The Badge Archive

Troop Government: Patrol System

For GSUSA Troops:

  • Structure: The Troop is divided into small working groups called Patrols (3-7 scouts). Ideally, each has an elected Youth Patrol Leader.
    • Recommendations from patrols are brought to the GSUSA Court of Honor (a planning board, not an awards ceremony, made up of the Patrol Leaders and other officers).
  • Key Feature: Patrols manage tasks, suggest activities, and evaluate results. The Court of Honor makes final decisions for the entire troop, offering maximum opportunities for leadership rotation.
  • Best For: Medium to Large Groups (around 15 to 25 Scouts). It is the most common type for Juniors.
  • Function: Allows large groups to function effectively by distributing responsibilities among smaller working units.

For Scouts BSA Troops

  • Structure: The troop is divided into small working groups called Patrols (ideally 6–8 Scouts). Each Patrol elects a Youth Patrol Leader (PL).
    • Recommendations and plans from the Patrols are brought to the Patrol Leaders’ Council (PLC), which is made up of the Patrol Leaders and other troop officers, such as the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL).
  • Key Feature: Patrols manage their own specific tasks, suggest new troop activities, and evaluate the results of their own efforts. The Patrol Leaders’ Council (PLC) makes final decisions for the entire troop, thereby offering maximum opportunities for leadership rotation and training. The Scouts BSA Court of Honor (COH) is held periodically as a formal ceremony to celebrate the advancement and accomplishments of the Scouts.
  • Best For: Medium to Large Groups (around 15 to 25 Scouts). The Patrol Method is the most common and effective organizational style for all ages in Scouts BSA.
  • Function: This structure allows large groups to function effectively by distributing responsibilities among smaller, youth-led working units. This emphasis on the Patrol and the PLC ensures the program is truly Scout-led, which is the core method of Scouts BSA.

For Venturing Crews

Venture Patrols (within Scouts BSA, not to be confused with Venturing crews) are typically older Scouts (14+) who form a patrol for high-adventure activities. They still follow the patrol method but may operate with more autonomy and specialized goals. Venture Patrols often have more experienced leaders and may not rotate leadership as frequently.

It is important to note that Venturing (for older youth) uses a different structure. Venturing units are called Crews, and they are governed by an Officers’ Council led by the Crew President. Venturing focuses on interest-based adventure and high-level planning rather than the small-group task management of the Patrol Method.

References:

For GSUSA – See “GSUSA Junior Grade Level Essentials” in gsLearn on the MyGS account.

For Scouting America:

Tia Kennard