GENERAL INFORMATION

Type: Elected by the members of the troop

Term: 6 months

Reports to: Scoutmaster

Description: The Senior Patrol Leader is elected by the Scouts to represent them as the top junior leader in the troop. You must be at least a First Class Scout to be considered for this position.

Comments: The Senior Patrol Leader is the focal point of the troop. He needs to attend as close to all troop functions as possible. One of the major parts of the SPL's job is to appoint other troop leaders. He must choose leaders who are able, not just his friends or other popular Scouts. This position can be used for Star, Life and Eagle advancement.

SPECIFIC LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES

• Runs all troop meetings, events, activities, and the annual program planning conference.
• Runs the Patrol Leader's Council meeting.
• Appoints other troop junior leaders with the advice and counsel of the Scoutmaster.
• Assigns duties and responsibilities to junior leaders.
• Assists the Scoutmaster with Junior Leader Training.
• Sets a good example.
• Enthusiastically wears the Scout uniform correctly.
• Lives by the Scout Oath and Law.
• Shows Scout Sprit.

The senior patrol leader is sort of a master of ceremonies. He makes sure everything is happening the way it was planed. The senior patrol leader gets the meeting started. While the patrols are going about their business, he pays attention. If anyone needs help, he lends a hand or points out who could.

The Scoutmaster and the senior patrol leader work together. The Scoutmaster depends on the senior patrol leader. The senior patrol leader needs the Scoutmaster as a friend and leader. This relationship is important.

Your Scoutmaster has been down the trail before. Your Scoutmaster has faced the problems and has met the challenges. Perhaps most important, though, is your Scoutmaster's knowledge of Scouting and the troop.

As your friend, your Scoutmaster will let you share some of this experience. A Scoutmaster will back you up when you face a particularly tough challenge and will be there when you need some support.

Look at your friend, the Scoutmaster, as a resource. Your Scoutmaster will have answers when you need them. If not, your Scoutmaster will help you find answers.

The senior patrol leader doesn't get time off just because the event isn't a troop meeting. He's in charge at all troop events and activities. On campouts, hikes, and service projects, at campfires, courts of honor, or district competitions, your job is to make certain everything is going as planned and that everyone is prepared to do his job.

When someone doesn't do the assigned task, it's the senior patrol leader who has to find someone who will. This isn't a matter of passing the buck. It's an important part of your job. You could easily do the assigned task yourself. But remember what we say to the patrol leaders: No one can do everything.

When someone drops the ball, you'll want to resist the urge to pick it up and run with it. Rather, pick it up and pass it to someone else. This is called delegating. A good leader will do a lot of delegating.

Delegating not only allows you to do other things, it also allows others to grow in their experience. The most natural one for the senior patrol leader to delegate to is the assistant senior patrol leader. After all, his job is to back up the senior patrol leader, filling in when you're not available.

Also, you already know from your experience as a patrol leader or assistant senior patrol leader, that you have other junior leaders you can depend on, too. You'll likely find yourself calling on the troop quartermaster, troop scribe, or perhaps even one of the patrol leaders without even thinking about it.

Planning is everything. Consider sitting down with the Scoutmaster after the troop meeting and review how the troop meeting went. How did the PLC plan work out? Did advancement take place? Are the right things happening so that the troop will be ready for the next campout? What has to be done to get prepared for the next meeting? Did everyone have fun tonight?

When you first look at those questions, they look simple enough. Look again. How did the plan work? That's not an easy question. You might be tempted to just answer, "Fine." But that is not a good answer. You're going to want to be able to discuss how it worked. Before you answer a question like this, ask yourself a couple of questions.

"What did I really like about the way the plan worked?" This question allows you to focus on those things that work well. You'll take notice of activities that everyone enjoyed. You'll recognize events that really had all the Scouts working together as patrols. You'll discover that the advancement you planned into the meeting actually took place.

The second question you'll want to ask yourself is, "What would I like to do differently next time?" This helps you "think positive." If you noticed that one patrol was having difficulty with a particular skill, then you might want to schedule some skill development activities for this patrol. If the opening ceremony was a little long, consider talking to the patrol leader responsible for the next ceremony about how to important it is to be brief.

These questions help you concentrate on what went right (rather than on the problems) and what you're going to do to make it even better next time. The more you think about the right things you're doing or planning to do the better.