A patrol leader is one of the main troop positions that keeps the troop going. Find out more about this important position.
Transcript:
A patrol leader is one of the main troop positions that keeps the troop going.
Being a patrol leader means you are in charge of the boys under your group. A patrol leader is responsible.
These responsibilities go beyond just putting on the patch and standing in front of the other boys in the patrol. A patrol leader attends meetings, and knows the whereabouts of the members of his patrol. If they are not in attendance he knows why.
A good patrol leader makes sure his patrol is neat and orderly. He is the face of his patrol.
He does this at meetings; he represents them at patrol leader councils and the annual program planning conference and keeps patrol members informed of decisions made.
He has patrol meetings.
As a leader it’s ok to question patrol leaders and ask them if they have had a patrol meeting, and what was discussed.
Patrol meetings don’t need to be big fancy things. Many times in my troop they meet at a local fast food place and discuss upcoming meeting responsibilities and menus.
Patrol meetings can go much further though, you can work on advancement, skills training and all of this helps a patrol bond as a cohesive unit.
The patrol leader learns about the abilities of other patrol members and full involves them in patrol and troop activities by assigning them specific tasks and responsibilities.
He encourages patrol members to complete advancement requirements and sets a good example by continuing to pursue his own advancement.
I know meeting outside of the Troop meeting can be hard.
Kids today have so many competing responsibilities that it’s hard to carve out time for another meeting that may seem like a waste of time.
The key to not making it a waste is planning. As an adult leader you can help this along by helping to craft an agenda for the meeting. This doesn’t need to be a long drawn out thing, but some scribbled bullet points can make all the difference in getting the boys to meet,
Sometimes you can even be flexible and have them meet before or after a Troop meeting. But the point is, get them to meet, as it will help the overall patrol.
Take what you like and leave the rest, and as we say in Woodbadge, feedback is a gift, leave yours below in the comments, with the hope we can all learn together.
I’m Scoutmaster Dave, and this was a bit on being a patrol leader.
