Troop 403 is organized into several operating units: patrols, the Patrol Leader's Council, adult leaders, and the Troop Committee.
Patrols are groups of 6-8 scouts which represent the smallest democratic unit of the troop. Patrols are organized so that boys at higher and lower experience levels are mixed throughout each patrol.
The Patrol Leader's Council is comprised of the Senior Patrol Leader, the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, all Patrol Leaders and Troop Guides. Assistant Patrol Leaders attend PLC meetings if the Patrol Leader cannot attend. PLC meetings are the first Monday of each month. The PLC's job is to plan and run the programs of the troop, under the guidance of the adult leaders.
The adult leader staff is comprised of men and women, 18 years of age of older, whose function is to guide the scouts in the execution of the program, especially with regards to the aims of Scouting. The Scoutmaster must be at least 21 years of age, and be approved by the Troop Committee and the chartering or sponsoring organization. The Scoutmaster can appoint as many Assistant Scoutmasters as he deems appropriate to carry out troop functions. All adult leaders must register with the troop under their leader title.
The Troop Committee is the "Board of Directors" for the troop. The committee consists of adults, 18 years of age or older, who are committed to the purposes of scouting. They must register as a "committee member" with the troop. Some of the Troop Committee's responsibilities include setting troop policy, approving the troop's activities and budget, supporting troop functions by serving on subcommittees for specific troop activities, and as applicable, individual members serve as Merit Badge Counselors. The Troop Committee meets monthly for approximately three hours on the last Saturday of each month starting at 7:00PM. An annual election is held for the Committee Chairman, the Secretary, and the Treasurer positions. All other positions are filled on an interest basis.
The "chain of command" revolves around the Senior Patrol Leader. He serves as the channel of communication between patrols and the adult leaders. Scouts with questions or concerns should first go to their Patrol Leader, who in turn should go to the Senior Patrol Leader, who the should go to the Scoutmaster.
The planning and conducting of troop activities is largely a responsibility of the scouts. The Boy Scout program offers several opportunities for boys to develop leadership skills by being elected of appointed to leadership positions within the troop. The more advanced ranks require boys to demonstrate leadership abilities. The troop conducts troop elections twice a year to select its leaders.
The following qualifications are required for leadership positions:
PATROL LEADER (PL)
*Regular attendance and participation in troop and patrol activities
*Demonstrate "Scout Spirit"
*First Class rank or above
*Election by patrol
*Scoutmaster's approval
*Agrees to participate in leadership training program
*Committed to job
SENIOR PATROL LEADER (SPL)
*Regular attendance and participation in troop and patrol activities
*Demonstrate "Scout Spirit"
*Star rank or above
*Election by Troop
*Scoutmaster's approval
*Agrees to continue participation in leadership training program
*Committed to job
ASSISTANT SENIOR PATROL LEADER (ASPL)
*Same as SPL (usually earned by the scout receiving the second highest vote total for SPL)
QUARTERMASTER, HISTORIAN, LIBRARIAN, SCRIBE, CHAPLAIN AIDE, BUGLER, TROOP GUIDES, and DEN CHIEFS
*Regular attendance and participation in troop and patrol activities
*Demonstrate "Scout Spirit"
*First Class rank or above
*As a volunteer with Scoutmaster's approval
*Agrees to participate in leadership training program
*Committed to job
The Scoutmaster may approve additional leadership roles in the troop for scouts as needed.
The Scouting program offers leadership training programs for scouts and adults. Adult leaders are encouraged to participate in the "Basic Leader Training" to learn the fundamentals of Scouting. A monthly "Roundtable" (held the first Thursday evening of each month) provides training and information sharing opportunities for adults. Advance courses, like Wood Badge, allow adult leaders to hone their skills and to learn from seasoned Scouters how to enhance troop operations. Scouts can attend the biannual "Junior Leader Training" orientation workshops. Additionally, the troop's adult staff often present leadership training seminars to scouts.
