What Is a Patrol Leader?
Scouts BSA Troops are led by the youth, not the adults. So it is important to understand the various youth leadership positions and how they work together. This article continues the series on youth leadership positions.
A Patrol Leader is elected by his patrol. He is essential for implementing the patrol method within the Troop. He guide his patrol, receives input from them, and represents them in the Patrol Leaders Council (PLC). The position description below is a sample. Modify it to fit the needs of your troop.
The printable copy also includes a self evaluation form for the position. Our youth leaders self evaluate at least once during their term. We try to keep it positive with them, but it does help them recognize areas they should be working on.
Patrol Leader Description
This is just an example. Adjust it to meet the needs of your own unit.
Qualifications
- Second Class rank or higher (Exception: There is no rank requirement for the leader of a new scout patrol)
- Must be approved by the Scoutmaster
- Elected by the members of the patrol
- May not serve two consecutive terms (Exception: May run for a consecutive term if there are only one or zero candidates)
Reports to: The Senior Patrol Leader
Duties
- Plan and lead patrol meetings and activities.
- Keep patrol members informed.
- Create a duty roster for each camping trip.
- Help patrol members succeed in their assigned duties
- Represent the patrol at all Patrol Leaders’ Council (PLC) meetings. Attendance expectation 65%
- Make sure Assistant Patrol Leader attends any meeting/activity he will not be able to attend.
- Prepares the patrol to take part in all troop activities.
- Develop patrol spirit.
- Participate in outings. Attendance expectation 65%
- Attend troop meetings. Attendance expectation 65%
- Work with other troop leaders to make the troop run well.
- Know what patrol members and other leaders can do.
- Set a good example.
- Wear the field uniform (class A) correctly to all regular troop meetings and religious services.
- Wear the activity uniform (class B t-shirt) to all outings and other troop activities.
- Live by the Scout Oath and Law.
- Show Scout spirit.
Resources
Scouts BSA Youth Leadership
Who leads a Scouts BSA troop? The youth. With mentoring from adult leaders of course.
A Scout Leader’s Guide to Youth Leadership Training
This excellent book will help adult leaders learn how to train effective youth leaders.
The Patrol
Learn more about the patrol method and why it is essential to the Scouts BSA program.
Even though you said that this is a sample, it’s misleading to assert rank requirements for positions of responsibility – troops may make such requirements on their own PORs, but please make sure this is not interpreted as canon BSA regulation. JASM has an age requirement, and some other PORs have implied requirements due to the nature of the responsibilities (i.e. OA rep needs to be an OA member, therefore incurs the prerequisites of OA)
Yess Maggie o Farrell and would love to know what do you think of Jenny Colgan.