The 12 required merit badges are: Camping; Citizenship in the Community; Citizenship in the Nation; Citizenship in the World; Communications; Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving; Environmental Science; First Aid; Cycling or Hiking or Swimming; Personal Management; Personal Fitness; Family Life.

Preplanning is a must in this area. I can't imagine how it must feel when a Scout realizes he turns 18 in two months and he needs Family Life or Personal Management, which require at least three months. Don't put yourself in that position! If you still have merit badges to complete, lay out a plan to get the toughest done first (and in time), and plan the fun ones for the last.

Note: Before you fill out this section of your application, save yourself and the people at your council office a lot of headaches by doing the following:

List the actual merit badges you used for Star and Life ranks, as well as the rest needed for Eagle. Many Scouts want to put down the merit badges they are most proud of, but don't! Any checks made against the dates you list on your application will most likely make it appear that you did not have enough merit badges to earn earlier ranks as per the board of review dates you list for them.

On the Eagle Application there are two sets of required merit badges from which you can choose to do one from each group (Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving; and Cycling or Hiking or Swimming). Both Star and Life ranks allow you to use two from one group, like using Hiking and Swimming as two required merit badges on your Star rank. If you have done this, make sure you select one as the required merit badge (cross off the other option on the application) and list the other required merit badge as a non-required merit badge (in one of the spaces numbered 13-21).

The date earned for the merit badge is the actual day the merit badge counselor signed and dated your merit badge card. Do not use the date you received it at your Court of Honor. Your unit or district advancement chairman can help you with dates if you do not have complete records.

Last modified 4/30/2009