To earn the Boy Scout ranks of Star, Life, and Eagle, a boy has to serve in a position of responsibility for six months (four months for Star rank).

But not every position of responsibility applies. Assistant patrol leader, for example, is not considered a position of responsibility in this sense. But senior patrol leader is.

To keep it all straight, here's a short guide to which positions in a troop, team, crew, or ship will count for advancement.

FOR STAR AND LIFE SCOUT:

Boy Scout troop: Patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, Venture patrol leader, troop guide, Order of the Arrow troop representative, den chief, scribe, librarian, historian, quartermaster, bugler, junior assistant Scoutmaster, chaplain aide, instructor, troop webmaster, or Leave No Trace trainer.

Varsity Scout team: Captain, cocaptain, program manager, squad leader, team secretary, Order of the Arrow troop representative, librarian, historian, quartermaster, chaplain aide, instructor, den chief, team webmaster, or Leave No Trace trainer.

Venturing crew/ship: President, vice president, secretary, treasurer, den chief, quartermaster, historian, guide, boatswain, boatswain’s mate, yeoman, purser, storekeeper, crew/ship webmaster, or Leave No Trace trainer.

FOR EAGLE SCOUT:

Boy Scout troop: Same as Star/Life, except bugler is removed.

Varsity Scout team: Same as Star/Life

Venturing crew/ship: Same as Star/Life