The Junior Assistant Scoutmaster is a youth member of a Scouts BSA Troop who serves in the capacity of an Assistant Scoutmaster except where legal age and maturity are required. He must be at least 16 years old and not yet 18. He is appointed by the Scoutmaster because of his demonstrated leadership ability.
In our troop, this position is reserved for Eagle Scouts, although this is not a BSA requirement. We have enough other open positions for those who need leadership positions for advancement. We often are struggling to get enough Scouts to be SPL, ASPL, patrol leaders, troop guides, and instructors. JD has served as a JASM since he turned 16, although he is finishing up his final six months as a Scout as SPL.
The description and requirements below are an example. Adjust them as necessary to meet the needs of your troop. The printable copy also includes a self evaluation form for the position.
Printable copy of Junior Assistant Scoutmaster Description and Self Evaluation
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Qualifications:
- Appointed by Scoutmaster
- At least 16 years old
- Eagle Scout
Reports to: Scoutmaster
Trained by: Scoutmaster
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster Duties:
- Function as an Assistant Scoutmaster (except for leadership responsibilities reserved for adults 18 years of age or older).
- Accomplish any duties assigned by the Scoutmaster.
- Arrive 5 minutes before the start of troop meetings.
- Participate in outings, service projects, events, etc. Attendance expectation 50%
- Attend troop meetings. Attendance expectation 50%
- 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.
Eagle Rank is NOT a qualification for Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. Here is a Bryan on Scouting article that explains the true qualifications: https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2015/03/17/the-junior-assistant-scoutmaster/
As is clearly stated above this is just an example which can be adjusted for your troop.
This was with a small troop of about 10 active youth. Most of them needed to be filling positions like SPL, ASPL, Patrol Leader, Quartermaster, Troop Guide, etc. So this position was reserved for older youth who had already achieved Eagle. You can’t have three JASMs and no SPL no matter how much they would like to do that. Sometimes you have to put limits on how the positions are filled based on the nature of the troop.