Scout Leadership

Leadership Position Description: SENIOR PATROL LEADER

The Senior Patrol Leader is elected by the Scouts to represent them as the top junior leader in the troop. Each troop sets its own requirements and schedule of elections, though senior patrol leaders are usually chosen at six-to-twelve-month intervals. During a Scout’s tenure as senior patrol leader, she is not a member of a patrol. The senior patrol leader of an established troop is often selected from among experienced Scouts of a certain age and rank. In a new troop or a troop without older members, Scouts choose someone they respect and believe will provide the best leadership. The senior patrol leader oversees troop meetings from beginning to end. She chairs meetings of the patrol leaders’ council as they plan troop activities and programs. In short, the senior patrol leader’s job is to see that the troop runs in an orderly and timely manner. 

SPECIFIC LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Attends all troop meetings, monthly Patrol Leaders’ Council meetings, and outings. 

• Runs all troop meetings, events, activities.

• Runs the Patrol Leaders’ Council meeting.

• Assigns duties and responsibilities to other scout leaders– remember, the SPL’s role in a team-based troop  is not to do all the work, but to spread it out so that everyone has a meaningful role.

Leadership Position Description: ASSISTANT SENIOR PATROL LEADER

The Assistant Senior Patrol Leader is the second highest ranking patrol leader in the troop. The Assistant Senior Patrol Leader acts as the Senior Patrol Leader in the absence of the SPL or when called upon. She provides leadership to other junior leaders in the troop.

SPECIFIC LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Attends all troop meetings, monthly Patrol Leaders’ Council meetings, and outings. 

• Helps the Senior Patrol Leader lead meetings and activities.

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

• Helps train/supervise the Troop Scribe, Quartermaster, Instructor, Outdoor Ethics Guide.

• Serves as a member of the Patrol Leaders’ Council.

Leadership Position Description:  PATROL LEADER

The Patrol Leader may easily be the most important job in the troop. She has the closest contact with the patrol members and is in the perfect position to help and guide them. The Patrol Leaders, along with the Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader are the primary members of the Patrol Leaders’ Council. One patrol leader is elected by the members of each patrol. She takes responsibility for the patrol’s activities and represents the patrol as a member of the patrol leaders’ council.

SPECIFIC LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Attends all troop meetings, monthly Patrol Leaders’ Council meetings, and outings.

• Represents the patrol on the Patrol Leaders’ Council

• Plans and steers patrol meetings

• Helps Scouts advance

• Keeps patrol members informed

Leadership Position Description: ASSISTANT PATROL LEADER

The Assistant Patrol Leader actively helps run the patrol and keep patrol members informed. She leads the patrol in the Patrol Leader’s absence, representing her patrol at Patrol Leaders’ Council meetings when the Patrol Leader cannot attend.

Leadership Position Description: SCRIBE

The scribe is the troop’s secretary. She keeps the  minutes of the Patrol Leaders’ Council meetings but  is not a voting member of the council. The scribe may also keep attendance records of other troop activities, such as campouts and service projects. 

Leadership Position Description: INSTRUCTOR

Each instructor is an older troop member who is  proficient in Scouting skills and has the ability to teach those skills to others. The subjects that instructors may wish to teach include any of the areas that  Scouts want to master, especially those such as first  aid, camping, backpacking, orienteering, and others required for outdoor activities and rank advancement.  A troop may have more than one instructor.  

Leadership Position Description: OUTDOOR ETHICS GUIDE

The outdoor ethics guide helps the troop plan and conduct an outdoor program that emphasizes effectively practicing the Outdoor Code, the Leave No Trace principles, and the Tread Lightly! principles. The guide works to help Scouts improve their outdoor ethics decision-making skills to help minimize impacts as they hike, camp, and participate in other outdoor activities. In particular, she should support Scouts who are working to complete the relevant requirements for the Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks.

Leadership Position Description: QUARTERMASTER

The quartermaster is the troop’s supply boss. She  keeps an inventory of troop equipment and sees that the gear is in good condition. She works with patrol quartermasters as they check out equipment and return it, and at meetings of the patrol leaders’ council reports on the status of equipment in need of replacement  or repair.