Second Class Rank Patch

Second Class
Rank Requirements*

Requirements were REVISED effective January 1, 2016.

New text is in bold GREEN underlined Serif text like this sentence.
Deleted portions are struck through RED italic text like this sentence.

To see the requirements, without the changes highlighted, Click here.

For the previous requirements, Click here.

Transition rules for the Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks:

  • For 2016:
    • Boys joining on or after Jan. 1, 2016, MUST use the new requirements.
    • Boys who joined prior to Jan. 1, 2016,  and who are working on Tenderfoot through First Class MAY continue to work using the previous requirements, but MUST convert to the new requirements upon attaining First Class.
  • After 2016:
    • All Scouts MUST use the new requirements for all ranks.
  • CAMPING and OUTDOOR ETHICS
      1. Demonstrate how a compass works and how to orient a map. Explain what map symbols mean.
        Since joining, participate in five separate troop/patrol activities, three of which include overnight camping. These five activities do not include troop or patrol meetings. On at least two of the three campouts, spend the night in a tent that you pitch or other structure that you help erect (such as a lean-to, snow cave, or tepee.)
      2. Using a compass and a map together, take a 5-mile hike (or 10 miles by bike) approved by your adult leader and your parent or guardian.**
        Explain the principles of Leave No Trace, and tell how you practiced them while on a campout or outing. This outing must be  different from the one used for Tenderfoot requirement 1c.
      3. On one of these campouts, select a location for your patrol site and recommend it to your patrol leader, senior patrol leader, or troop guide. Explain what factors you should consider when choosing a patrol site and where to pitch a tent.
  • COOKING and TOOLS
    1. Discuss the principles of "Leave No Trace"
      3.
      1. Since joining, have participated in five separate troop/patrol activities (other than troop/patrol meetings), two of which included camping overnight.
        Explain when it is appropriate to use a fire for cooking or other purposes and when it would not be appropriate to do so.
      2. On one of these campouts, select your patrol site and sleep in a tent that you pitched. Explain what factors you should consider when choosing a patrol site and where to pitch a tent.
        Use the tools listed in Tenderfoot requirement 3d to prepare tinder, kindling, and fuel wood for a cooking fire.
      3. Demonstrate proper care, sharpening, and use of the knife, saw, and ax, and describe when they should be used.
        At an approved outdoor location and time, use the tinder, kindling, and fuel wood from Second Class requirement 2b to demonstrate how to build a fire. Unless prohibited by local fire restrictions, light the fire. After allowing the flames to burn safely for at least two minutes, safely extinguish the flames with minimal impact to the fire site.
      4. Use the tools listed in requirement 3c to prepare tinder, kindling, and fuel for a cooking fire.
        Explain when it is appropriate to use a lightweight stove or propane stove. Set up a lightweight stove and when it is appropriate to use a propane stove. Set up a lightweight stove or propane stove. Light the stove, unless prohibited by local fire restrictions. Describe the safety procedures for using these types of stoves.
      5. Explain when it is appropriate to use a cooking fire. At an approved outdoor location and at an approved time, and using the tinder, kindling, and fuel wood from requirement 3d, demonstrate how to build a fire; light the fire, unless prohibited by local fire restrictions. After allowing the flames to burn safely for at least two minutes, safely extinguish the flames with minimal impact to the fire site.
        On one campout, plan and cook one hot breakfast or lunch, selecting foods from MyPlate or the current USDA nutrition model. Explain the importance of good nutrition. Demonstrate how to transport, store, and prepare the foods you selected.
      6. Explain when it is appropriate to use a lightweight stove or propane stove. Set up a lightweight stove or propane stove; light the stove, unless prohibited by local fire restrictions. Describe the safety procedures for using these types of stoves.
        Demonstrate how to tie the sheet bend knot. Describe a situation in which you would use this knot.
      7. On one campout, plan and cook one hot breakfast or lunch, selecting foods from MyPlate or the current USDA nutrition model. Explain the importance of good nutrition. Tell how to transport, store, and prepare the foods you selected.
        Demonstrate how to tie the bowline knot. Describe a situation in which you would use this knot.
  • NAVIGATION
      1. Demonstrate how a compass works and how to orient a map. Use a map to point out and tell the meaning of five map symbols.
      2. Using a compass and a map together, take a five-mile hike (or 10 miles by bike) approved by your adult leader and your parent or guardian.2
      3. Describe some hazards or injuries that you might encounter on your hike and what you can do to help prevent them.2
      4. Demonstrate how to find directions during the day and at night without using a compass or an electronic device.
  • NATURE
    1. Participate in a flag ceremony for your school, religious institution, chartered organization, community, or troop activity. Explain to your leader what respect is due the flag of the United States.
      Identify or show evidence of at least ten kinds of wild animals (such as birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, mollusks) found in your local area or camping location. You may show evidence by tracks, signs, or photographs you have taken.
  • AQUATICS
    1. Participate in approved (minimum of one hour) service project(s).
      1. Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe swim.
      2. Demonstrate your ability to pass the BSA beginner test.  Jump feetfirst into water over your head in depth, level off and swim 25 feet on the surface, stop, turn sharply, resume swimming, then return to your starting place.
      3. Demonstrate water rescue methods by reaching with your arm or leg, by reaching with a suitable object, and by throwing lines and objects.
      4. Explain why swimming rescues should not be attempted when a reaching or throwing rescue is possible. Explain why and how a rescue swimmer should avoid contact with the victim.
  • FIRST AID
    1. Identify or show evidence of at least ten kinds of wild animals (birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, mollusks) found in your community.
      1. Demonstrate first aid for the following:
        • Object in the eye
        • Bite of a warm blooded animal
        • Puncture wounds from a splinter, nail, and fishhook
        • Serious burns (partial thickness, or second degree)
        • Heat exhaustion
        • Shock
        • Heatstroke, dehydration, hypothermia, and hyperventilation
      2. Show what to do for "hurry" cases of stopped breathing, stroke, severe bleeding, and ingested poisoning.
      3. Tell what you can do while on a campout or hike to prevent or reduce the occurrence of the injuries listed in Second Class requirements 6a and 6b.
      4. Explain what to do in case of accidents that require emergency response in the home and the backcountry. Explain what constitutes an emergency and what information you will need to provide to a responder.
      5. Tell how you should respond if you come upon the scene of a vehicular accident.
  • FITNESS
      1. Show what to do for "hurry" cases of stopped breathing, serious bleeding, and ingested poisoning.
        After competing Tenderfoot requirement 6c, be physically active at least 30 minutes a day for five days a week for four weeks. Keep track of your activities.
      2. Prepare a personal first aid kit to take with you on a hike.
        Share your challenges and successes in completing Second Class requirement 7a. Set a goal for continuing to include physical activity as part of your daily life and develop a plan for doing so.
      3. Demonstrate first aid for the following:
        • Object in the eye
        • Bite of a suspected rabid animal
        • Puncture wounds from a splinter, nail, and fishhook
        • Serious burns (partial thickness, or second degree)
        • Heat exhaustion
        • Shock
        • Heatstroke, dehydration, hypothermia, and hyperventilation
        Participate in a school, community, or troop program on the dangers of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, and other practices that could be harmful to your health. Discuss your participation in the program with your family, and explain the dangers of substance addictions. Report to your Scoutmaster or other adult leader in your troop about which parts of the Scout Oath and Law relate to what you learned.
  • CITIZENSHIP
      1. Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe swim.
        Participate in a flag ceremony for your school, religious institution, chartered organization, community, or Scouting activity.
      2. Demonstrate your ability to jump feetfirst into water over your head in depth, level off and swim 25 feet on the surface, stop, turn sharply, resume swimming, then return to your starting place.
        Explain what respect is due the flag of the United States.
      3. Demonstrate water rescue methods by reaching with your arm or leg, by reaching with a suitable object, and by throwing lines and objects. Explain why swimming rescues should not be attempted when a reaching or throwing rescue is possible, and explain why and how a rescue swimmer should avoid contact with the victim.
        With your parents or guardian, decide on an amount of money that you would like to earn, based on the cost of a specific item you would like to purchase. Develop a written plan to earn the amount agreed upon and follow that plan; it is acceptable to make changes to your plan along the way. Discuss any changes made to your original plan and whether you met your goal.
      4. At a minimum of three locations, compare the cost of the item for which you are saving to determine the best place to purchase it. After completing Second Class requirement 8c, decide if you will use the amount that you earned as originally intended, save all or part of it, or use it for another purpose.
      5. Participate in two hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. Tell how your service to others relates to the Scout Oath.
  • LEADERSHIP
      1. Participate in a school, community, or troop program on the dangers of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, and other practices that could be harmful to your health. Discuss your participation in the program with your family, and explain the dangers of substance addictions.
        b. Explain the three R's of personal safety and protection.
      2. Describe bullying; tell what the appropriate response is to someone who is bullying you or another person.
  • SCOUT SPIRIT
    1. Earn an amount of money agreed upon by you and your parent, then save at least 50 percent of that money.
      11.       Demonstrate scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life. Discuss four specific examples (different from those used for Tenderfoot requirement 13) of Tell how you have done your duty to God and how you have lived the four different points of the Scout Law (not to include those used for Tenderfoot requirement 9) in your daily everyday life.
    2. 12. Participate While working toward the Second Class rank, and after completing Tenderfoot requirement 10, participate in a Scoutmaster conference.
    3. 13. Successfully complete your board of review for the Second Class rank.

Notes:

*For Varsity Scouts working on Boy Scout requirements, replace "troop" with "team” and "Scoutmaster" with "Varsity Scout Coach."

The requirements for the Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks may be worked on simultaneously; however, these ranks must be earned in sequence.

Alternate Requirements for the Second Class rank are available for Scouts with physical or mental disabilities if they meet the criteria listed on page 13 of this (i.e. the Boy Scout Requirements) book in the Boy Scout Requirements book.

*2 If you use a wheelchair or crutches, or if it is difficult for you to get around, you may substitute "trip" for "hike" in requirement 1b 3b and 3c.

Source: 2016 Boy Scout Rank Requirements (524-012)

Worksheet for use in working on these requirements: Format
Word Format PDF Format

Blanks in this worksheets table appear when we do not have a worksheet for the badge that includes these requirements.

Please note that Requirement 13 12 - (Successfully complete your board of review for the Second Class rank.) MAY be done AFTER the Scout' has reached age 18.
All other requirements must be completed BEFORE the Scout's 18th Birthday.

Page updated on: February 03, 2019

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