Troop Organization

New Scout Patrol: When your son joins the Troop, he will be placed in a patrol. A patrol is a group of 6 to 10 boys within the troop that works together as a team to achieve certain responsibilities and goals. For the first few months the youngest scouts are put into a “New Scout Patrol" and one of the older boys serves as their leader. This allows them to become comfortable with how the troop functions with similar-age boys before being split into regular patrols.  

Patrol Method: Patrols have a cross section of older experienced Scouts, semi experienced Scouts and new Scouts. This will provide the opportunity for the older Scouts to teach skills to the new Scouts. Each patrol elects a Patrol Leader and Assistant Patrol Leader. The Patrol Leaders are the liaisons between the leaders in the Troop and the Scouts in their patrol. The Patrol Leader, or Assistant Patrol Leader, is required to attend special meetings, where monthly schedules are developed and other Troop business is discussed. An adult leader is assigned to each patrol and serves as their Patrol Advisor. The Advisor's role is to guide, prod and help organize the patrols or individual boys when needed.

Boys Leading Boys: Troop 1 Richmond is set up to allow the boys to gain leadership experience by guiding others in the troop. A level of leadership is established by holding elections twice a year. The boy leader of the Troop is called the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL). He is elected by the Scouts in the Troop and must be of a certain age and rank to be a candidate. The Senior Patrol Leader is responsible for appointing his cabinet consisting of an Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL), Quartermaster, Historian, Scribe, Librarian, Bugler, Troop Guides and Chaplain's Aide. Each of these leadership positions requires additional responsibilities and a special patch is worn on the left sleeve. At election time, new Patrol Leaders and Assistant patrol leaders are also elected. The Troop has a support network of adult leaders. The Scoutmaster is the primary person who provides leadership to the boys with the help of the Assistant Scoutmasters and the guidance of the Troop Committee.