Scouting Milestones

When a Boy Scout reaches the rank of First Class, his Mom also receives a rank pin. Here is R pinning his Mom as he also becomes an official First Class scout. It bears noting that, at this Court of Honor ceremony, R was awarded THREE ranks at once – Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class. This is indicative of his having done the work, but not having turned in the paperwork J

Do you see Mom's beaming face? Lovely. Later that night, she was fondling her pin, turned to me and said "Can I wear this pin EVERY day? I'm so proud of him!" She didn't grow up with scouting in her house; she's starting to get the gyst of the program!

Regardless of R's administrative skills, it's interesting to do some math here…

• There are six ranks in Boy Scouts (Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle)
  
• R has earned half of the ranks in just under two years
  
• Boys who earn First Class in their first 18-24 months have a very high rate for achieving Eagle
  
• R now has eight merit badges, two of which are Eagle Required
  
• R can advance to the rank Star Scout in the Fall, provided he completes two additional Eagle-required merit badges
  
• R can earn the two merit badges this summer at camp.
  
• R can also add two MORE Eagle-required merit badges, and two non-required badges (Orienteering and Archery) over the summer
  
• R needs 12 Eagle Required merit badges and a total of 22 merit badges for Eagle
  
• If R just does 'clean-up' and adds the two merit badges from summer camp, he'll be a Star Scout with:
  
  • Six Eagle Required merit badges (50% to Eagle)
    
  • 14 merit badges total (65% to Eagle)
    
• He'll be one month past his 13^th birthday.
  
• That'll give him Five years to concentrate on earning about a dozen merit badges, and concentrating on his leadership skills within the troop.