Does it seem your son is speaking a foreign language when he talks about Scouting? Do you look through the calendar and see strange letters or words? Here are some special terms and acronyms that are used by Scouting:

Senior Patrol Leader or SPL: Scout whose job it is to run all scout meetings, activities, and planning for the Troop under the guidance of the Scoutmaster.

Assistant Senior Patrol Leader or ASPL: Scout whose job it is to assist the Senior Patrol Leader and to fill in when necessary.

Patrol Leader or PL: Scout who is elected by his patrol to provide leadership and representation for the patrol.

Assistant Patrol Leader or APL: He is chosen by the Patrol Leader to help guide the patrol and to fill in when necessary.

Troop Guide or TG: Scout who is selected by the Senior Patrol Leader and confirmed by the Scoutmaster. He provides leadership and representation for the patrol of new scouts for the first 6 months their are in the Troop.

Assistant Troop Guide or ATG: He is chosen by the Troop Guide to help guide the patrol of new scouts and to fill in when necessary.

Instructor: Scout who is selected by the Senior Patrol Leader and confirmed by the Scoutmaster to provide instruction to individuals or groups of scouts as needed.

Quartermaster or QM: Scout who is selected by the Senior Patrol Leader and confirmed by the Scoutmaster to provide equipment management to the Troop.

Patrol Leaders Council or PLC: This is a monthly meeting ran by the Senior Patrol Leader and advised by the Scoutmaster. Calendars, meetings and activities are planned. All scouts are represented though their Senior Patrol Leader and assistant, Patrol Leaders and assistants; Troop Guides and assistants: Instructors and Quartermasters.

Official Troop Uniform or Class A: The official Boy Scout uniform consisting of the tan shirt, green Scout pants, or Scout shorts, neckerchief, Scout belt, and Troop cap. This uniform is to worn to all Scout meetings, activities, campouts unless a Scout is specifically told to wear something else.

Casual Troop Uniform or Class B: The Troop red T-shirt, green Scout pants, or Scout shorts with white socks , Scout belt, and Troop cap. This uniform is worn when the Senior Patrol Leader requests it.

Rank Advancement: The Scouting program is designed so that when a Scout has mastered the skills and met other requirements they achieve a Rank Advancement. The ranks are Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle. The last three require a Troop Position of Responsibility. Remember, the Scouting program is for Scouts aged 11 through 18, so each Scout has some time to accomplish these.

Scoutmaster Conference: A formal meeting that takes place at a Troop meeting or activity between a Scout and the Scoutmaster, or a person he designates, to review a scout’s progress. A Scoutmaster Conference takes place at advancement time before a Board of Review, when a Scout requests it or if the Scoutmaster feels the Scout needs it.

Board of Review: A formal meeting that takes place between a Scout and Committee Members to review a Scout’s progress. A Board of Review takes place after a Scoutmaster Conference for Rank Advancement, or when a Scout requests it or if the Troop Committee feels the Scout needs it.

Troop Positions of Responsibility for Rank Advancement: The following jobs in the Troop, when successfully completed, will provide scouts for leadership time for rank advancement: Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, Instructor, Quartermaster, and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. 

Scoutmaster or SM: The Scoutmaster is the adult volunteer who is responsible for the leadership and training of the Troop Youth leaders. The Scoutmaster is also responsible for the image of the Troop and represents the Scouts in the Troop to the Troop Committee.

Assistant Scoutmaster or ASM: Adult volunteers who are selected and appointed by the Scoutmaster. They fill in for the Scoutmaster as needed and are responsible for various parts of the Troop program.

Junior Assistant Scoutmaster or JASM: Scout who is selected by the Scoutmaster to assist the Troop Youth and Adult leaders. Scout must also be at least 16 years of age.

Committee Chairman or CC: The Committee Chairman is the adult volunteer who is in charge of the Troop Committee and committee meetings.

Assistant Committee Chairman: Adult volunteer who is responsible for collection of money at Scout meetings. The Assistant Committee Chairman also fills in for the Committee Chairman as needed.

Awards Chairman: Adult volunteer who is responsible for tracking Scout advancement. The Awards Chairman also helps schedule merit badge classes and Boards of Review.

Treasurer: Adult volunteer who is responsible for the troop finances and Scout Bucks.

Secretary: Adult volunteer who is responsible for keeping minutes of Committee Meetings.

Troop Committee: The Troop Committee is comprised of parents and other concerned adults. Each scout family must have at least one adult on the Troop Committee. The committee approves Troop activities planned by the Patrol Leaders Council and is responsible for Troop finances, fund-raisers, transportation and equipment.

Raccoon River Valley District or RRV: Our local Scouting area with most of Dallas and Guthrie Counties as well as the area of Polk County west of 2nd Avenue and north of Raccoon River.

Mid-Iowa Council or MIC: The local Scouting administrative area which funds and owns our camps and facilities. It is a 27 county area in the southern 1/2 of Iowa from the Missouri border to Hardin county and the center 1/3 from Guthrie County to Poweshiek County.

Order of the Arrow or OA: This is an honor camping society and service organization. A scout who has attended a long-term summer camp in the last 2 years, has at least 15 nights camping, is a First Class Scout, and has been approved by the Scoutmaster is eligible to be elected.

Chartered Partner: The organization that is chartered our Scouting unit and provides a meeting place. The Charter Partner has final approval on all adult volunteers.