Merit Badge requirement processing

[AlexMauer]

I am a ew advancement chair for a BSA scout troop. I came from a pack where processing advancement was super easy as it was only one adult adding data instead of 50 scouts and MB counselors.

I received the packet of completed and partial MB cards from summer camp and added everything in, but am seeing some inconsistencies and want to get to the bottom of it.

For the completed blue cards, I entered them with the quick entry and dated and approved them. The MBs all appeared on the scout’s record. which seemed straightforward. I did not enter a MB counselor as a camp staff member running the sessions and I don’t know who those people were. I then went to the need purchasing report; I moved all those newly completed and entered MBs to the PO for our next COH. They are all in the queue for purchasing, and then I will mark all as awarded after the COH.

For the partials, I added the partial requirements using the quick entry MB requirement form. That was very easy. I started getting emails from scouts who were not seeing the requirements in their scouting app and wondered if they had been entered or should do it. I noticed that I had not added a start date on the merit badge record itself - meaning the word “NO” appears in the date section at the top of the merit badge record in the individual scout’s advancement section (see picture). I assume that indicates that the merit badge is not officially open, and thus it doesn’t show in the scout’s record in the scouting app.

Can anyone confirm this? I have then gone in after the fact and added the start dates for the partials based on the blue card. I have not added MB counselors because I don’t know who they are (scribble signatures and cutting corners at camp - not filling all the lines out) but they are officially completed and stamped as such.

couple questions:

1. As AC, can I add a counselor to the record?
2. Does my approving the completion without a MB counselor attached cause any issue
3. For partials that have not been started in SB but rather on physical BC, does that start date need to be on there for it to count? or is my approval enough?
4. If I don’t put that start date on, are the scouts prevented from seeing their progress in the scouting app?
5. If that start date is required, can it be added to the quick entry form for MB requirements? After adding everything in, I then need to go to each individual scout and add that date for each individual partial MB, so it s double the work. If there was a start date in addition to the completion date on the MB quick entry form, I could do it all there.

maybe adding the ability to assign or invite a MB Counselor from the quick entry form would be a good enhancement also

[edavignon]

@AlexMauer

• As AC, can I add a counselor to the record?

Yes, this is fine.

• Does my approving the completion without a MB counselor attached cause any issue

No

• For partials that have not been started in SB but rather on physical BC, does that start date need to be on there for it to count? or is my approval enough?

As soon as a MB is added to a Scout’s record in Scoutbook it is started. The date field is for the initial leader signature which is nice but not required. Note: the person who sets the initial leader signature date will be shown on the printed Blue Card so if you want the Scoutmaster’s name there, the Scoutmaster must be the one who sets the date in Scoutbook.

• If I don’t put that start date on, are the scouts prevented from seeing their progress in the scouting app?

No

• If that start date is required, can it be added to the quick entry form for MB requirements? After adding everything in, I then need to go to each individual scout and add that date for each individual partial MB, so it s double the work. If there was a start date in addition to the completion date on the MB quick entry form, I could do it all there.

The initial unit leader signature date is not required by Scoutbook.