About the Eagle Scout
The Eagle Scout Award is the highest rank an individual can earn in the Boy Scouts of America. There is a reason that this award is recognized and respected across the country and the world. It symbolizes years of dedication and hard work, mastery of a variety of skills, and development of leadership and service.
It all began when Robert Baden-Powell founded the BSA in 1910. Originally, the BSA only had the ranks through First Class. The BSA’s highest honor was planned to be the Silver Wolf Award, awarded to a single, exemplary Scout per year. However, before the Silver Wolf was ever awarded, it was decided to change the award to be named after America’s national bird, the bald eagle. In 1911, the “Handbook for Boys” introduced the Star, Life, and Eagle Scout Awards.
It all began when Robert Baden-Powell founded the BSA in 1910. Originally, the BSA only had the ranks through First Class. The BSA’s highest honor was planned to be the Silver Wolf Award, awarded to a single, exemplary Scout per year. However, before the Silver Wolf was ever awarded, it was decided to change the award to be named after America’s national bird, the bald eagle. In 1911, the “Handbook for Boys” introduced the Star, Life, and Eagle Scout Awards.
On August 21, 1912, the first Eagle Scout Award was given to Arthur Rose Eldred of Troop 1 in Oceanside, New York. However, the actual medal was still being designed at the time. When he received his medal, it had a bronze eagle, coated in silver, hanging from a red, white, and blue ribbon. It has been over a century since Eldred was awarded his medal, but the design has hardly changed.
As the BSA became more commonly known, its popularity increased, as did the number of Eagle Scouts. In 1912, only 23 Scouts earned the Eagle Award. By 1922, over 2,000 Eagles were awarded annually. By 1924, annual Eagle Scouts pushed past 3,000. |
Shown above is the first Eagle Medal awarded to Arthur Eldred (left) and the modern Eagle Medal (right).
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In 1927, the BSA added requirements to the Star, Life, and Eagle ranks that included community service, forcing Scouts to give back to the community. There was also some push to add more ranks past Eagle. As a compromise, the BSA invented the Eagle Palms, additional awards given to Scouts for continuing to participate in Scouting after earning their Eagle. The Eagle Scout required a total 21 merit badges. To earn a Bronze Palm, a Scout had to earn an additional 5 merit badges; a Gold Palm required 10; a Silver Palm required 15.
“Despite the strengthened requirements, the number of Eagle Scouts continued to grow. In 1927, the annual rate was 4,500. By 1932, that number had more than doubled to 9,200” (nesa.org). However, the annual rate dropped and fluctuated around 7,000 during the 1930’s, likely as a result of the Great Depression. This was soon followed by WWII, resulting in countless men, including BSA participants and leaders, leaving to fight. It was about this same time that the BSA introduced leadership requirements to earn the three highest ranks. Additionally, the BSA also continued to add new merit badges that Scouts could earn. “The 1943 Handbook for Boys listed 111 merit badges, including 23 related to agriculture and four related to aviation, a subject that was constantly in the news that year” (nesa.org).
October 1, 1965, saw drastic changes to the BSA advancement program. “Each rank, including the lower ranks, now required a personal conference with the Scoutmaster to discuss Scouting ideals and the Scout’s future plans” (nesa.org). The Star, Life, and Eagle ranks now required Scouts to hold youth leadership positions within their troop for a period of six months each before they could advance. The Star and Life ranks also required Scouts to earn a minimum number of hours in service to the community. To earn Eagle, however, a Scout did not have to participate in multiple service projects; they had to plan, lead, and execute their own project to the community. Despite the significantly stricter requirements, the annual number of Eagle Scouts passed 30,000 by 1970.
The BSA reached a major milestone in 1982, when Alexander Holsinger was awarded the one-millionth Eagle Scout Award. Only 27 years later, in 2009, the BSA awarded the two-millionth Eagle Scout Award.
Today, the BSA continues to grow. More than 50,000 Scouts attain the rank of Eagle Scout every year, and that number is only expected to rise. While the exact requirements of the rank have fluctuated throughout its history, the Eagle Scout has always been a symbol of dedication, leadership, and service. “One in four boys in America will become Scouts, but it is interesting to know that of the leaders of this nation in business, religion, and politics, three out of four were Scouts” (One Hundred Scouts). It is clear that the lessons learned and experience gained through the Scouting program builds a solid foundation for success.
“Despite the strengthened requirements, the number of Eagle Scouts continued to grow. In 1927, the annual rate was 4,500. By 1932, that number had more than doubled to 9,200” (nesa.org). However, the annual rate dropped and fluctuated around 7,000 during the 1930’s, likely as a result of the Great Depression. This was soon followed by WWII, resulting in countless men, including BSA participants and leaders, leaving to fight. It was about this same time that the BSA introduced leadership requirements to earn the three highest ranks. Additionally, the BSA also continued to add new merit badges that Scouts could earn. “The 1943 Handbook for Boys listed 111 merit badges, including 23 related to agriculture and four related to aviation, a subject that was constantly in the news that year” (nesa.org).
October 1, 1965, saw drastic changes to the BSA advancement program. “Each rank, including the lower ranks, now required a personal conference with the Scoutmaster to discuss Scouting ideals and the Scout’s future plans” (nesa.org). The Star, Life, and Eagle ranks now required Scouts to hold youth leadership positions within their troop for a period of six months each before they could advance. The Star and Life ranks also required Scouts to earn a minimum number of hours in service to the community. To earn Eagle, however, a Scout did not have to participate in multiple service projects; they had to plan, lead, and execute their own project to the community. Despite the significantly stricter requirements, the annual number of Eagle Scouts passed 30,000 by 1970.
The BSA reached a major milestone in 1982, when Alexander Holsinger was awarded the one-millionth Eagle Scout Award. Only 27 years later, in 2009, the BSA awarded the two-millionth Eagle Scout Award.
Today, the BSA continues to grow. More than 50,000 Scouts attain the rank of Eagle Scout every year, and that number is only expected to rise. While the exact requirements of the rank have fluctuated throughout its history, the Eagle Scout has always been a symbol of dedication, leadership, and service. “One in four boys in America will become Scouts, but it is interesting to know that of the leaders of this nation in business, religion, and politics, three out of four were Scouts” (One Hundred Scouts). It is clear that the lessons learned and experience gained through the Scouting program builds a solid foundation for success.
Eagle Scout Pledge
I reaffirm my allegiance to the three promises of the Scout Oath. I thoughtfully recognize and take upon myself the obligations and responsibilities of an Eagle Scout. On my honor I will do my best to make my training and example, my rank and my influence count strongly for better Scouting and for better citizenship in my troop, in my community, and in my contacts with other people. To this I pledge my sacred honor.