After the Eagle Board of Review

When the Eagle Board of Review approves your Scout to be an Eagle Scout, it is effective immediately.

We also ask all new Eagle Scouts to take time to reflect on their path to Eagle and what it means to be an Eagle.

It is common for the euphoria of being an Eagle Scout to fade, leaving the Scout to wonder what’s next.  They may even feel down.  This is called post-goal letdown. As Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride says, “Is very strange. I have been in the revenge business so long, now that it’s over, I don’t know what to do with the rest of my life.”  Here are some things to help overcome that feeling.

1. Acknowledge and Accept the Feeling
2. Reflect on the Journey
3. Set New Goals
4. Stay Connected to a Purpose
5. Allow Time for Rest
6. Practice Gratitude
7. Cultivate New Experiences
8. Talk About It

Setting sights on a new goal is a great way to overcome these feelings.  Whatever your Eagle Scout sets their sight on, we hope for great success!

When National enters a Scout into their Eagle Scout database, the council will get notified and contact the Eagle Scout, parent(s), and the unit leader (Scoutmaster) that there is an Eagle packet ready for them at the Scout office.

Each unit will have their own procedure on who picks it up, who holds onto it until the Eagle Court of Honor, etc.  So, if you have any questions, on this procedure, please contact your Scoutmaster or Committee Chair.

The Eagle Packet is an envelope full of material from the Scout Council.  It will also be accompanied by the black velvet award box.

The Eagle envelope will contain the following items:

The black velvet award box will contain the Eagle Scout rank cloth patch, the Eagle Scout ribbon, an Eagle Scout Mom and Dad pin, and one gold mentor pin.  Not included, but available at the Scout shop are grandparent pins.  You can also buy more mentor pins at the Scout shop.

The awards in the box are most commonly given at an Eagle Court of Honor.

At the board of review, the Scout is asked to think of all the people who have helped them along their way on their path to Eagle and to consider recognizing them with a mentor pin.  They cost only a few dollars, but are invaluable to the person who is recognized.  It shows that how a little help along the way has a major ripple effect in the lives of others.

There are no rules on how to recognize a person with a mentor pin, but is most commonly done at an Eagle Court of Honor.

The Eagle Scout cloth patch will be worn by youth (under 18) on their left breast pocket, replacing their Life rank cloth patch.

The medal, when worn, should be pinned to the left breast pocket flap.

A great guide on when and where to wear medals is covered by Aaron on Scouting here:  https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2014/11/17/youth-adults-wear-eagle-scout-medal/.

If the Eagle Scout is now an adult, the Scout should forgo wearing the Eagle Scout cloth patch on their uniform.  Instead they should wear the Eagle Scout square knot award just above their left breast pocket flap.  These are not included in the Eagle Award box.  Instead they can be purchased at the Scout shop for a nominal fee.

Once the Scout is an Eagle Scout, all items at Scout Shops bearing the Eagle Scout insignia can be purchased.  One of the most common items purchased by Eagle Scouts is the Eagle Scout neckerchief and slide to wear at all subsequent Troop Courts of Honor.

When an Eagle Scout earns five merit badges beyond what is required for Eagle Scout, they may earn an Eagle Palm (metal feather pin).  These are earned in increments of five.  The first five earns a Bronze palm.  The second five earns a Gold Palm.  This gold palm should replace the bronze palm.  The third five earns a Silver Palm.  This silver palm should replace the gold palm.  A gold palm can always be worn and will never be replaced by another palm.  However, if the Scout earns another five merit badges beyond the gold palm they have earned another Bronze Palm.  The gold and bronze palm would be worn together.  This pattern continues so long as a Scout keeps earning merit badges.

Further information on Eagle Palms can be found here:  https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2015/01/14/heres-eagle-palms-work/

For a youth, Eagle Palms are worn on their Eagle Scout ribbon or on their Eagle Scout cloth rank sewn on the left breast pocket.  For adults, Eagle Palms are worn on their Eagle Scout square knot award above their left breast pocket flag.

Eagle Palm awards are sold at the Scout Shop.  Normally the Troop’s Advancement chair is the person that purchases and awards them.

It is common for Eagle Scouts and parents to reach out to organizations, politicians, and celebrities to inform them of their accomplishment and ask for a letter of congratulations.

A great article on how to go about asking for congratulation letters and where to find addresses or emails is better summed up by Aaron on Scouting here:  https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2012/05/02/how-to-request-congratulatory-letters-for-your-eagle-scout/.

A strong recommendation is to reach out to your U.S. Representative and Senators.  U.S. Representatives traditionally send a very nice letter in a bound folder.

Many Eagle Scouts and parents who receive these letters put them in plastic sheet protectors, insert them into a three ring binder, and display them at the Eagle Court of Honor.

There are four steps of Scout advancement:  The Scout learns, the Scout is tested, the Scout is reviewed, and the Scout is recognized.  Now is when you recognize the new Eagle Scout.

When the Scout completes the Eagle Board of Review, they are immediately an Eagle Scout!  It is recommended that the Scoutmaster or Advancement Chair send an announcement to their unit congratulating the Scout and their amazing achievement.  Some troops also also post the achievement on their Facebook page, have an Eagle Hall of Fame on their website, and/or put Eagle Scout names on their trailer.  Whatever your unit does, do it proudly for that new Eagle Scout!

Don’t forget the Eagle Court of Honor!  This is a special court of honor just for the Eagle Scout where the Eagle Scout is awarded the Eagle Scout patch and medal and where the Eagle Scout recognizes their parents with pins and mentors with mentor pins.

If the new Eagle Scout is your unit’s first Eagle Scout, there are plenty of resources on the Internet on how to conduct your Eagle Court of Honor.  You can also attend roundtable and ask your fellow Scouters for their process.  We’re always glad to share.

Also, Northern Star Scouting has an Eagle Scout light that can be incorporated into the Eagle Court of Honor.  Contact Northern Star Scouting to reserve it.

Finally, congratulations to all new Eagle Scouts!