Leadership Positions

Erik H.

In this article, I am going to talk about the various leadership positions available in the troop.  I am going to do this by comparing the leadership positions descriptions in the troop position description (found in full HERE) to my and other scouts experience in that position.

Senior Patrol Leader (SPL)

Description:

• Runs all troop meetings, events, activities, and the annual program planning conference.
• Runs the Patrol Leader's Council meeting.
• Appoints other troop junior leaders with the advice and counsel of the Scoutmaster.
• Assigns duties and responsibilities to junior leaders.
• Assists the Scoutmaster with Junior Leader Training.

Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL)

Description:

• 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, and Chaplin Aide.
• Serves as a member of the Patrol Leader's Council.

Comments: The ASPL is both similar and dissimilar to the SPL.  While the SPL, runs everything almost all the time, the ASPL runs things only a small portion of the time.  The ASPL helps run the meetings, but rarely does he actually do it on his own.

Patrol Leader (PL)

Description:

• Appoints the Assistant Patrol Leader.
• Represents the patrol on the Patrol Leader's Council.
• Plans and steers patrol meetings.
• Helps Scouts advance.
• Acts as the chief recruiter of new Scouts.
• Keeps patrol members informed.
• Knows what his patrol members and other leaders can do.

Comments: While the SPL presides over the whole troop, the PL presides over only his patrol.  Often at events such as Camporees the PL leads and assigns positions.  In addition to the duties listed above, a PL will sometimes takes over as SPL if both the SPL and ASPL are gone

Quartermaster (QM)

Description:

• 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
• Gets the US, troop, and patrol flags for meetings and ceremonies and puts them away afterwards.

Scribe

Description:

• Attends and keeps a log of Patrol Leaders' Council meetings
• Records individual Scout attendance and dues payments.
• Records individual Scout advancement progress
• Works with the Troop Committee members responsible for records and finance.

Historian

Description:

• Gathers pictures and facts about past 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.

Librarian

Description:

• Sets up and takes care of a 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.
• Follows up on late returns.

Troop Guide

Description:

• Introduces new Scouts to troop operations.
• Guides new Scouts through early Scouting activities
• Shields new Scouts from harassment by older Scouts.
• Helps new Scouts earn First Class in their first year; Teaches basic Scout skills.
• Coaches the patrol leader of the new Scout patrol on his 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.
• Assists the Assistant Scoutmaster with training.
• Counsels individual Scouts on Scouting challenges.

Chaplin's Aide

Description:

• Assists the Troop Chaplin with religious services at troop activities.
• Tells Scouts about the religious emblem program for their faith.
• Makes sure religious holidays are considered during troop program planning.
• Helps plan for religious observance in troop activities.

Den Chief

Description:

• Knows the purposes of Cub Scouting
• Helps Cub Scouts advance through Cub Scout ranks.
• Encourages Cub Scouts to join a Boy Scout troop upon graduation.
• Assists with activities in the den meetings.
• Is a friend to the boys in the den.
• Helps at weekly den meetings and monthly pack meetings.
• Meets with adult members of the Den, Pack, and Troop as necessary.