Junior Assistant Scoutmaster

[13EagleT430 10]

Can a JASM sign off requirements for a scout?

[OldGreyEagle 5]

Most troops have a system for who can sign off which requirements for advancement. I am not sure there is a set national criteria for which offices/positions can sign off requirements

[shemgren 10]

The Boy Scout program requires the sign off all requirement by the Troop leadership. Troop leadership starts at the junior leaders and contiues thru the adults. Patrol Leaders, Troop Guides and Junior Assistant Scoutmasters should be encourged to work with the new scouts in attaining Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class, including signing off on requirements completed for these ranks. Only parts that need to be signed off by adults are the Scoutmaster's Conference and the Board of Review.

 

Star and Life with their requirements of merit badges, should be monitored by an adult. However, a Scout who has attained this rank can help with this work.

 

The Eagle Scout works well with a dedicated "Eagle Project Advisor", who should very familar with the process and can encourage the boy in goal setting for merit badges and the project completion. I have the privledge of serving a troop in this postition.

 

The Boy Scout program is suppose to be a boy-ran program, with all parts being in hands of the boys and receiving guidance and counsel from the Scoutmaster and other adults that are involved with the troop.

 

I have taught new Scoutmasters and Assistants to include junior leaders in all areas of program plannig, including advancement.

The best way for a Scout to prove he has a skill down pat, is for him to teach to someone else. By having the Scouts signing off on advancement, a knowledge transfer happens, and the older boys feel they still have usefullness to the troop.

 

 

Scott

 

[eisely 13]

As OGE and Shemgren point out there is nothing in national policy preventing youth leaders from signing off on rank advancement requirements. It is a matter of local unit policy. If your unit has no policy you should take it up with the scoutmaster and committee chair. Everyone involved, including scouts, youth leaders, parents, and adult leadership, needs to understand the policy, whatever it may be. Having youth leaders directly involved in the advancement program of the unit is something that should be encouraged.

[FScouter 24]

In our troop we have an agreement that adult leaders never sign off their own son. This avoids any thoughts of favoritism. We also want the boys to be independent of their parents, short of having the parents out of leadership positions.

[eisely 13]

We make clear when a boy joins our troop that parents do not sign off their own kids. Logically, siblings should not sign off either.