Internet Advancement
What is Internet Advancement?
On-Line Advancement is the newest tool from the National Council Boy Scouts of America to assist units in the timely and accurate entering of Scout advancements information.
This new method of recording advancements is easier and more efficient because you’ll be entering the information yourself. This ensures that your unit’s information will be correct, and you can do it from your home or office, anytime that it'’ convenient for you. Use Internet Advancement for the following:
Add ranks for Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, Webelos, Boy Scouts and Venturers. You can enter activity badges as well as Merit Badges along with the awards, such as: World Conservation. Update information on existing advancements (except Eagle Scout rank).
How do I access Internet Advancement?
In order to access Internet Advancement, your unit will need a Unit ID. Unit ID numbers have been mailed to Unit Leaders (Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, and Crew Advisors). If your unit has not received theirs, your unit leader should contact Mary Liotto, Registrar at the Pennington Service Center. To view Internet Advancement website, copy and paste the following address into your web browser: https://scoutnet.scouting.org/iadv/UI/home/default.aspx
How does Internet Advancement work?
Istrouma Area Council will provide each unit with a unit ID, and the unit will select and assign an adult to record most youth advancements from that unit. Information input on Ranks will be recorded based on program identification and can only be entered in the correct rank and date sequence.
Awards which can be entered through BSA Internet Advancement do no include nominated awards, such as those for meritorious action, the Eagle Scout rank, which involves a hand review, and awards which are controlled by other organizations, even if uniform wear is approved.
After each unit selects an adult to be the unit’s advancement processor, the adult should review the help by following the link on our home page or by copying & pasting the following addresses into their web browser.
Internet Advancement website: https://scoutnet.scouting.org/iadv/UI/home/default.aspx
Help Files: https://scoutnet.scouting.org/iadv/Help/EndUserHelp/End_User_Help.htm
Internet Advancement FAQ: https://scoutnet.scouting.org/iadv/Help/FAQ/tips.htm
What do I do if I have questions?
There is a Frequently Asked Questions link on the Internet Advancement site and these should be reviewed as your first line of inquiry. There is also an extensive help guide, accessible though the link on our home page or by copying & pasting the following address into your web browser:
https://scoutnet.scouting.org/iadv/Help/FAQ/tips.htm
If you have other questions or comments, contact Mary Liotto, Registrar at (225) 926-2697 X 2703 or 1-800-751-3333.
How do I use Internet Advancement?
Using Internet Advancement:
1. Select the unit advancement processor. This person must have Internet connectivity and be able to utilize the MS Internet Explorer browser.2. Obtain a unit ID code from the council. (They will be mailed to Unit Leaders).
3. Gather the needed information for entry of advancement, including unit member merit badge applications and advancement records with dates.4. Copy & paste the following address into your web browser to access the Internet Advancement website. Then follow the instructions in Internet Advancement to process advancements and print an advancement report.
https://scoutnet.scouting.org/iadv/UI/home/default.aspx
5. Have the appropriate people sign the printed unit advancement report and submit it to the council.
6. Save a copy for your files. Unit should submit monthly, before the last Council Business day of each month or more often if needed. In December, units should submit a report before the end of the month to update your unit information. This will also aid the council’s efforts for accurate end of year information.
Are there any reports I can print from Internet Advancements?
Reports Available Via BSA Internet Advancement:
Unit Roster: Your local unit advancement processor will be able to print a unit roster at any time. This unit roster will contain the most current information from ScoutNet, including the membership ID for each adult and youth member.
Unit Advancement Summary: Indicates the ranks, merit badges, and awards saved in each individual record for the current unit members.
Advancement Report: Listing of each youth member that has new ranks, merit badges, and awards, if any. This is your official unit Advancement Report that is to be signed and submitted to the council service center.
Unit Awards Summary: Listing of the number of new ranks, awards and merit badges by name, this makes for a convenient shopping list.
Advancement Update Summary: Listing of any ranks, merit badges, and awards that were already in the member records and were updated online.
Membership Cards: Can print a temporary replacement membership card for its members. This card will not be multi-colored like the originals, they will provide the validation that a person is a registered member of the BSA and again provide the member’s Person ID number. They will still receive an original from the Council Service center.
Can it be used with Unit Management Software?
Yes, Now you have the ability to upload advancement data from Packmaster/Troopmaster. If you unit has Unit Management Software already, then use it to update your Internet Advancements, thus saving you time.
Recently, the Internet Advancement did an update on its file. From time to time you will find information on our website about any updates that occurs in Internet Advancement. This will alert you to what is new in this program.
For the greatest benefit from Internet Advancement, a unit needs to have current information from the local council. Up-to-date information depends on loading the roster. Load Roster is required after each submittal, but you can also use it whenever the unit needs to obtain its current unit roster or advancement records.
Internet Advancement has a process that regularly resets the unit to load the roster if a roster is loaded with no activity for 45 days. If a roster is loaded for seven days and no ranks or awards are entered, the process also resets this unit data.
When unit users log in, they will load the roster or upload an advancement file to begin processing advancement. If unit users simply want to view or print a report, they can select Start Over before they log out. This will guarantee they will be seeing the latest information the next time they log in and load unit information.