Leadership Positions

The Senior Patrol Leader is 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 youth leaders with the advice and counsel of the Scoutmaster
• Assigns duties and responsibilities to youth leaders
• Assists the Scoutmaster with youth 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 SPL to help the troop move forward. The ASPL acts as the Senior Patrol Leader in their absence and provides leadership to other youth leaders in the troop. Appointed by the SPL 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. They keep patrol members informed of decisions made, plan and lead patrol meetings and activities, and ensure patrols are prepared to participate in all troop activities.

Responsibilities:

• Plans and leads patrol meetings and activities
• Keeps patrol members informed
• Assigns each patrol member a specific duty
• Represents their 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

Troop Guides serve as both a leader and a mentor to the members of the new-Scout patrol. They should be an older Scout who holds at least the First Class rank and can work well with younger Scouts. The Troop Guide helps the patrol leader of the new-Scout patrol lead their patrol so they can develop into a well-functioning group.

Responsibilities:

• Introduces new Scouts to troop operations
• Helps new Scouts towards earning the First Class rank
• Teaches basic Scout skills
• Coaches the patrol leader of the new-Scout patrol on their duties
• Works with the patrol leader at Patrol Leaders’ Council meetings
• Attends Patrol Leaders’ Council meetings with the patrol leader of the new-Scout patrol
• Counsels individual Scouts on Scouting challenges
• 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.

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 at troop meetings and to maintain troop advancement records.

Responsibilities:

• Attends and keeps a log of Patrol Leaders’ Council meetings
• Records individual Scout attendance
• 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

Den Chiefs are Scouts who assist a Cub Scout den leader or Webelos den leader. They help Cub Scouts advance through Cub Scout ranks and encourage Cub Scouts to join a troop upon graduation.

Responsibilities:

• Be reliable, such as being at the den and pack meetings early
• Take Den Chief Training
• Take the Den Chief Pledge
• Maintain patience and a positive attitude
• Provide encouragement to the scouts in the den
• Help the den leader with den meetings
• Help lead activities, games, and ceremonies
• Help the members learn to be leaders
• Set a good example as a role model
• Share knowledge of the outdoors
• Encourage Cub Scouts to move on to the next Scouting level

Chaplain Aides assist the troop chaplain in serving the religious needs of the troop. They lead the troop in opening or closing prayer and mealtime blessings.

Responsibilities:

• Assists the troop chaplain with religious services at troop activities
• Encourages troop members to strengthen their own relationships with God
• Tells Scouts about the Religious Emblems program for their faith at least once a year
• Helps recognize troop members who receive their religious emblems
• 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
• Sets a good example
• Wears the Scout uniform correctly
• Lives by the Scout Oath and Law
• Shows Scout spirit

The Historian collects, assembles, and preserves troop photographs, news stories, trophies, flags, scrapbooks, awards, and other memorabilia.

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

An Instructor is an older troop member proficient in a Scouting skill who must also have the ability to teach that skill to others. They typically teach subjects like first aid, camping, and backpacking.

Responsibilities:

• Teaches basic Scouting skills
• Schedules/coordinates 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.

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
• 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 member privacy is protected.

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
• Wears the Scout uniform correctly
• Shows Scout spirit

The Bugler plays the bugle (or similar instrument) to mark key moments during the troop meeting, such as assembly, or on troop outings.

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

Order of the Arrow representatives serve as a communication link between the troop and the local Order of the Arrow lodge. They promote the OA and encourage Scouts to take part in camping opportunities.

Responsibilities:

• Attends troop, chapter and lodge meetings regularly
• Serves as a two-way communication link between the troop and the lodge or chapter
• Arranges annual Order of the Arrow election
• Arranges for at least one camp promotion visit to the unit annually
• Participates in troop courts of honor as requested
• Coordinates the ordeal induction process for newly elected candidates
• Assists current ordeal members in sealing their membership
• Offers periodic training and discussions of OA principles
• Advocates environmental stewardship and Leave No Trace camping
• Sets a good example

Outdoor Ethics Guides help troops plan and conduct an outdoor program that emphasizes effectively practicing the Outdoor Code, Leave No Trace, and Tread Lightly! principles.

Responsibilities:

• Assures the troop adheres to the Principles of Leave No Trace, Tread Lightly, and the Outdoor Code
• Sets a good example
• Wears the Scout uniform correctly
• Lives by the Scout Oath and Law
• Shows Scout spirit

Junior Assistant Scoutmasters are 16- to 17-year-old Scouts appointed by the Scoutmaster and responsible for tasks assigned. They function just like 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