Unit Elections

The Order of the Arrow is Scouting’s National Honor Society. It recognizes those who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. Each Troop, Crew and Ship is allowed to have one election during an election cycle. The Election Period runs from December 1 to March 31 each year.

Elections are requested through an online system. The Scoutmaster/Crew Adviser/Skipper and the Committee Chair will receive emails with a link to the system.

Youth Membership Qualifications –

• The Youth is under age 21.
  • For Scouts BSA Troops, registered Adult Leaders ages 18 to 20 are considered youth in the Order of the Arrow. They may be a candidate in the election and they may vote in the election. They may not be nominated to the Order of the Arrow through the Adult Leader Recommendation process.
• The youth must hold one of the following ranks or higher, based on the unit in which the election is being held –
  • For Scouts BSA Troops – First Class Rank
  • For Venturing Crews – Discovery Award
  • For Sea Scout Ships – Ordinary Rank
• The youth must have experienced 15 nights of camping while registered with a troop, crew, or ship within the two years immediately prior to the election.
  • The 15 nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of at least five consecutive nights of overnight camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America.
  • Only five nights of the long-term camp may be credited toward the 15-night camping requirement.
  • The balance of the camping (10 nights) must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps of, at most, three nights each.
  • Cabin camping may be counted as camping.
  • Nights aboard ship may be counted as camping. (Particularly relevant for Sea Scouts.)

Adult Membership Qualifications – Units may recommend adults for OA Membership. All election requests and Adult recommendations are being processed through the Lodgemaster system. The Scoutmaster/Crew Adviser/Skipper and the Committee Chair will receive emails with information and links to do this.