* Why do I need a Troop Eagle Adviser also called Project Coach or Project Mentor.

Unlike Life Rank, Eagles Rank is earned in the Council and approved by  National Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
There are rules to become an Eagle Scout from National BSA, Greater Los Angeles Area Council, the San Gabriel Valley District and Troop 373.
The Troop Eagle Adviser is there to help the Scout with the paperwork and these rules.  Also the Life Scout must show that he is "prepared" to be an Eagle Scout to the Scoutmaster and Greater Los Angeles Area Council and the San Gabriel Valley District . The Troop Eagle Adviser helps the Scout to "Be Prepare".
It is not the Scoutmaster's role to help the Scout to "Be Prepare".    It is the Scouts job to show the Scout is prepared.

*   How long does the Life to Eagle Process take?

Troop 373 would like Scouts to not put stress on the system by delaying the start of the process.   About 6 months would be the minimum, as a Scout needs to:
1) Find and pick a project.
2) Pick and work with a Troop Eagle Adviser to approved the project. (Get BSA Class A Uniform & new Handbook if needed)
3) Write up the project and have the Troop Eagle Adviser approved the project write up.
4) Get approval and signature from Scoutmaster, Project Beneficiary Representative and Lucky Baldwin District (GLAAC) Advancement Chair.
5) Get the project date approval with Troop Eagle Adviser.
6) Send out Letters of Reference with Troop Eagle Advancement Chair.
6) Plan the project details - make a Troop Flyer and make announcement.
7) Troop Eagle Adviser to approved the final project write up a week before the project.
8) Get needed supplies and carry out the project.
9) Get a project completion letter.
10)  Do the post project write up.
11) Get the post project write up approved by Troop Eagle Adviser.
12) Post project signatures:  Scoutmaster,  Project Beneficiary Representative, Unit Chair and Lucky Baldwin District (GLAAC) Advancement Chair.
13) Complete any Merit Badges not yet done.  Also get copy of Scout's BSA and Troop records.
14) Make a complete Eagle Book and have it approved by the Troop Eagle Adviser. 
15) Eagle Book signatures:  Scoutmaster, Project Beneficiary Representative, Unit Chair, and Lucky Baldwin District (GLAAC) Advancement Chair.
 This last step (15) must be done before a Scouts 18th Birthday.
16) Eagle Board of Review  but this can be done after your 18th Birthday.

Troop Eagle Adviser, Scoutmaster and San Gabriel Valley District (GLAAC) Advancement Chair may require change to the Scout's paperwork before approving it.    The above also should not take more than a year. So starting at age 17 1/2 would be the latest. A 16 year old is good as there is less stress. A 15 year old Scout need to show that he is ready to do most of the project own his own. Due to the many steps, do not demand the system work to your timetable. If you have a problem take you problem only to your Troop Eagle Adviser and no one else.


*  Does my paperwork need to be typed up?
Yes, so all can read the project and Eagle book, this should be typed up. The Project is in a fillable PDF file.  The other forms are Word docs.  Do not leave any data fields bank. If you do not have data for the field type in NA, or $0.00 or none.  The Eagle Scout Rank Application is the only form that needs to be in color.    You may hand print your total hours on the check list.

* Do I need to have complete all of the 21 required Merit Badge to start my project?

No, but you should be working on the last three Merit Badges to start your project. This is so you do not over load yourself.  The are time requirements in some these merit badges, so Scouts that are 17, start early so you do not run out of time. See: Cooking, Camping, Family Life , Personal Management and Personal Fitness for time requirements.  Once you have 20 night of camping  (can only count one week long camp (6 nights), other week long camp [4 or more nights] count as 2 night) and one or more backpack trips, you are ready to complete your camping MB with a troop councilor.