How to Earn the Rank of First Class

Pages 112-113, 442-443 of the Boy Scout Handbook

• Demonstrate how to find directions during the day and at night without using the compass.
  
  
• Using a compass, complete an orienteering course that covers at least 1 mile and requires measuring the height and/or width of designated items (tree, tower, canyon, ditch, etc.)
  
  
• Since joining, have participated in ten separate troop/patrol activities (other that troop/patrol meetings), three of which include camping over night
  
  
• Help plan a patrol menu for one campout-including one breakfast, lunch, and dinner-that requires cooking. Tell how the menu includes the four basic food groups and meets nutritional needs.
  
  
• Using the menu planned in requirement 4a, make a list showing the cost and food amounts needed to feed three or more boys and secure the ingredients.
  
  
• Tell which pans, utensils, and other gear will be needed to cook and serve these meals.
  
  
• Explain the procedures to follow in the safe handling and storage of fresh meats, dairy products, eggs, vegetables, and other perishable food products. Tell how to properly dispose of camp garbage, cans, plastic containers, and other rubbish.
  
  
• On one camp-out, serve as your patrol's cook. Supervise your assistant(s) in using a stove or building a cooking fire. Prepare the breakfast, lunch, and dinner planned in requirement 4a. Lead your patrol in saying grace at the meals, and supervise cleanup.
  
  
• Visit and discuss with a selected individual approved by your leader (elected official, judge, attorney, civil servant, principal, teacher) your constitution rights and obligations as a US citizen.
  
  
• Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds of native plants found in your community.
  
  
• Discuss when you should and should not use lashings.
  
  
• Demonstrate tying the timber hitch and clove hitch and their use in a square, shear, and diagonal lashing by joining 2 or more poles or staves together.
  
  
• Demonstrate tying the timber hitch and clove hitch and their use in a square, shear, and diagonal lashing by joining 2 or more poles or staves together.
  
  
• Use lashings to make a useful camp gadget.
  
  
• Demonstrate tying the bowline (rescue) knot and tell how it's used in rescues.
  
  
• Demonstrate bandages for a sprained ankle and for injuries on the head, the upper arm, collarbone.
  
  
• Show how to transport (by yourself and with one other person) a person:
  • from a smoke filled room
  • with a broken leg (for at least 25 yards)
    
• Tell the five most common signs of a heart attack. Explain the steps (procedures) in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
  
  
• Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe trip afloat.
  
  
• Demonstrate your ability to swim 75 yards using one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl; then swim 25 yards using an easy resting backstroke , and finish by floating (rest) as motionless as possible for 1 minute (BSA swimmers test).*
  
  
• Demonstrate survival skills by leaping into deep water wearing clothes (shoes, socks, swim trunks, long pants, belt, and long sleeved shirt). Remove shoes and socks, inflate the shirt, and show that you can float using the shirt for support. Remove and inflate the pants for support. Swim 50 feet using the inflated pants for support, then show how to reinflate the pants while using them for support.*
  
  
• With a helper and a practice victim, show a line rescue both as tender and as rescuer. (The practice victim should be approximately 30 feet from shore in deep water.)
  
  
• Demonstrate scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
  
  
• Participate in a Scoutmaster conference.
  
  
• Complete the board of review.
  
  
• * This requirement may be waived by the troop committee for medical or safety reasons.