INTERNET ADVANCEMENT
Process ranks and awards for packs, troops, teams, crews, ships, and posts.

Internet Advancement makes it easy for unit leadership to record awards, ranks, and merit badges to youth with an online process.  This system is separate from Internet Rechartering, but uses a similar concept.

Download PowerPoint about Internet Advancement (790KB)
If you do not have PowerPoint, you can download a viewer to see the slide show.

Units can now submit advancement for unit youth members online. Use Internet Advancement for the following:

• Add ranks, merit badges, and awards
• Update information on existing advancements (except Eagle Scout rank).

To use Internet Advancement:

1. Select the unit advancement processor.  This person must have Internet connectivity and Microsoft Internet Explorer.
2. Obtain a unit ID code from the council.  Unit ID may be obtained from your District Executive or submit an email request (allow 2 business days to receive your Unit ID).
3. Gather information for advancement, including merit badge applications and advancement records with dates.
4. Click Internet Advancement on this page.  Follow the instructions in Internet Advancement to process advancements and print an advancement report.
5. Have the appropriate people sign the printed unit advancement report and submit it to the council. Save a copy for your files.

Units should submit monthly before the end of each month, or more often if needed. In December, submit a report before the end of the month to update your unit and council statistics.

At any time during the year, the unit advancement processor from each active unit will be able to record advancements to youth member records.  They’ll also be able to print a unit roster at any time.  The roster is the most current information from ScoutNET, and it will include the person ID for each adult and youth member.

Reports available from Internet Advancement:

• Unit Advancement Summary shows ranks, merit badges, and awards saved in each person record for current members of the unit.
• Advancement Report lists each youth member that has new ranks, merit badges, and awards, if any.  This is the official unit Advancement Report to be signed and submitted at the Scout Service Center when purchasing your patches and pins.
• Unit Awards Summary lists new ranks, merit badges, and awards by name for easy use at Court of Honors and Pack meetings.
• Advancement Update Summary lists any ranks, merit badges, and awards that were already in the member record and were updated online.

Ranks must be recorded based on program identification and in the correct rank and date sequence.  Only the Eagle Scout rank cannot be awarded by this process.  Awards to be entered will not include nominated awards, such as those for meritorious action, and awards that are controlled by other organizations, even if approved for uniform wear.  As BSA policies for rank entry are enforced, what units enter will meet these requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

If you have any questions or comments, contact the Scout Service Center by phone, 423-892-8323, or email and we’ll be glad to assist you.