Boy Scouts of America

Commissioner Awards and Recognition

The Role of Recognition

Recognition has been a fundamental part of Scouting from its beginning. Done well, it is a powerful tool that can help leaders set goals, define accomplishments, encourage skill development, celebrate commitment and achievement, and inspire others to strive for similar success.

Effective recognition is essential to effective unit service:

  • It provides clear definition of success: the attitude, skills, training and behaviors needed to perform effectively
  • It helps identify and recruit volunteers to serve as commissioners
  • It helps retain commissioners

For commissioners, effective recognition supports recruiting and developing a team that helps unit leaders start, build, and grow strong, sustainable units that will ensure every member of the BSA has a great Scouting experience.

Commissioning

While there are many definitions of “commission,” they share common threads: a “Commission” is an authorization to act; an act of entrusting or giving authority; an appointment or assignment to a task or function.

In Scouting, only professional staff members and commissioners are eligible to be commissioned. Just as the wreath of service is a unique design element of their badges of office, commissioning is a unique opportunity for individuals in those positions to publicly commit to providing service in Scouting and to celebrate their commitment.

Commissioners are recruited and commit to serve one year at a time; a commissioning ceremony is a great opportunity to publicly formalize and celebrate their commitment.

For commissioners who are renewing their commitment to serve, a review of achievements over the past year and plans for the year to come (Assess – Plan – Act) provide great preparation for a commissioning ceremony.

Commissioning ceremonies – and preparation for them – help recognize and celebrate success and retain commissioners.

Everything needed to conduct commissioning ceremonies is just a click away: https://www.scouting.org/commissioners/recognition/commission/

Commissioner Recognition

Commissioner recognition and this awards and recognition website have three objectives:

  1. Establish recognition opportunities for all commissioners.
  2. Establish consistent requirements that incorporate the contemporary tools and techniques commissioners use.
  3. Provide easy access to information, including opportunities, requirements, progress records, certificates, and available recognition items.

There are three categories of commissioner awards and recognition:

  • Recognition of an individual’s commitment to serve.
  • Recognition of an individual’s development.
  • Recognition of an individual’s impact.

There are also three classifications of commissioner awards and recognition:

  • Recognition from an individual’s selection to serve.
  • Recognition from an individual’s application for an award.
  • Recognition from an individual’s nomination for an award.

Requirements and Progress Records

Requirements and progress records (or nomination forms) have been consolidated into a single pdf form that can be downloaded and saved to a local device. The forms can be completed by simply positioning the cursor in the first (or next desired) field and entering the applicable information. Applicants can track their progress and when all requirements are completed the progress record can be emailed (or printed and delivered) for review, approval and processing. Those wishing to nominate an individual for an award can follow a similar process.

Certificates

Recognition certificates are also available as pdf forms. They can be completed online (or downloaded to a local device) and printed. Paper stock selection determines the final product. Using standard printer paper provides a good result; using higher quality stock (e.g., “resume’ paper”) provides a higher quality certificate suitable for framing. Download Commissioner Training Certificates

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.