Troop 25 Trail to First Class Program
This is a program for all Troop 25 Scouts that have not completed the rank of First Class. The goal is to get new Scouts through the ranks of Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class within 18 months. This process is called Trail to First Class in Scouting or TFC for short. The current Patrol Advisors are Christine Allen 972-948-2968 and Mark Webster 214-882-9920. There is an expectation that Scouts will manage the completion of the rank requirements themselves. That is manage by coordinating and scheduling time for the extracurricular activities planned by the Troop Guides and Assistant Scoutmasters for teaching the requirements and the Scouts demonstrating their knowledge of the rank requirements. Scouts may work on the Rank Requirements on their own or with friends and family as well, if they like. The key is that the process is at their pace and they enjoy developing the tools and knowledge that Scouting has to offer.
Typically, the TFC Patrol is made up of two or more Assistant Scoutmasters (ASMs) and two or more Troop Guides (fellow Scouts that have completed the rank of First Class) that will be assisting with the instruction, review, and signing off on the Scout Requirements in their Scout Handbook as they are completed. Troop Guides will plan and carry out instruction for each TFC meeting. These meetings will typically be 30 – 60 minutes prior to the Troop meeting on Monday evenings. There will be times that there are no Troop meetings on Monday evenings; typically driven by holidays or other special days that will be announced in advance. On these Mondays (with no Troop meetings) there will not be TFC meetings.
There will also be TFC meetings on a few weekend days a year. These meetings are for those requirements that cannot easily be accomplished in the Church (CRUMC) we typically meet in. Some of these include the TFC Olympics (the Tenderfoot requirement 6a, b, & c for physical fitness), some of the First Aid requirements (2 & 3 man carry, etc.), and any requirements the Scout feels he is ready to complete and get signed-off with a Troop Guide or ASM.
As a Troop we also include the TFC program in each campout. At some point on a Friday or Saturday when there is time, ASMs will have Troop Guides work with TFC Scouts on any requirements they can accomplish on the campout. Many of these include requirements like fire starting, setting up a tent and camp area, cooking for the patrol, Grubmaster, etc. Many requirements cannot be accomplished in a classroom environment in a church or on a school ground; those must be accomplished on a campout.
TFC Scout Responsibilites
Each TFC Scout will be expected to attend as many meetings as he can, bring his Scout Handbook and wear his uniform to all meetings. The classes/material missed will need to be made up at another time by the Scout; like the weekend meetings, campouts, or arranged times with Troop Guides or ASMs.
ASMs and Troop Guides are typically open to meeting with the Scouts whenever they have time. Keep in mind that there is no required schedule for rank completion; other than completing the rank of Eagle by their 18 th birthday. Some scouts will obtain First Class in 12 months and some 24 months. Just a reminder that Scouts BSA is a Scout-led Scout-paced program; that is, our troop is literally led by the Troop 25 Scouts and Scouts advance at their own pace and communicate with their leaders directly.
Parents, you are there for support and assistance with getting them to meetings on time, allowing them to do Scout activities, and facilitating their growth in Scouting. Scouts need to talk to Patrol Leaders,
Assistant Scoutmasters, and Merit Badge Counselors on their own. This is how they learn to communicate with leaders and peers and get their needs met. Scouts will need to get requirements signed off when completed by either Troop Guides or ASMs. Then the Scout is responsible to get their Handbook to the Advancement Coordinator so they can input the completed requirements into Scoutbook, the BSA electronic tracking program on the internet.
TFC Troop Guide Responsibilites
Troop Guides are Scouts that have volunteered to support Troop 25 by assisting new Scouts get to the rank of First Class. This process allows Troop Guides to share the knowledge they have gained in Scouting, practice what they know, and be mentors for new Scouts to acclimate to the Troop and Scouting in general. It is the Troop Guides responsibility to plan and execute the TFC program each week and for extra curricular activities. Troop Guides may sign-off on the rank requirements they verify for the TFC Scouts. There are a few requirements that require ASM approval, for those the Scout will ask an ASM to sign-off for them. There are some requirements that say “demonstrate”, for those requirements, the Scout must actually do the requirement to show he knows it (not just discuss how it is done).
Troop Guides are mentors for the TFC Scouts. The TFC Scouts look to the Troop Guides for how a Scout should dress, act, and work on their ranks and merit badges. It is the Troop Guides responsibility to be a model Scout while working with TFC Scouts. That is wear a clean and organized uniform, show up to the meetings on-time and prepared for the instruction of the day, and to have a “Helpful”, “Friendly”, and “Courteous” attitude toward the other Scouts and adults in the Troop.
TFC Patrol Advisor (ASM) Responsiblities
Patrol Advisors are Assistant Scoutmasters in Troop 25. There should be two or more Patrol Advisors for the TFC Patrol. These Advisors shall be Youth Protection Trained and shall maintain that training as required by Scouts BSA. The Advisors primary responsibilities are to support the Troop Guides, facilitate the training programs, and promote Scout Spirit. Patrol Advisors are expected to attend the weekly Troop meetings to oversee the TFC program, monthly campouts to assist Troop Guides with outdoor requirements, and recruiting activities to discuss the Troop TFC program with prospective parents and Scouts. At times they will be expected to sign off on completed Scout requirements and enter any completed requirements into Scoutbook.
TFC Parent Responsibilities
The parent’s responsibility is to support their Scouts while working toward rank requirements, insuring they have a uniform with all the official accoutrements, getting them to meetings on time, and facilitating a healthy growth of their Scout Spirit. It is ok to drop your Scout off at meetings and then return to pick them up. On the other hand, it is also OK to stay and watch what goes on and contribute where you can. The management of a Troop requires many people to make the experience fun for the boys. It is also a rewarding experience to share in learning with your Scout how to tie knots, cook while camping, and how to put together a safe and fun campout.