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Merit Badge Application
Generally the scout takes the initiative to start working on a merit badge of his choice and at his own schedule. Scouts can begin working on merit badges at any age or rank. Often scouts do not work on or earn any merit badges until they have earned their first few ranks.
When a scout is interested in completing a merit badge, he should ask his Scoutmaster or another troop leader for the name of a registered counselor for the badge. The Scoutmaster will provide a signed Application for Merit Badge, commonly a tri-fold perforated small blue card.
The Scoutmaster may also provide the names and the telephone numbers of a few approved merit badge counselors for the boy to choose from. (In some cases, the Scoutmaster may ask the scout to contact the district to get information about merit badge counselors.)
The ``blue card'' will be used by the counselor to keep track of the scout's progress — signing off each requirement on the card as it's completed. When completed, the merit badge counselor will sign the card multiple times and will keep one part for his or her records. The scout will keep one part for his records and the final part will submitted to the committee for the troop's records.
Note that some troops don't use the ``blue card.'' Be sure to ask your Scoutmaster for the method used by your troop for the merit badge application.
Merit badges are awarded soon after signed off by the counselor at a regular troop meeting; and then the boy is later recognized at the next Court of Honor.
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