying award patches on the back of the merit badge sash. Many scouts use that area to display summer camp and high adventure awards.

Q: In connection with rank advancements, what does it mean to “be active” in the troop and patrol?

A: A number of the scout ranks require that the scout “be active” for a specified period of time. This is an important requirement. Quoting from the Scout Handbook (p. 169): “To gain full advantage of all that Scouting has to offer, you need to be present when things are happening. Take part in meetings, in planning activities, and in the fun of adventures.” While 100% attendance is not necessary, Scouts are expected to attend and participate in meetings, planned activities and troop outings. Occasional attendance, or attending without participation, will not suffice.

Q:In connection with rank advancements, what does it mean to “demonstrate Scout spirit”?

A: Many of the scout ranks require that a scout “demonstrate Scout spirit” by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law in his every day life. This is an important requirement. The Scout Handbook (p. 170) says that “living these high standards is always a personal choice and something only [the scout] can fully measure. But by now, many other people should be seeing qualities in you that make it clear you are choosing wisely.” Before advancing in rank, the Scoutmaster will confirm with a number of other people that the scout is demonstrating Scout spirit.

Q: Where does my name tag go?

A: It goes over the “Boy Scouts of America” label, over your right pocket on your field uniform.

Q: What is a Scoutmaster’s Conference?

A: A Scoutmaster’s Conference is a meeting with the Troop 606 Scoutmaster after the scout has completed all the requirements for a rank except Scoutmaster’s Conference, Board of Review and Scout Spirit. Before the conference, the Scoutmaster will confirm with other people that you have been active and have demonstrated Scout spirit.  The Scoutmaster may ask you questions about things you should have learned (like: tie a bowline or how do you treat a snake bite?) and how you are doing in the troop or what are you doing outside of the troop. Wear your full Field Uniform (“Class A”) including merit badge sash (if you have at least 3 merit badges sewn on) and bring your scout handbook. When a scout thinks he is ready to advance to the next rank he (not the parent!) should call the Scoutmaster and request a conference.

Q: What is a Board of Review?

A: A board of review is the final step in rank advancement.  It is a meeting with three adults from our troop and lasts for about 15 minutes.  The purpose is to check that the scout has completed all his requirements for the rank he is competing. There is no testing / retesting of skills at this level. (An exception to this is the Eagle BOR) Wear your full field uniform (“Class A”) including merit badge sash (if you have at least 3 merit badges sewn on) and bring your scout handbook. When the BOR is completed the paperwork will then be forwarded to the Advancement Chairperson for final review.

Q: When will I be given a Board of Review?

A: You (the scout) must request a Board of Review when you have finished all your requirements including Scout Master’s Conference (or anticipate having completed your Scoutmaster’s Conference). The scout should request BOR from the BOR coordinator. (An exception to this is the Eagle BOR). The Board of Review can be at any time during the year.  Many scouts rush to complete rank immediately prior to a Court of Honor, however, rank advancement can occur at any time the scout is ready.

Q: What is a Court of Honor?

A: A Court of Honor is the official recognition of the scout’s accomplishments: Merit Badges, rank advancement and awards. Troop 606 holds these three times per year in Sept., Feb. and June. June COH is our end of year family dinner at Bommer canyon.

Q: I didn’t earn any awards – should I still go to the COH?

A: Yes. This is a troop event and you are part of the troop. When you are recognized for your awards you would like the troop to be there too, right?

Q: When can I wear my merit badge sash?

A: Wear a merit badge sash to Court of Honors, Scoutmaster conferences, Boards of Review and other formal occasions (not meetings!) after you have acquired (and sewn on) at least 3 merit badges. Also be sure you are wearing your scout shirt with patches and neckerchief and appropriate pants (scout like colors) (scout pants and belt are encouraged).

Q: Can I wear my Merit badge Sash and OA sash together

A: No, and don’t wear either one on your belt.

Q: What is brass on brass?

A: Brass on Brass refers to the brass tip of your belt meeting the brass belt buckle. This is accomplished by adjusting the inside of the belt buckle. You can cut off the excess belt but don’t cut the brass end off. (Hint: you can seal the end of the belt you cut with clear fingernail polish to prevent the end from fraying).

Q: When can I wear my Order of the Arrow (OA) sash?

A: The OA sash is authorized for OA activities and for activities where the scout is representing the OA in an official capacity, such as at troop elections or as part of the OA service-corps for an event.

Q: Who can sign off on my rank requirements?

A: The scoutmaster handbook says that "Scouts in regular patrols and Venture crews may be tested by registered adult troop leaders or by their own patrol leaders, troop guides, or another junior leader provided that the boy leader has already earned the rank the Scout is aiming for". Our troop policy is that a parent will not sign off their own son on requirements unless it was completed as a group activity. And of course, whom ever signs off must be familiar with that requirement themselves (i.e. in order to sign off on a bowline they must be able to tie one).

Q: What is a blue card?

A: A blue card is used to track Merit Badge requirements. It is a three part form. One Part is the counselor’s record, one part is the council record and one part is the applicant’s record.

Q: Where do I get a blue card?

A: Get a blue card from the Troop 606 Scoutmaster before you start working on a merit badge. He will sign it when you get the card. This is to allow the scoutmaster to review with each scout his readiness for a particular merit badge, and to ensue he isn't working on too many requirements simultaneously

Q: What do I do with my blue card?

A: After you get your blue card from the Scoutmaster give it to your merit badge counselor. The merit badge counselor will sign off your blue card when you have completed all the requirements (or you can get a partial if you need to) and give two sections back to you (the counselor keeps one section). You then get the Scoutmaster’s signature again and then the scout turns both sections of the card into the Advancement Chairperson. The scout will get the Applicant section back at a Court of Honor. The scout will be issued merit badges that they have earned at a troop meeting unless they earn it just before a Court of Honor.

Q: What is Camporee?

A: Camporee is an annual event -usually in March or April - where all the troops from a district (in our case Rancho del Mar) get together and have a campout and competition in various events such as knot tying, first aid, orienteering, flag pole raising and fire building.

Q: What is Pre-Camporee?

A: Pre-Camporee is a practice run for Camporee and a chance for the scouts to get together, welcome new scouts to the troop, practice scouting skills and have fun. It is a campout for our troop that usually takes place within a few weeks of the Camporee.

Q: What is Jamboree?

A: Jamboree (the National ScoutJamboree) is when Scouts from various troops across the nation get together at Fort AP Hill Virginia. It is about two weeks during the summer and involves a tour of famous sites and one week at camp. It occurs once every four years. Scouts expressing interest are recommended to the Council where they are organized into (temporary) National Jamboree troops. There is also an International Scout Jamboree which takes place in various locations around the world. For more information see http://www.scouting.org/jamboree/.

Q: What is the Scout bank?

A: The scout bank is a Troop 606 accounting system that tracks credits to a scout for things like popcorn sales, greenery sales, Scout-O-Rama ticket sales and other fund raisers. These credits can be used to pay for scout related expenses, within the troop, such as trips. Participating in fundraising events is a good way for scouts to earn and pay for scout activities.

Q: What is Order of the Arrow

A: Order of the Arrow is Scouting’s national honor society. Scouts are elected to the Order by their fellow unit members once a year, following approval by the Scoutmaster. To become a member, a youth must be a registered member of a Boy Scout troop or Varsity Scout team and hold First Class rank. The youth must have experienced fifteen days and nights of Boy Scout camping during the two-year period prior to the election. The fifteen days and nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of six consecutive days and five nights of resident camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America. The balance of the camping must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps.

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