Eagle Scout
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Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable by a Scout in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). The term Eagle Scout is used to refer to a Scout who has achieved this honor. An award of the same name, Eagle Scout (BSP), is awarded by the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.
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Eagle Scout rank in the BSA
| Eagle Scout (BSA) | ||
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| Medal | Youth Patch | Adult Square Knot |
| Missing image Bsa_eagle_scout_medal.jpg Eagle Scout Medal |  | Missing image Eaglescoutknot.jpg Eagle Scout Square Knot |
The rank is awarded upon completion of a community service project designed and directed by the Scout, the acquisition of a certain number of merit badges (21, 12 specified from specific sets of lists from various categories, with flexibility to accommodate boys with physical disabilities, and 9 elective), and service in a leadership position in the Scout's Troop. The Scout must also be approved through a series of Boards of Review. The highly respected rank is considered to be a significant honor, and is looked upon as an achievement even much later in life. About four percent of Scouts attain the rank. More than 1 million Boy Scouts have earned the rank since 1911. The Eagle Scout Court of Honor is a special ceremony in honor of a new Eagle Scout.
In the BSA, after achieving the rank of Eagle, a scout may also earn Eagle palms. Eagle palms are awarded for earning a certain number of merit badges over and above those required for the rank of Eagle, and for continuing to serve actively in the troop for a specified period of time.
Eagle Scouts are expected to set an example for other Scouts. They are expected to become the leaders in life that they have demonstrated themselves to be in Scouting.
Once an Eagle Scout, one is always an Eagle Scout. Adult leaders in the BSA may wear a red, white, and blue square knot on their uniform to indicate that they are Eagle Scouts. The Eagle Scout badge is worn on the left side of the scout or venturing uniform on the pocket. The Eagle medal can be worn on the scout uniform, and a lapel pin is worn on civilian atire.
Eagle Scouts who join the US military may receive advanced rank upon enlistment in recognition of their achievements. The Eagle Scout medal, however, is not allowed to be worn on the active duty uniform and no ribbon bar has been authorized for Eagle Scouts to wear on the uniform.
Interpretation of the badge design
Although the badge has no official description, Courts of Honor usually assign meanings to each of the symbols and challenge the scout to identify them. The challenge may be a collaboration of thoughts from past Eagle Scouts on what the badge means and/or represents to them. It also incorporates the basic BSA symbolism that every scout learns for initiation.
At the very top of the badge is a scroll with the words "Be Prepared." This phrase is the scout motto and to an Eagle Scout it can mean service. This phrase also is a reminder to do a good turn daily (the scout slogan). The ends of the scroll are turned up as in a smile to be a reminder that an Eagle Scout is suppose to be cheerful. The knot that is hanging from the scroll is a square knot and could mean unity. The square knot is the very first knot that is taught to a boy that starts along the road to Eagle and it can also link back to the phrase "Be Prepared."
The ribbon that hangs from scroll is three different colors red, white, and blue. The red on the ribbon as found in various different challenges could mean courage. For an Eagle Scout though it could mean courage against physical danger as well as to stand up for others that are weaker than they are. The white on the ribbon stands for honor. The blue in the ribbon as defined by some Eagle challenges stands for loyalty. Loyalty in the sense here means devotion to the family, troop, and to God.
See also
External links
- Eagle Scout Resource Center (http://www.eaglescout.org/)
- National Eagle Scout Association (http://www.scouting.org/nesa/)
A roughly equivalent award in the United Kingdom and several other countries is the Queen's Scout.