The Eagle Scout Letter of Recommendation is an official recommendation letter intended to highlight a scout’s candidacy for the Eagle Scout position and to recommend the scout to the Eagle Scout Board of Review in order to increase the scout’s chances of becoming an Eagle Scout.
The highest honor in the Boy Scouting program of the BSOA (Boy Scouts of America) is being an Eagle Scout. The applicant is required to have at least six references, and if the applicant does not have an employer, they must have at least five references. The applicant should request his references to send the letter directly to the District Eagle Scout Board of Review for assessment.
Suppose you are the one with the responsibility of writing the recommendation letter. In that case, you should highlight the scout’s virtues and qualities that make them credible and eligible candidates for the Eagle Scout position. Therefore, this article will benefit both the requester and the writer of the letter of recommendation by highlighting what it is, who can write it, and the information that should be included in this type of letter.
Free Templates
If You are the Requester
If you are an individual who wants to become an Eagle Scout, there are several things that you should keep in mind. First, you need to have a properly written letter of recommendation, which can be achieved by observing the following:
The best person to ask
As a scout, you will need either 5 or 6 Eagle Scout letters of recommendation, depending on your employment status. The references you will need include a parent or guardian, a pastor or any religious official, a teacher or principal, a professor or educator, a professional individual or employer, and two other references, such as a scoutmaster, friends, or relatives.
Someone who knows you well and can accurately assess your character should be the one you ask to write your recommendation letter for you. Your references can be above or below 21 years old for this letter. Ensure that you include all of the Information needed so that your references can more quickly draft the letter of recommendation.
Which information should you provide?
The following information should be provided to your references once you ask them to write you a recommendation letter for the Eagle Scout position:
- Email addresses or addressed envelopes of the recipients of the letter
- The deadline for submitting the letter
- A copy of the Scout Oath and Scout Law
- Instances of how you accomplish or carry out the points in the Scout Oath and Scout Law
- Examples of what you have done or accomplished as a scout to qualify for the Eagle Scout position
- Information advising the writer not to show the letter to you or anyone else unless it is the Eagle Scout Board of Review.
How Do I Apply for the Eagle Scout Position?
You should follow the steps if you want to apply to be an Eagle Scout. These steps include the following:
Register as a boy scout
You will first need to register as a Boy Scout by filling out the online registration form provided by the Boy Scouts of America. You also need to find a local troop among the 250 scout councils found across the United States. A troop is a unit of Boy Scouts that you should join to help sharpen your scouting skills and learn how to work together.
Be a leader in your troop
You must demonstrate your leadership skills in order to be considered for the Eagle Scout position, and you can do this by completing the second step and taking charge of your troop. As a result of your leadership, other scouts will see you as a scout who accepts responsibility, can volunteer for projects, and can act quickly to assist a fellow scout.
Acquire merit badges
Additionally, you must make sure that you earn each of your merit badges. The Eagle Scout rank requires 21 merit badges, 13 of which are core badges. The difficult task of earning all 21 of these merit badges will require grit, strategy, and long-term planning.
Get tested and reviewed
The last step in applying to be an Eagle Scout is to take a test and have your application reviewed. The Eagle Scout Board of Review will first check and confirm that you meet all the requirements. After that, you will need to appear before the board to be tested and evaluated for your request for candidacy. After that, they will review your eligibility while going through your recommendation letters and finally decide whether to promote you or not.
Writing a Recommendation Letter
Suppose you have been asked to write a recommendation letter for an Eagle. If that is the case, you must follow these guidelines to ensure that the recommendation letter you write for that particular scout is successful:
What do I need to do after I agree?
In most cases, you will be asked to recommend an Eagle Scout candidate for the Eagle Scout position in one of two ways.
The first way is that you might be contacted by a scout council member responsible for the scout’s performance review, either through phone or email. This council member will give you the details of the Eagle Scout candidate and ask you to act as a reference for him so that he can decide whether or not he meets the requirements for the Eagle Scout position.
The scout may also get in touch with you by mail or email and ask you to compose the letter for them to increase their chances of being appointed as an Eagle Scout. In such cases, this candidate will provide an addressed envelope, a postage-paid envelope, or a council member’s email address.
You must make sure that the letter stays private once you have agreed to write it. The details of the letter should only be shared with the Eagle Scout Board of Review members. You want to persuade the board that this particular scout qualifies for the Eagle Scout position by recommending him.
Make sure to base the letter on the details the scout provided to you, and the letter includes all the necessary scouting information. Your recommendation should focus on the scout and how his character, abilities, and personality make him a good Eagle Scout.
Format of the letter
When writing the letter, you should follow a specific format. If you include all of the necessary information, you will be able to write a recommendation letter for the candidate that is appropriate and effective.
Ensure you have reviewed the Scout Oath and Scout Law before writing the letter.
You might receive a questionnaire or form that you must fill out and provide details as a reference.
If a form is not provided, use the following format to write a recommendation letter:
Introduction
For the introduction section, you should include the Eagle candidate’s name, state your relationship with the Boy Scout, and mention the length of your relationship. Ensure that you include information about why this particular Eagle Scout candidate deserves to be an Eagle Scout. You can make this statement in about one or two sentences.
Body
You should have about two or three paragraphs in the body section to ensure that the letter for the Eagle Scout is brief. You will focus on expounding on the candidate’s qualities mentioned in the introduction. You should also provide relevant examples of the Boy Scout’s personality and character. Ensure that the letter includes the qualities and morals mentioned in the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
Conclusion
You should summarize all of your points in the letter’s final section. Also, make sure to reiterate your recommendation and emphasize all of the scout’s positive qualities that qualify him as an Eagle Scout.
Your letter should end with a conclusion paragraph and then list your full name, address, phone number, and email address as references.
Free Template for Letter of Recommendation
[Your Full Name]
[Your Position/Relation to the Candidate, e.g., Scout Leader, Teacher, Community Leader]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
[Date]
Eagle Scout Board of Review
[Scout Council or Local Council Name]
[Address of the Council]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Dear Members of the Eagle Scout Board of Review,
I am writing to wholeheartedly recommend [Candidate’s Full Name] for the rank of Eagle Scout. As [your relation to the candidate, e.g., his Scout Leader for the past five years], I have had the privilege of witnessing [Candidate’s First Name]’s remarkable growth and his unwavering commitment to the principles of Scouting.
Leadership and Character:
[Candidate’s First Name] has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities, which were particularly evident when he [describe a specific leadership role or project the candidate undertook].
His ability to lead with empathy, respect, and integrity is a testament to his strong character and dedication to the values of the Boy Scouts.
Commitment to Service:
One of [Candidate’s First Name]’s most admirable qualities is his commitment to service. He has contributed significantly to our community through [mention specific community service projects or initiatives].
His project [describe the Eagle Scout project] not only showcased his leadership and planning skills but also made a lasting impact on [mention the beneficiaries of the project].
Personal Growth:
Throughout his Scouting journey, [Candidate’s First Name] has shown remarkable personal growth. He has embraced every challenge with determination and a positive attitude, which has been an inspiration to his peers.
His proficiency in various Scouting skills, including [mention specific skills or badges], is a clear indication of his dedication and willingness to learn and excel.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, [Candidate’s First Name] embodies the spirit and ideals of the Boy Scouts. His dedication to personal development, service to others, and commitment to excellence are qualities that make him an outstanding candidate for the rank of Eagle Scout. I am confident that he will continue to uphold the principles of scouting and be a positive role model for others.
Thank you for considering my recommendation. Please feel free to contact me if you require further information or insights into [Candidate’s First Name]’s achievements and character.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Position/Relation to the Candidate]
Sample Letter of Recommendation for Eagle Scout
Dear Members of the Eagle Scout Board of Review,
I am writing to enthusiastically recommend Jacob Miller for the rank of Eagle Scout. As Jacob’s Scoutmaster in Troop 305 for the past four years, I have had the privilege of observing his extraordinary journey and development in Scouting.
Jacob has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, particularly as the Patrol Leader where he successfully led his team in various challenging activities, including the annual Wilderness Survival Camp. His ability to lead with compassion, respect, and integrity is a testament to his strong character. Jacob has shown a deep understanding of the Scout Oath and Law, applying these principles in all aspects of his life.
Jacob’s dedication to service is evident through his numerous community projects. Notably, his Eagle Scout project involved organizing a local river clean-up campaign, which not only improved the environmental health of the area but also raised awareness about pollution among residents.
He has volunteered over 200 hours at the local food bank, demonstrating his commitment to helping those in need.
Jacob’s journey in Scouting has been marked by significant personal growth. He has embraced challenges with determination and a positive attitude, inspiring his peers to do the same.
He has earned 21 merit badges, including those in Environmental Science, Citizenship in the Community, and Emergency Preparedness, showcasing his diverse skills and eagerness to learn.
Jacob Miller embodies the spirit and ideals of the Boy Scouts of America. His dedication to personal development, service to others, and commitment to excellence are qualities that make him an outstanding candidate for the rank of Eagle Scout. I am confident that he will continue to uphold the principles of Scouting and positively influence those around him.
Thank you for considering my recommendation of Jacob for the rank of Eagle Scout. I am available for any further information or discussion regarding his qualifications and achievements.
Sincerely,
David Anderson
Scoutmaster, Troop 305
Conclusion
An Eagle Scout position is a highly coveted one among boy scouts. As a result, one of the most important tasks that a boy scout must complete in order to become an Eagle Scout is to collect all of the required 6 or 5 references. In addition, as a boy scout, you must have the letter of recommendation from the required references. With this letter, your references will be able to convince the board members of your qualifications and eligibility when it comes to being an Eagle Scout. As a result, both the requester and the writer must focus on what is required of them in order to have an effective letter.
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