Rank Advancment Requirements
- Long Cruise Patch
- Small Boat Handler
- Qualified Seaman
- Ship Award
- BSA Lifeguard
- Mile Swim
- Snorkeling
- Boardsailing
- Venture Award
- Eagle Scout
- Fitness & Sport
- Religious Emblems
- Other Awards
QUARTERMASTER
The Quartermaster Award, which stands for excellence, goes to the young adult who attains the highest rank in Sea Scouting. The Award is a reminder that a ship needs a rudder, a compass, and a moving force to reach its destination, so an individual must be physically strong, mentally awake, and morally strait to achieve worthwhile goals in life.
—Commander Thomas J. KeaneThe Quartermaster Award is the highest award in Sea Scouting and is as important as the Eagle Scout Award. It results from a young adults determination to reach a goal he or she has set and achieved in spite of difficulties along the way.
The Award is rich in symbolism. The blue ribbon stands for loyalty to country. The compass suggest the importance of carefully chosen direction in life. The wheel reminds us that we are the guides of our own future and that we must persevere with self-discipline. The Scout badge-the emblem of a purposeful brotherhood-has challenged and strengthened the lives of more than 40 million men. It shows Sea Scouting as an important part of the Scouting tradition. The anchor reminds us that a truly worthy life must be anchored in duty and God.
This badge of color, beauty, and symbolism, but most of all, of challenge, awaits every Sea Scout who has the determination to achieve excellence.
To the Sea Scout who has earned the Quartermaster Award, it may appear that there are no further achievements to be attained. True, there is no higher rank, but this does not mean the Quartermaster has no future challenges, no work to be done. Thomas J. Keane, former national Sea scouting director, stated that the Quartermaster "is on the threshold of a great adventure. The ship on which he is about to embark is God's greatest gift--Life. Fortified by the Scouting experience, the Quartermaster plots course, sets sails, stands by the wheel, and whether the winds be fair or foul, looks forward to a happy and successful voyage." Make the most of your voyage ... and remember to help your shipmates on thier journey.
IDEALS
1. Lead a discussion on the subject "participating citizenship" at a ship meeting or with a separate group of your peers.
2. Write and submit a paper of about 200 words that tell how and what your your ship can do to contribute to the world fellowship of Scouting.
Or
Prepare a written analysis of one of the following:
your ship's bylaws, constitution, administration, or ceremonies
and make recommendations for change to your ship's quarterdeck.
ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP
3. Attend at least 75% of your ships meetings and special activities for 18 months (including previous service as Apprentice, Ordinary, and Able).
4. Present a brief talk or program (15 minutes long is suggested) on Sea Scouting at a service club, religious organization, PTA, or other adult organization.
5. While an able Sea Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project to any religious institution, any school, or your community. The project idea must be approved by your Skipper and ship committee and approved by the council or district before you start. This project should involve your ship and at least one other group.
Note: You must use the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, No. 18-927, in meeting this requirement.
SPECIAL SKILLS
6. BOATS: Demonstrate and teach skills from the motor boating merit badge. Know the principles of springing into and out from a dock, from from both bow and stern, using an engine depending on the type of craft used by your ship.
Take charge of the craft used by your ship, or suitable powered craft, and give all necessary commands to the crew while coming along side and getting underway in several wind and current conditions.
Note: The purpose of this requirement is to demonstrate a knowledge of the effects of propeller, steering, and hull in boat handling.
7. MARLINSPIKE SEAMANSHIP: Teach the Ordinary and Able requirement No. 7, Marlinspike Seamanship, to a crew. Demonstrate an eye splice in double-braided line.
8. GROUND TACKLE: Teach the Ordinary and Able requirement No. 8, Ground Tackle, to a crew.
Know the methods of bringing a boat to anchor or a mooring with special emphasis on wind and current with respect to the vessel's course and speed.
Take charge of the craft used by your ship and give all commands to the crew for anchoring and weighing in several wind and current situations.
Take charge of the craft used by your ship and give all commands to the crew for picking up a mooring buoy and properly mooring the vessel in several wind and current situations.
Note: Depending on the type of vessel used by your ship, this requirement may be met either under sail or power.
9. PILOTING: Teach the Ordinary requirement No. 9 and the Able requirement No. 15 too a crew.
Know the methods of fixing a boat's position in limited visibility, and the special precautions that should be taken when limited visibility is encountered.
10. SIGNALING: Draw the international code flags and pennants from memory and give the signal-letter meanings of the flags. Demonstrate your ability to use the book International Code of Signals.
11. SWIMMING: Meet the requirements for BSA Lifeguard or Red Cross lifesaving, and obtain certification where applicable.
12. CRUISING: Take command of a vessel with a crew of not less than four Sea Scouts for at least 48 hours (including two consecutive nights). Do no work while in command. You must delegate all duties and supervise only. During the cruise complete the following:
a. Inspect the vessel for proper equipment.
b. Supervise the menu preparation.
c. Prepare the boat to get underway with a proper check list.
d. Anchor, dock, and maintain a coarse by commands to a helmsman.
e. Remain under way for an extended period during darkness. Discuss appropriate nighttime running procedures.
f. While under way perform man overboard, damage control, abandon ship, fire fighting, collision drills, and any other drills used by your ship. During this cruise no substantial errors may be committed. A competent adult leader should grade and observe this requirement and, if necessary for safety reasons, take command of the vessel.
13. SAFETY: Know the heavy weather precautions taken aboard both power and sailing craft when dangerous weather approaches, and demonstrate these precautions aboard the craft used by your ship.
14. RULES OF THE ROAD: Teach Able requirement No. 14, Rules of The Road, and demonstrate a working knowledge of both international and inland rules.
15. WEATHER: Demonstrate your ability to read a barometer, thermometer, anemometer, psychrometer, and weather vane. Be familiar with the Beauford scale of winds and seas.
Read and understand a local weather bulletin. Know how to obtain current marine and weather reports from the National Weather Service in your area by telephone or radio.
Know the weather signs for your local area, including cloud types, and prepare a 48 hour forecast from them. Compare your forecast with the actual weather occurred.
16. ELECTIVES: Do four of the following:
a. Sailing: Know the principals of handling a schooner, ketch, yawl, or other suitable sailing craft. Under competent direction, take charge of a crew and demonstrate your ability to to handle a suitable sailing craft in all points of sail.
Note: The key to success here are the words "competent direction". You must secure the guidance of the adult in charge of the sailboat you will use. Read the reference materials he or she suggests, and learn by doing as you sail together.
b. Engines: Explain the principles features of steam turbine, turboelectric, direct reversing diesel-electric, gas turbine, nuclear, gasoline, and diesel engines and the relative advantages of each type.
Understand the operation of spark ignition and combustion ignition used aboard small craft.
Be familiar with engine(s) used aboard the craft used by your ship, including its principals of operation, fuel, lubrication, cooling and electrical systems, and their component parts.
Be able to locate and correct minor engine troubles according to the manufacturer's troubleshooting guide.
Note: With the help of your ship's officers, locate a local consultant who has a knowledge of engines. Read the consultant's suggested reference materials, and ask the consultant to relate this to the engine(s) aboard your craft.
c. Radio: Qualify for and obtain the Marine Radio Operator Permit as issued by the Federal Communication Commission.
Note: Look in the blue pages of your local telephone book for the address and telephone number of the nearest U.S. Federal Communications Commission field office. Ask for an application and appropriate study materials, and secure the help of a qualified adult. Sight-impaired applicants will receive a special examination.
d. Boat Maintenance: Take charge of reconditioning or overhauling at least one of your ship's boats, or take charge of hauling out the principal craft used by your ship. In either case, lay out a plan of the work to be done in advance, including an estimate of the materials, tools, cost, and time involved.
Note: Work closely with an adult leader of you ship to carry out this requirement.
e. Electricity: Know and demonstrate the correct method of rescuing a person in contact with a live wire. Demonstrate the approved method of resuscitation.
Understand the construction of simple battery cells. Demonstrate the proper care of storage batteries.
Understand the differences between direct current and alternating current and the best uses for each.
Demonstrate that you know how to replace fuses, reset circuit breakers, and properly splice shipboard electric cable.
Submit a diagram of the electrical system aboard the craft used by your ship or aboard another craft.
Understand wire tables, the current-carrying capacity of circuits, and the hazards and prevention of electrical overloading.
Understand electrolysis as applied to the deterioration of a boats underwater fittings by galvanic action and its prevention.
Note: Secure the help of a qualified adult to help you understand the wiring of your boat and the effects of galvanic action on the underwater fittings of your boat.
f. Navigation: Understand how the sextant works. Show how too use it and demonstrate measuring horizontal angles and attitudes. Understand the navigator's day's work.
Demonstrate finding latitude by the altitude of Polaris or by the sun's altitude at local apparent noon. Demonstrate how longitude is determined.
Demonstrate finding error in the boats compass by the sun's azimuth.
Note: Celestial navigation and sextant use is far to complicated to describe effectively in the Sea Scout manual. Secure the help of a consultant and read the reference materials the consultant recommends.
g. Drill: Demonstrate the ability to handle the ship's crew in close order drill. Do all required maneuvers.
h. Piloting: Under competent direction, assume the control of your ship's vessel. Plot it's projected coarse between two ports, and cruise that coarse mooring to mooring, handling all piloting duties and acting as officer of the deck. The cruise should be made in daylight hours with good visibility.
i. Yacht Racing Crew: Take charge of a crew in a race using ISAF racing rules.
j. Rigging: Demonstrate your ability to handle and splice wire rope, attach wire rope fittings, and complete a safety and tuning inspection of a ship vessel.