Youth Leadership

Position of Responsibility (POR)

A positions of responsibility (POR) is assigned to a Scout holding the rank of First Class and above. Of the youth leadership positions, the senior patrol leader and the patrol leaders are elected by the youth membership, while the remaining positions are appointed by the senior patrol leader, in consultation with the Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) and the Scoutmaster.

The youth leadership positions that count towards advancement are defined in the Scouts BSA Handbook. A Scout that assumes one of these positions must first apply for it using the Troop's Leadership Position Application form. This form should be turned into the SPL or ASPL after all signatures are secured.

Patrol Leaders Council (PLC)

The PLC plans and runs the troop's program and activities and gives long-range direction. The PLC holds an annual planning conference each year to lay out the troop’s calendar for the program year, then meets monthly to fine-tune upcoming meetings and activities. It also gets together for a few moments after each troop meeting to review the plans for the next troop meeting and make any adjustments to ensure its success. The senior patrol leader conducts PLC meetings. Patrol leaders present the ideas and concerns of their patrols, help develop the troop's overall program, then take the council's decisions to the rest of the troop members. The Scoutmaster attends the PLC as a coach and an informational resource. Members of the PLC include the senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader(s), patrol leaders, quartermaster, and scribe (a non-voting member).