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Requirements January 1, 1953 until June 1954

To become a Life Scout you must be a Star Scout and:

I. SCOUT SPIRIT

Satisfy your Scout or Explorer leaders that you do your best, in your everyday life, to live up to:

1. The Scout Oath or Promise

2. The Scout Law

3. The Scout Motto

4. The Scout Slogan

Before receiving the award for Life Rank, satisfactory evidence that the boy has fulfilled the requirements in Scout Sprit on a higher level than for Star Scout rank will be secured by your leaders. This evidence will come from his parents, school teacher, employer, Pastor, Sunday school teacher, or others who know of his behavior and activities.

II. SCOUT PARTICIPATION

I. While a Star Scout for a period of at least three months, show to the satisfaction of your leaders that you:

a. Accept and carry out responsibilities in meetings, outdoor activities and service projects of your Unit.

b. Do your best to help in your home, school, church and community.

c. Take care of things that belong to you and respect te property of others.

d. Have completed a conservation project approved in advance by your Unit leader.

Satisfactory evidence of participation in Unit activities and service projects, as well as in obligations to home, church, school, community and nation, and of developing leadership ability will be obtained. Such evidence will come from those who know of your activities and ability. This conservation project should be of a more ambitious nature than that for Star Scout Rank. You must approve of the project ahead of time and help the boy decide what to do and where to get help in completing the project.

2. Have earned the First Aid Merit Badge.

3. Have earned two Merit Badges from the CITIZENSHIP group.*

III. SCOUTCRAFT AND LIFE INTERESTS

1. Have earned the following Merit Badges:*

One from CAMPCRAFT group;

One from OUTDOOR SPORTS or AQUATICS group;

One from NATURE or CONSERVATION group;

One from PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT group;

One from any of the following groups: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, PLANT CULTIVATION, COMMUNICATION, TRANSPORTATION, BUILDING.

2. Have earned any two other Merit Badges.**

The Merit Badges you earn will be evidence of meeting the requirements in Scoutcraft and Life Interests.

*Merit Badges previously earned may be included.

**This makes a total of five Merit Badges required for the rank (including on from the CITIZENSHIP or PUBLIC SERVICE groups).

Requirements January 1954 until September 1958

To become a Life Scout you must be a Star Scout and:

I. SCOUT SPIRIT

Satisfy your Scout or Explorer leaders that you do your best, in your everyday life, to live up to:

1. The Scout Oath or Promise

2. The Scout Law

3. The Scout Motto

4. The Scout Slogan

II. SCOUT PARTICIPATION

I. While a Star Scout for a period of at least three months, show to the satisfaction of your leaders that you:

a. Accept and carry out responsibilities in meetings, outdoor activities and service projects of your Unit.

b. Do your best to help in your home, school, church and community.

c. Take care of things that belong to you and respect te property of others.

d. Have completed a conservation project approved in advance by your Unit leader.

2. Have earned the First Aid Merit Badge.

3. Have earned two Merit Badges from the CITIZENSHIP group.*

III. SCOUTCRAFT AND LIFE INTERESTS

1. Have earned the following Merit Badges:*

One from CAMPCRAFT group;

One from OUTDOOR SPORTS or AQUATICS group;

Nature Merit Badge or one from CONSERVATION group;

One from PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT group;

One from any of the following groups: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, PLANT CULTIVATION, COMMUNICATION, TRANSPORTATION, BUILDING.

2. Have earned any two other Merit Badges.**

The Merit Badges you earn will be evidence of meeting the requirements in Scoutcraft and Life Interests.

*Merit Badges previously earned may be included.

**This makes a total of ten Merit Badges required for the Life rank (including First Aid and two from the CITIZENSHIP group).

Requirements September 1958 until November 1959

To become a Life Scout you must be a Star Scout and:

I. SCOUT SPIRIT

Satisfy your Scout leaders that you do your best, in your everyday life, to live up to:

1. The Scout Oath or Promise

2. The Scout Law

3. The Scout Motto

4. The Scout Slogan

II. SCOUT PARTICIPATION

I. While a Star Scout for a period of at least three months, show to the satisfaction of your leaders that you:

a. Accept and carry out responsibilities in meetings, outdoor activities and service projects of your Unit.

b. Do your best to help in your home, school, church and community.

c. Take care of things that belong to you and respect te property of others.

d. Have completed a conservation project approved in advance by your Unit leader.

2. Have earned the First Aid Merit Badge.

3. Have earned two Merit Badges from the CITIZENSHIP group.*

III. SCOUTCRAFT AND LIFE INTERESTS

1. Have earned the following Merit Badges:*

One from CAMPCRAFT group;

One from OUTDOOR SPORTS or AQUATICS group;

Nature Merit Badge or one from CONSERVATION group;

One from PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT group;

One from any of the following groups: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, PLANT CULTIVATION, COMMUNICATION, TRANSPORTATION, BUILDING.

2. Have earned any two other Merit Badges.**

The Merit Badges you earn will be evidence of meeting the requirements in Scoutcraft and Life Interests.

*Merit Badges previously earned may be included.

**This makes a total of ten Merit Badges required for the Life rank (including First Aid and two from the CITIZENSHIP group).

Requirements November 1959 until August 1960

To become a LIFE SCOUT you must be a Star Scout and:

Scout Teamwork

1. While a Star Scout for a period of at least three months show to the satisfaction of your leaders that you -- Accept and carry out responsibilities in meetings, outdoor activities and service projects of your Unit

2. Have earned the First Aid Merit Badge.

3. Have earned two Merit Badges from the CITIZENSHIP group.

Scoutcraft and Life Interests

1. Have earned the following Merit Badges:

One from CAMPCRAFT group;

One from OUTDOOR SPORTS or AQUATICS group;

Nature Merit Badge or one from CONSERVATION group;

One from PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT group;

One from any of the following groups: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, PLANT CULTIVATION, COMMUNICATION, TRANSPORTATION, BUILDING.

2. Have earned any two other Merit Badges. (making a total of ten for this rank).

Scout Spirit

While a Star Scout show to the satisfaction of your leaders that you --

1. Do your best, in your everyday life, to live up to the Scout Oath or Promise, the Scout Law, the Scout motto, and the Scout slogan.

2. Do your best to help in your home, school, church, or synagogue, and community.

3. Take care of things that belong to you and respect the property of others.

4. Have completed a conservation project approved in advance by your unit leader.

Satisfactory evidence of participation in unit activities and service projects, as well as in obligations to home, church or synagogue, school, community, and nation, and of developing leadership ability will be obtained. Such evidence will come from those who know of your activities and ability. This conservation project should be of a more ambitious nature than that for Star Scout rank. Your unit leader must approve of the project ahead of time and help you decide what to do and where to get help in completing the project. Before receiving the award for Life rank, satisfactory evidence that you have fulfilled the requirement in Scout spirit on a higher level than for Star Scout rank will be secured. This evidence will come from his parents, schoolteacher, employer, pastor, Sunday school teacher, or others who know of his behavior and activities.

Requirements August 1960 until 1963

To become a LIFE SCOUT you must be a Star Scout and:

Scout Teamwork

1. While a Star Scout for a period of at least three months show to the satisfaction of your leaders that you -- Accept and carry out responsibilities in meetings, outdoor activities and service projects of your Unit

2. Have earned the First Aid Merit Badge.

3. Have earned two Merit Badges from the CITIZENSHIP group.

Scoutcraft and Life Interests

1. Have earned the following Merit Badges:

One from CAMPCRAFT group;

One from OUTDOOR SPORTS or AQUATICS group;

Nature Merit Badge or one from CONSERVATION group;

One from PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT group;

One from any of the following groups: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, PLANT CULTIVATION, COMMUNICATION, TRANSPORTATION, BUILDING.

2. Have earned any two other Merit Badges. (making a total of ten for this rank).

Scout Spirit

While a Star Scout show to the satisfaction of your leaders that you --

1. Do your best, in your everyday life, to live up to the Scout Oath or Promise, the Scout Law, the Scout motto, and the Scout slogan.

2. Do your best to help in your home, school, church, or synagogue, and community.

3. Take care of things that belong to you and respect the property of others.

4. Have completed a conservation project approved in advance by your unit leader.

Satisfactory evidence of participation in unit activities and service projects, as well as in obligations to home, church or synagogue, school, community, and nation, and of developing leadership ability will be obtained. Such evidence will come from those who know of your activities and ability. This conservation project should be of a more ambitious nature than that for Star Scout rank. Your unit leader must approve of the project ahead of time and help you decide what to do and where to get help in completing the project. Before receiving the award for Life rank, satisfactory evidence that you have fulfilled the requirement in Scout spirit on a higher level than for Star Scout rank will be secured. This evidence will come from his parents, schoolteacher, employer, pastor, Sunday school teacher, or others who know of his behavior and activities.

Where a physician certifies that the Scout’s physical condition for an indeterminable time prevents him from meeting certain of these requirements, other tests may be substituted. In such case, use Application for Substitution for Star or Life Rank Requirements, No. 6199.

Requirements 1963 until December 1967

To become a Life Scout, you must show by your attendance record that you have been active and dependable in troop meetings and activities for at least 3 months since becoming a Star Scout.

Service shall be figured from the date of the board of review to the same date 3 months later. For example, if the date of the Star board of review was January 10, you would be eligible for Life review on April 10.

Perform the following:

1. Earn the 10 merit badges (these 10 may include the 5 merit badges earned for Star), including at least 5 selected from those specifically required for Eagle (Camping, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Cooking, Nature, Soil and Water Conservation, Personal Fitness, First Aid, Swimming, Lifesaving, and Safety.

2. While a Star Scout, plan, develop, and carry out Scoutmaster-approved projects in each of the following areas:

(a) Church or synagogue, school, or community service.

It is intended that one project will be submitted under item “a” plus one project under item “b,” two projects in all. If one of the merit badges used for Life rank is Soil and Water Conservation, the Scout must complete an additional conservation project to that called for in the merit badge requirement.

3. While a Star Scout, serve activity for a period of at least 3 months as a troop warrant officer (patrol leader, senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, junior assistant Scoutmaster, instructor, scribe, quartermaster, librarian, den chief) or carry out a Scoutmaster-assigned project to help the troop.

Continuous service in one warrant office is not required. A Scout could serve this 3 month’s service in one or more different warrant office positions. As in the case of Star rank, the key word is “actively.”

4. After completing the above requirements, meet with your Scoutmaster in a personal conference to discuss your ideas about the meaning of the Scout Oath (or Promise), the Law, motto, and slogan. Give examples to show that you do your best to live up to these ideals in your daily activities. Look over the requirements for Eagle, and discuss your progress toward becoming an Eagle Scout.

As was the case for Star, this conference is between the boy and his Scoutmaster, and not someone assigned by him.

Requirements December 1967 until June 1972

To become a Life Scout, you must show by your attendance record that you have been active and dependable in troop meetings and activities for at least 3 months since becoming a Star Scout.

Service shall be figured from the date of the board of review to the same date 3 months later. For example, if the date of the Star board of review was January 10, you would be eligible for Life review on April 10.

1. Earn the 10 merit badges (these 10 may include the 5 merit badges earned for Star), including at least 5 selected from those specifically required for Eagle (Camping, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Conservation of Natural Resources, Cooking, First Aid, Life Saving, Nature, Personal Fitness, Safety, and Swimming.

2. While a Star Scout, plan, develop, and carry out Scoutmaster-approved projects in each of the following areas:

(a) Church or synagogue, school, or community service.

It is intended that one project will be submitted under item “a” plus one project under item “b,” two projects in all. If one of the merit badges used for Life rank is Conservation of Natural Resources, the Scout must complete an additional conservation project to that called for in the merit badge requirement.

3. While a Star Scout, serve activity for a period of at least 3 months as a troop warrant officer (patrol leader, senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, junior assistant Scoutmaster, instructor, scribe, quartermaster, librarian, den chief) or carry out a Scoutmaster-assigned project to help the troop.

Continuous service in one warrant office is not required. A Scout could serve this 3 month’s service in one or more different warrant office positions. As in the case of Star rank, the key word is “actively.”

4. After completing the above requirements, meet with your Scoutmaster in a personal conference to discuss your ideas about the meaning of the Scout Oath (or Promise), the Law, motto, and slogan. Give examples to show that you do your best to live up to these ideals in your daily activities. Look over the requirements for Eagle, and discuss your progress toward becoming an Eagle Scout.

As was the case for Star, this conference is between the boy and his Scoutmaster, and not someone assigned by him.