Leadership

A Boy Scout troop is a small democracy.   The boys are formed into patrols, plan the troop's program and make it a reality.  In order for that to happen, a troop relies upon Scouts serving in positions of responsibility.  The key boy leaders of the troop make the patrol leaders' council.  They are the senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, patrol leaders and troop guides of any new-scout patrols. 

Leadership within the troop is not to be taken lightly.  Undertaking a leadership position is a commitment and a responsibility.  Leadership is earned not granted. Only Scouts who have shown a strong dedication to the troop and have displayed strong Scout Spirit will be considered for leadership.  Being in a leadership position means being at involved at every meeting and every outing as well as maintaining the standards of the Troop.  The responsibilities common to every position are:

Below is a brief description of each position.

(Click on the position of interest)

SENIOR PATROL LEADER (PLC)

• Elected by the Troop. Serves a six month term

• Presides at all troops meetings, events, activities, and annual program planning conference

• Appoints boy leaders with the advice and consent of the Scoutmaster and the PLC

• Assigns duties and responsibilities to other youth leaders

• Sets a good example and wears the uniform correctly

• Live by the Scout Oath and Law

• Show and develop good Scout spirit

ASSISTANT SENIOR PATROL LEADER (PLC)

• Selected by SPL with the advice and consent of the Scoutmaster.

• Serves a six month term

• Be responsible for training and giving direct leadership to the historian, Order of the Arrow Representative, scribe, librarian, instructor, quartermaster and chaplains' aide.

• Assist with lead and activities as called upon by the Senior Patrol Leader.

• Guide the troop in the Senior Patrol Leaders' absence

PATROL LEADER (PLC)

• Elected by the Patrol. Serves a six-month term.

• Plan and lead patrol meetings and activities

• Assign each patrol member a task and help them succeed

• Represent the patrol at all PLC meetings and the annual program planning conference

• Prepare the patrol to take part in all troop activities

• Show and help develop patrol spirit

• Work with the other troop leaders to make the troop run well

ASSISTANT PATROL LEADER

• Selected by Patrol Leader and Serves a six-month term,

• Help the Patrol Leader plan and lead patrol meetings and activities.

• Help the Patrol Leader keep the patrol members informed.

• Help the Patrol Leader to prepare the patrol to take part in an all troop activities

• Lead the Patrol in the Patrol Leader's absence

• Show and help develop patrol spirit

• Represent the patrol at all PLC meetings in the Patrol Leader's absence.

TROOP GUIDE (PLC)

• Selected by the Senior Patrol Leader with the advice and consent of the Scoutmaster.

• Must be at least a 1st Class Scout.

• Serves a six month term

• Introduces new Scouts to troop operations

• Guide new Scouts through early Scouting activities

• Shield new Scouts from harassment by older Scouts.

• Help new Scouts earn the First Class rank in their first year.

• Coach the patrol leader of the new Scout patrol on his duties.

• Attend the PLC meeting with patrol leader of the new Scout patrol.

• Teach basic Scout skills

QUARTERMASTER

• Selected by the Senior Patrol Leader with the advice and consent of the Scoutmaster.

• Serves a six-month term

• Keeps records of patrol and troop equipment

• Keep equipment in good repair

• Keep equipment storage areas neat and clean

• Work with the troop committee member responsible for equipment

SCRIBE

• Selected by the Senior Patrol Leader with the advice and consent of the Scoutmaster.

• Serves a six-month term

• Attends and keeps a of PLC meetings

• Record attendance and dues payments of all troop members

• Record advancement in troop records and on the Troop/Team advancement chart

• Works with the Troop Committee member responsible for finance, records, and advancement

• Handle correspondence appropriately

ORDER OF THE ARROW TROOP RESPRESENTATIVE

• Selected by the Senior Patrol Leader with the advice and consent of the Scoutmaster.

• Serves a six-month term,

• Serves as a communication link between the lodge or chapter and the troop.

• Encourage year-round participation in high-adventure programs.

• Encourage Scouts to actively participate in community service projects.

• Assist with leadership skills training in the troop

• Encourage Arrowmen to assume leadership positions in troop

• Encourage Arrowmen in the troop to be active participants in the lodge and/or chapter activities and to seal their membership in the Order by becoming brotherhood members.

TROOP HISTORIAN

• Selected by the Senior Patrol Leader with the advice and consent of the Scoutmaster.

• Serves a six-month term,

• Gather pictures and facts about past activities of the troop and keep them in scrapbooks, wall displays or information files

• Take care of troop trophies and keepsakes

LIBRARIAN

• Slected by the Senior Patrol Leader with the advice and consent of the Scoutmaster.

• Serves a six-month term,

• Establish and maintain a troop library

• Keep records on literature owned by the troop

• Add new or replacement items as needed

• Maintain a system to check literature in and out

INSTRUCTOR

• Selected by the Senior Patrol Leader with the advice and consent of the Scoutmaster.

• Serves a six-month term,

• Instruct Scouting skills as needed within the troop or patrols

• Prepare well in advance for each teaching assigment

CHAPLAIN AIDE

• Selected by the Senior Patrol Leader with the advice and consent of the Scoutmaster.

• Serves a six-month term

• Keep troop leaders appraised of religious holidays when planning activities

• Assist the troop Chaplain or religious coordinator in meeting the religious needs of troop members while on activities

• Lead worship on campouts

• Tell troop members about the religious emblems programs for their faith.

BUGLER

• Selected by the Senior Patrol Leader with the advice and consent of the Scoutmaster.

• Serves a six-month term

• Sound assembly at each troop meeting

• Learn at least on new bugle call during his tenure

• Sound reveille in the morning and taps in the evening while at camp

• Sound mess call prior to each meal

DEN CHIEF

• Selected by the Senior Patrol Leader with the advice and consent of the Scoutmaster.

• Serves a six-month term

• Serves as the activities assistant at den meetings

• Meet regularly with the den leader to review the den and pack meeting plans

• If serving as a Webelos den chief; help prepare boys to join Boy Scouting