A number of topics are common to all phases of the Scouting program. These subjects are discussed individually in order to form a handy guide for the council and district advancement committees as well as for the unit leader and unit committee.

Extended Absense from Scouting
Lone Scouting
    Advancement Procedure.
Youth of Other Nationalites
Religious Principles

Many times Scouts become active again after dropping from other units because of other interests, moving within the community, or relocating to another part of the country. Youth who were members of a "dropped" unit also may become active again. A proper term for such a Scout is "separated-reregistered." When this happens, the tenure for a Scout's rank is often questioned. Upon reregistration, the youth should assume the last attained rank verified by documentation from the council service center. His previous verifiable service time in that rank applies toward qualification for the next rank and should commence with his reregistration and with guidelines set down by his new unit leader.

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There are many boys of Cub Scout and Boy Scout age who, because they live in isolated areas or because of disabilities, do not have the opportunity to be a member of a traditional Cub Scout pack or Boy Scout troop. These boys can apply to the local council service center to become a Lone Cub Scout or a Lone Boy Scout. A Lone Scout works with a designated Lone Scout Friend and Counselor. This friend is responsible for the Scout's learning, testing, and reviewing, and for awarding his badges. Lone Scouts may meet monthly (or less frequently) with others in the area. These meetings may provide the opportunity to give additional instruction and counseling so that the boy has a better chance to advance. This also is an excellent time to award him his rank and recognize his achievements.

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Lone Scouts are not registered with a Cub Scout pack or a Boy Scout troop, and must rely on their Lone Scout Friend and Counselor for leadership and guidance. They are not expected to meet the specific advancement requirements in the same way a member of a regular pack or troop does. The Boy Scouts of America allows the Lone Scout Friend and Counselor to suggest alternative requirements. This is important, since the boy cannot meet all the advancement requirements because he is not in a unit. All such alternative requirements should be equal to the replaced requirement. Alternative requirements must be approved by the local council advancement committee. Any unequal or dissimilar requirement should be allowed only in extreme circumstances, or when such like requirements could not be met without extreme hazard or hardship to the boy. See the Lone Scout Friend and Counselor Guidebook, No. 14-420, for more details.

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A youth from another country who either temporarily resides in, or has moved permanently to, the United States may join a BSA unit and participate in the BSA advancement program. He must present to the council service center available evidence of membership and advancement level from his previous association. Having done this, he then must appear before the district or council advancement committee with at least one member of the receiving unit committee present to review his previous advancement work and to determine which BSA rank he is qualified to receive. This policy applies to all ranks except Eagle Scout. The BSA rank of Eagle Scout cannot automatically be considered the equivalent of another association's highest rank. A Boy Scout who holds his association's highest rank could qualify for the rank of Life Scout, and the district or council advancement committee should prescribe certain merit badges for him to earn before consideration for the rank of Eagle Scout. He must also fulfill all other requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout. This policy also applies to members of the BSA who, while living abroad, have earned advancement in another Scouting association.

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The Boy Scouts of America has a definite position on religious principles (see Article IX, Section 1, Clause 1). The following interpretative statement may help clarify this position.

 1. The Boy Scouts of America does not define what constitutes belief in God or the practice of religion.

 2. The Boy Scouts of America does not require membership in a religious organization or association for enrollment in the movement but does prefer, and strongly encourages, membership and participation in the religious programs and activities of a church, synagogue, or other religious association.

 3. The Boy Scouts of America respects the convictions of those who exercise their constitutional freedom to practice religion as individuals without formal membership in organized religious organizations. In a few cases, there are those who, by conviction, do not feel it necessary to formally belong to an organized form of religion and seek to practice religion in accordance with their own personal convictions. Religious organizations have commended the Boy Scouts of America for encouraging youth to participate in organized religious activities. However, these same organizations reject any form of compulsion to enforce conformity to established religious practices.

 4. If a boy says he is a member of a religious body, the standards by which he should be evaluated are those of that group. This is why the application for the Eagle Scout Award requests a reference from his religious leader to indicate whether he has lived up to their expectations.

Throughout life, Scouts are associated with people of different faiths. Scouting believes in religious freedom, respecting others whose religion may differ from theirs, and in the right of all to worship God in their own way.

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