Life to Eagle

(Updated March 2026)

Contact Eagle Project Coach or Scoutmaster with any questions, any time.

First things first ... Do these few steps before you do anything else
  1. Visit the Eagle Scout Information website and review all the documentation, starting by reading and understanding the NCAC Eagle Scout Procedures Guide through the bottom of the page (links will be updated).
  2. Please note that although you read the guide top to bottom, you can proceed in parallel (simultaneously) instead of series (one at a time in order). This means you can request references from the four people you plan to list on your Eagle Scout Rank Application (ESRA) today! You can also write your Statement of Ambitions and Life Purpose (3-5 paragraphs), including a bulleted resume with honors, leadership positions and awards, as you progress — don't leave it all for the end! You can also save these to use as a first draft for college applications, if you choose.
  3. ESRA and Advancement Report should be downloaded from Scoutbook.org. This will both give you the most recent version of the ESRA and should correctly fill in your merit badges and other important information.You will need to fill in other details (recommendations, project information, leadership details). If difficulties are encountered or errors exist in your record, please reach out to the Advancement Records Coordinator for assistance.
  4. When you are close to the end, you MUST schedule your final Scoutmaster conference. This must happen before your 18th birthday, and prior to the Board of Review being scheduled.

Important Names for the Eagle Scout Process

Scoutmaster: Michael Daniel

Troop Committee Chair: Lauren Machen

Troop Eagle Project Coach: Mike Park

Advancement Coordinator: James Mobley

Advancement Records Coordinator: Karen Mankin

Eagle Scout Service Project Process:

  1. Solidify your project idea
  2. Contact our Troop Eagle Project Coach to discuss your idea and confirm it qualifies for an Eagle project
  3. Contact your beneficiary to confirm that the project meets with their approval
  4. When you and Troop Eagle Project Coach think you have enough substance to your project, document your proposal in the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook starting on page 8. Send copies of this to both Project Coach and Scoutmaster. Fill out all but Contact Info Page and signature page (see below, steps 6.1 and 8).
  5. Review this with Scoutmaster and get their agreement that your project concept is good and your project write-up is good
  6. After Scoutmaster's review and agreement, send a PDF copy of your workbook to Project Coach so they can make sure it meets all the requirements that the District Eagle Board will look for.
    1. You will need the information for the Contact Information page (Proposal Page B). The contact information page has personal information on it so we cannot post it all here. To get the information send the Advancement Coordinator an email and they will send you the necessary information
    2. For starters, here are some of the details needed:
      1. Unit Leader: Michael Daniel
      2. Unit Committee Chair: Lauren Machen
      3. Unit Advancement Coordinator: Jim Mobley
      4. Your Council Service Center: Marriott Service Center, 301-530-9360, 9190 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814
      5. Council or District Project Approval Representative: Jamie Martin
      6. Project Coach: Mike Park
  7. After Project Coach’s review, make any needed updates
  8. Start the signature process for your proposal. All signatures must be on the same page--visit the first three people to get those signatures instead of emailing.
    1. Your Sponsor
    2. Scoutmaster
    3. Troop Committee Chair
  9. The fourth and last signature is obtained after the three above. It is from the District Eagle Representative, currently Jamie Martin. Our Advancement Coordinator will introduce you via email to him. Do not contact him on your own. Once you have all three other signatures, contact Advancement Coordinator and he will send an introductory email to Mr Martin. Once introduced via email, you will email Mr. Martin a copy of your Proposal. He will review and will likely give you permission to proceed via email. Print and insert a copy of that email after the signature page in the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook when assembling your binder. Mr. Martin may provide a formal signature at your Eagle Scout Board of Review if he cannot sign electronically.
  10. After all signatures are obtained, complete the detailed Project Plan in the project workbook and get approval on that from Scoutmaster. Email approval is acceptable. Attach it to the back of your Project Plan.
  11. After you get the okay on your Project Plan, contact Scoutmaster to schedule the project on the Troop calendar. Write up emails to send to the Troop and create sign-up pages. 
  12. Finish your project.
  13. After your project is complete, complete the Project Report in the workbook. Send to Scoutmaster for review. Get signatures from your beneficiary and sign it yourself.
  14. Assemble your binder as described below, including the ESRA
Eagle Scout Rank Application (ESRA) Process:
  1. Download a copy of your Individual Advancement Report from Scoutbook. You can find this form under the Reports tab.  (If you do not have access to Scoutbook you can request a copy of the form from the Advancement Records Coordinator, but you really should be able to do this for yourself on Scoutbook--it will make your life a lot easier when it comes to the ESRA.)
  2. IF the name on that Advancement Summary is NOT how you want your Eagle Scout certificate and other documentation to appear, contact Advancement Coordinator IMMEDIATELY to notify them of the change. This can take a while and your ESRA will need to match your name in Advancement Report
  3. Download a copy of your Eagle Scout Rank Application (ESRA) from Scoutbook. Scoutbook will use the most current version of the form, and automatically fill in most of the information. If you do not have access to Scoutbook, work hard to get access. If you still cannot get access to Scoutbook, Google "Eagle Scout Rank Application" and download the most recent form. If you do it this way you will need to fill in the form, including all merit badges in the correct order and format. Be sure you are using the most recent version of the ESRA!
  4. Both the NCAC and Four Mile Run documents referenced above walk you through every step of filling out the ESRA. Use these guides!
  5. Additionally, use the NCAC Pre-certification Requirements document to guide your filling out of the ESRA. It has a simple checklist.
  6. Please note the ESRA has to be 100% correctly filled out to be accepted for pre-certification by NCAC. Delays will affect pre-certification, which will affect Board of Review scheduling.
  7. You are now ready to fill out the ESRA.
    1. Important note: leave no blank spaces. Use N/A where appropriate. ALL DATES should have leading zeroes (e.g. 01/01/2026)
    2. For name, use the name that appears in your Advancement Summary, even though it asks for full legal name. See ESRA Step 1 above for name changes.
    3. For "Date became a Scout" use one day BEFORE your earned your Scout Rank (after verifying that the date that appears on your Advancement Report is correct and not after you earned your first merit badge). Using this date this will always be correct. 
    4. Requirement #2 - you must list 4 references with complete addresses, phone numbers, and email. Advancement coordinator will contact them for their references.
    5. Requirement #3 - enter your merit badges per your advancement report.For those Eagle required badges with options (e.g. Swimming/Biking/Hiking), cross out the ones not being used for Eagle required
    6. Requirement #4 - If one leadership position was held for a total of 6 months then mark the 2nd position with an N/A. If you served for longer than 6 months, don't enter a longer time period, enter exactly 6 months from start to end of position. If two leadership positions were held, the total should equal six months: no more, no less.
    7. After Requirement #6, remember to provide the requested statement of your life ambitions AND a listing of positions held in your religious institution, school, camp, or other organizations during which you exhibited leadership. Also include a list of honors and awards you received while a Scout. These can be from Scouting, school or from other things. This is described with examples in the Life to Eagle Guideline documents listed above.
    8. Remember to sign and date your application
    9. Once you have the entire ESRA filled out and ready to go, send a copy of it to Scoutmaster to review. Remember to include the essay and a copy of your advancement report.
    10. Scoutmaster will ensure that everything is 100% correct and ready for pre-certification. Make any required changes.
    11. Assemble into a 3-ring binder your:
      * ESRA
      * advancement report
      * statement of life purpose
      * list of awards
      * Eagle Scout project worksheet (all three sections including emails mentioned above)
      * Please decorate the cover and spine, making sure you have your name, Troop 149 and your BSA ID on it.
    12. Request a Scoutmaster Conference from Scoutmaster. Bring your binder and your Scout book. Upon successful completion of the conference, make sure Scoutmaster signs your ESRA, your Project Report (you should sign too) and your Scout Handbook.
    13. Bring binder with all signatures to Committee Chair.
    14. Committee Chair will do a final check of everything, sign your ESRA and then pass it to Advancement Coordinator, who will request pre-certification approval from District Eagle Representative.
    15. Once pre-certification approval is received on your ESRA, your Eagle Scout Board of Review can be scheduled. It can take some time to coordinate everyone's availability. The Board of Review chair will be the Advancement Coordinator, and the District Eagle Representative must also attend. 1-2 other parents generally comprise the rest of the Eagle Board.
    16. Upon successful completion of your Board of Review, your ESRA will be signed by the Board of Review Chair and the District Eagle Representative. Your ESRA is complete. 
    17. You are now an Eagle Scout!
    18. Your Eagle paperwork will be sent to NCAC electronically. It takes about 3 to 4 weeks to get the final approvals and for your awards to be ready. During that time an Eagle Scout Court of Honor may be scheduled if desired.