Complete board of review

The Board of Review is the final requirement for earning the Star Scout rank. It serves as an official review by the troop committee to ensure all requirements have been completed, assess the health and morale of the unit, and celebrate your advancement.

Composition and Rules of the Board of Review

Under the Guide to Advancement (topics 8.0.0.0 through 8.0.2.0), specific rules govern how a Board of Review is conducted:

• Panel Composition: The board consists of at least three and not more than six members of the troop committee.
• Adult Leader Exclusion: The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters cannot sit on a Scout’s board of review. Relatives and guardians are also excluded from sitting on their own Scout’s board.
• Not a Retest: A board of review is never a retest of knowledge or skills. The board members do not ask you to tie knots or recite first aid steps. Instead, they ask open-ended questions about your experiences, your leadership, your understanding of the Scout Oath and Law, and your future goals.

What to Expect During the Review

The review typically lasts 15 to 20 minutes and focuses on three main areas:

1. Your Star Experience: Discussing your six merit badges, your service project hours, and the duties you carried out in your position of responsibility.
2. Scout Spirit & Personal Growth: Exploring how you apply the Scout Oath and Scout Law in school, at home, in sports, and in your community.
3. Troop Assessment & Feedback: Asking for your perspective on how the troop is running—what activities you enjoyed most, how patrol spirit is developing, and suggestions for future outings.
4. Looking Toward Life & Eagle: Discussing your goals for the Life rank, leadership aspirations, and potential Eagle Scout project ideas.

Deliberation and Appeals

After the conversation, you will step out of the room while the committee deliberates:

• Decision Standard: The decision must be unanimous among the board members.
• Approval: When approved, you will be invited back into the room, congratulated, and formally recognized as a Star Scout. Your advancement date becomes the official date of this board of review.
• Appeals: If the board does not approve advancement, the chair will explain the specific reasons in writing and outline the steps needed to complete the requirements. Under Guide to Advancement topic 8.0.4.0, a Scout has the right to appeal an adverse decision to the district or council advancement committee.