With three green bars behind the Scout emblem, the Senior Patrol Leader’s shoulder patch symbolizes one of the oldest leadership positions in Scouting. The Boy Scouts of America has long recognized the Senior Patrol Leader as the highest youth leadership position in a troop. They are the primary link between a troop’s Scouts and its adult leaders. They shoulder the responsibility for leading meetings of the troop and the patrol leaders’ council and provide valuable leadership in planning and carrying out the troop’s program of outdoor activities, service projects, and events.

Responsibilities

• Runs all troop meetings, events, activities, and the annual program planning conference

• Runs the patrol leaders’ council (PLC) meetings

• Appoints other troop junior leaders with the advice and counsel of the Scoutmaster

• Assigns duties and responsibilities to junior leaders

• Assists the Scoutmaster with junior leader training

• Sets a good example

• Wears the Scout uniform correctly

• Lives by the Scout Oath and Law

• Shows Scout spirit

The Assistant Senior Patrol Leader is the second highest youth leadership position in the troop, working closely with the Senior Patrol Leader to help the troop move forward. The Assistant Senior Patrol Leader acts as the senior patrol leader in the absence of the Senior Patrol Leader or when called upon, and provides leadership to other youth leaders in the troop. The Assistant Senior Patrol Leader is appointed by the Senior Patrol Leader under the guidance of the Scoutmaster.

Responsibilities

• Helps the senior patrol leader lead meetings and activities

• Runs the troop in the absence of the Senior Patrol Leader

• Helps train and supervise the troop scribe, quartermaster, instructor, librarian, historian, webmaster, chaplain aide, and OA representative

• Serves as a member of the patrol leaders’ council

• Sets a good example

• Wears the Scout uniform correctly

• Lives by the Scout Oath and Law

• Shows Scout spirit

• Lends a hand controlling the patrols and building patrol spirit

The Patrol Leader is the patrol’s key leader, representing the patrol at all patrol leaders’ council meetings and the annual program planning conference, and keeping patrol members informed of decisions made. Patrol leaders carry out planning, leading, and evaluating patrol meetings and activities, and assure patrols are prepared to participate in all troop activities. They keep their patrol intact so they can work together and share responsibilities to get things done. It is incumbent upon them to be a good example for the members of their patrol and the rest of the troop.

Responsibilities

• Plans and leads patrol meetings and activities

• Keeps patrol members informed

• Assigns each patrol member a specific duty

• Represents his patrol at all patrol leaders’ council meetings and the annual program planning conference

• Prepares the patrol to participate in all troop activities

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

• Knows the abilities of each patrol member

• Sets a good example

• Wears the Scout uniform correctly

• Lives by the Scout Oath and Law

• Shows and develops patrol spirit

The Assistant Patrol Leader is a youth member of a Scouts BSA Troop who is appointed by the Patrol Leader and leads the patrol in his absence.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Patrol Leader in planning and leading patrol meetings and activities

• Helps the Patrol Leader keep patrol members informed

• Assists the Patrol Leader in preparing the patrol to take part in all troop activities

• Direct the patrol at meetings and activities

• Take charge of the patrol in the absence of the Patrol Leader

• Represent the patrol at Patrol Leaders’ Council (PLC) meetings in the absence of the Patrol Leader

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

• Prepares the patrol to participate in all troop activities

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

• Knows the abilities of each patrol member

• Sets a good example

• Wears the Scout uniform correctly

• Lives by the Scout Oath and Law

• Shows and develops patrol spirit

The Bugler plays the bugle (or similar instrument) to mark key moments during the troop meeting, such as assembly, or on troop outings, such as reveille, mess call, and lights out. The Bugler must know the required bugle calls and ideally should have earned the Bugling merit badge or be working toward earning it.

Responsibilities

• Makes appropriate bugle calls, as requested, at troop meetings and activities

• Sets a good example

• Wears the Scout uniform correctly

• Lives by the Scout Oath and Law

• Shows Scout spirit

Chaplain Aides assist the Troop Chaplain (usually an adult from the troop committee or the chartered organization) in serving the religious needs of the troop. They lead the troop in opening or closing prayer and mealtime blessings. Chaplain aides ensure that religious holidays are considered during the troop’s program planning process and promotes the BSA’s religious emblems program.

Responsibilities

• Assists the troop chaplain with religious services at troop activities

• Encourages troop members to strengthen their own relationships with God through personal prayer and devotion and participation in religious activities appropriate to their faith

• Tells Scouts about the Religious Emblems program for their faith at least once a year

• Helps recognize troop members who receive their religious emblems, (such as at a court of honor)

• Makes sure religious holidays are considered during the troop program planning process

• Helps plan for religious observance in troop activities

• Encourages saying grace at meals while camping or at other activities

• Helps promote annual Scout Sunday or Scout Sabbath

• Sets a good example

• Wears the Scout uniform correctly

• Lives by the Scout Oath and Law

• Shows Scout spirit

Each Instructor is an older troop member proficient in a Scouting skill who must also have the ability to teach that skill to others. An instructor typically teaches subjects that Scouts are eager to learn—especially those such as first aid, camping, and backpacking—that are required for outdoor activities and rank advancement. A troop can have more than one instructor.

Responsibilities

• Teaches basic Scouting skills

• Schedule/coordinate merit badge counselor(s) for troop/Scout instruction

• Sets a good example

• Wears the Scout uniform correctly

• Lives by the Scout Oath and Law

• Shows Scout spirit

Troop Librarians oversee the care and use of troop books, pamphlets, magazines, audiovisuals, and merit badge counselor lists. They check out these materials to Scouts and leaders and maintain records to ensure that everything is returned. They may also suggest the acquisition of new literature and report the need to repair or replace any current holdings.

Responsibilities

• Sets up and takes care of the troop library

• Keeps records of books and pamphlets owned by the troop

• Adds new or replacement items as needed

• Keeps books and pamphlets available for borrowing

• Keeps a system for checking books and pamphlets in and out, and follows up on late returns

• Sets a good example

• Wears the Scout uniform correctly

• Lives by the Scout Oath and Law

• Shows Scout spirit

Quartermasters serve as the troop’s supply boss. They keep an inventory of troop equipment and see that the gear is in good condition. They work with patrol quartermasters as they check out equipment and return it. At meetings of the patrol leaders’ council they report on the status of equipment in need of replacement or repair. In carrying out their responsibilities, they may have the guidance of a member of the troop committee.

Responsibilities

• Keeps records on patrol and troop equipment

• Makes sure equipment is in good working condition

• Issues equipment and makes sure it is returned in good condition

• Makes suggestions for new or replacement items

• Works with the troop committee member responsible for equipment

• Sets a good example

• Wears the Scout uniform correctly

• Lives by the Scout Oath and Law

• Shows Scout spirit

The Scribe is the troop’s secretary. Though not a voting member, they attend meetings of the patrol leaders’ council and keep a record of the discussions. They cooperate with the patrol scribes to record attendance and dues payments at troop meetings and to maintain troop advancement records. The troop scribe may be assisted by a member of the troop committee.

Responsibilities

• Attends and keeps a log of patrol leaders’ council meetings

• Records individual Scout attendance and dues payments

• Records individual Scout advancement progress

• Works with the troop committee member responsible for records and finance

• Sets a good example

• Wears the Scout uniform correctly

• Lives by the Scout Oath and Law

• Shows Scout spirit

Troop Webmasters are responsible for maintaining the troop’s website. They make sure that information posted on the website is correct and up to date and that the privacy of youth and adult troop members is protected. A member of the troop committee may assist them with their work.

Responsibilities

• Works with various unit members on needed topics

• Ensures the website is as youth-run as possible

• Maintains the website as needed

• Sets a good example

• Correctly wears the Scout uniform correctly

• Shows Scout spirit

The Historian collects, assembles, and preserves troop photographs, news stories, trophies, flags, scrapbooks, awards, and other memorabilia, and makes materials available for Scouting activities, courts of honor, the media, and troop history projects.

Responsibilities

• Gathers photos and facts about troop activities and keeps them in a historical file or scrapbook

• Takes care of troop trophies, ribbons, and souvenirs of troop activities

• Keeps information about former members of the troop

• Sets a good example

• Wears the Scout uniform correctly

• Lives by the Scout Oath and Law

• Shows Scout spirit

A Scout at least 16 years of age who has shown outstanding leadership skills may be appointed by the Scoutmaster to serve as a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster (JASM). The Junior Assistant Scoutmaster functions just like an assistant Scoutmaster (except for leadership responsibilities reserved for adults 18 years of age or older). In this capacity, Junior Assistant Scoutmasters (a troop may have more than one) follow the guidance of the Scoutmaster in providing support and supervision to other youth leaders in the troop. Upon their 18th birthday, a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster will be eligible to become an assistant Scoutmaster.

Responsibilities

• Performs duties as assigned by the Scoutmaster.

• Sets a good example.

• Wears the Scout uniform correctly

• Lives by the Scout Oath and Law.

• Shows Scout spirit