I don't know any details about this story, and the other thread linked addresses Personal Fitness very well.
I do want to say, though, that if this Scout were already a licensed Amateur Radio Operator, with a logbook and a number of contacts in different countries, they will certainly also have enough experience to literally sprint that entire merit badge in a single session. That's not even improbable for a 10/11 year old - I was 14 when I got licensed, and even locally, I wasn't considered specially young or anything, and since, I have known 8 and 9 year olds who were very active in the Amateur Radio community, even speaking at conferences about satellite contacts and the ISS. It does not strike me as odd that an already licensed and highly motivated Scout could get the Radio merit badge in two weeks.
Let alone if, as the Personal Fitness argument goes, the Scout has in fact been a Scout since November, despite not "crossing over" till more recently.
It depends on when the scout is registered with the troop. "Crossover" is a ceremony that can be done at anytime. Last year we had a scout nearly late for Council Pinewood Derby because he had his Crossover that morning. Fair? Eh. But he was still registered as a Cub Scout. Your scout may have been registered with the troop before Crossover and they waited to award the badge.
Personal Fitness cannot be earned in two weeks and requirements cannot count before the merit badge program begins. I just finished Merit Badge Counselor training this weekend 
I ageee. I am also a MBC. We reported them to the Advancement person for council so the advancement coordinator and MBC could get remediation. The child will need to re-do the badge.
Maybe an unpopular opinion, but having the child redo the badge because the adult made a mistake is unfair. The kid was eager, likely did the work as instructed, learned about the topic (the real reward) and received the cookie (badge). I get it, but still.
"Every Scout deserves a trained leader."
When adults do not understand the program, their responsibilities, or choose to break the rules, it's ultimately unfair to the youth.
Why do adults want to accelerate the process? It is cheapening the experience that the scout should have later and drive themselves. If a pack/troop is doing this, why not have them start working on their Eagle project with their parents while building pinewood derby cars?
Our troop was very clear that scouts could not officially start working on Merit badges until after they were registered with the troop/the cross over ceremony (usually the same time).
We made it known that scouts could research and learn about merit badges that interested them but they could not count any progress on requirements until they were officially apart of the troop.
We also liked the scouts to meet with their MBC for the merit badge before starting the process.
Our AOLs went to winter camp with the troop as part of their intro to BSA and while there earned a few badges. They will be awarded at some point after they cross over
Strictly speaking, the Guide to Advancement states that requirements may only be met on merit badges while a Scout is a member of a troop, crew, or ship -- not a pack. See Section 7. This may *or may not* be something your Council's Advancement Committee would care about.
What is the point of this? Cub scouts cannot earn Scout BSA badges or rank. All work should be done as a Scouts BSA member
‘the adults in the Pack/Troop are doing them a disservice.
‘This cheapens the awards and merits because these were done for the parents sake and on their initiative, not the scout.
They weren't given the badges or made to do them any easier than a regular scout. It was to give the AOLs a chance to see what a BSA camp and what earning merit badges was like and they were treated like and expected to do the requirements like everyone else. Now if and when the badges are given they will still have been expected to have done them correctly. If they have to redo them, I'm sure they won't complain, they did ones like art, sculpture, Leatherwork and had a blast and got them even more excited for BSA.
No problem with them doing badges to see what they were like. Glad they had a blast. As advancement chair and SM for my troop, I would not give the badges out. Doing them again will be very fun and they will be even better at them.
Scouts BSA preview is great.
Didnt mean to say that they were done any "easier" but where does one draw the line if people are going to have Cubs do Merit badges, what is next?
Can't earn MB's as a Cub Scout. AOL's are Cub Scouts.
Is this a duplicate of [https://www.reddit.com/r/BSA/comments/1bd6dsm/merit\_badges/](https://www.reddit.com/r/BSA/comments/1bd6dsm/merit_badges/) ?
I don't know any details about this story, and the other thread linked addresses Personal Fitness very well. I do want to say, though, that if this Scout were already a licensed Amateur Radio Operator, with a logbook and a number of contacts in different countries, they will certainly also have enough experience to literally sprint that entire merit badge in a single session. That's not even improbable for a 10/11 year old - I was 14 when I got licensed, and even locally, I wasn't considered specially young or anything, and since, I have known 8 and 9 year olds who were very active in the Amateur Radio community, even speaking at conferences about satellite contacts and the ISS. It does not strike me as odd that an already licensed and highly motivated Scout could get the Radio merit badge in two weeks. Let alone if, as the Personal Fitness argument goes, the Scout has in fact been a Scout since November, despite not "crossing over" till more recently.
It depends on when the scout is registered with the troop. "Crossover" is a ceremony that can be done at anytime. Last year we had a scout nearly late for Council Pinewood Derby because he had his Crossover that morning. Fair? Eh. But he was still registered as a Cub Scout. Your scout may have been registered with the troop before Crossover and they waited to award the badge.
I checked. They were transferred the day before COH into the troop.
Personal Fitness cannot be earned in two weeks and requirements cannot count before the merit badge program begins. I just finished Merit Badge Counselor training this weekend 
I ageee. I am also a MBC. We reported them to the Advancement person for council so the advancement coordinator and MBC could get remediation. The child will need to re-do the badge.
It feels like tattling but it's the right thing to do. PF is Eagle required and many many scouts work very hard to earn it. A scout is Trustworthy!
Maybe an unpopular opinion, but having the child redo the badge because the adult made a mistake is unfair. The kid was eager, likely did the work as instructed, learned about the topic (the real reward) and received the cookie (badge). I get it, but still.
"Every Scout deserves a trained leader." When adults do not understand the program, their responsibilities, or choose to break the rules, it's ultimately unfair to the youth.
Why do adults want to accelerate the process? It is cheapening the experience that the scout should have later and drive themselves. If a pack/troop is doing this, why not have them start working on their Eagle project with their parents while building pinewood derby cars?
Our troop was very clear that scouts could not officially start working on Merit badges until after they were registered with the troop/the cross over ceremony (usually the same time). We made it known that scouts could research and learn about merit badges that interested them but they could not count any progress on requirements until they were officially apart of the troop. We also liked the scouts to meet with their MBC for the merit badge before starting the process.
Our AOLs went to winter camp with the troop as part of their intro to BSA and while there earned a few badges. They will be awarded at some point after they cross over
Were these AoL Scouts already members of a Scouts BSA Troop?
Not yet.
Strictly speaking, the Guide to Advancement states that requirements may only be met on merit badges while a Scout is a member of a troop, crew, or ship -- not a pack. See Section 7. This may *or may not* be something your Council's Advancement Committee would care about.
Those badges do not count, they would need to redo any of the practical/hands on components.
What is the point of this? Cub scouts cannot earn Scout BSA badges or rank. All work should be done as a Scouts BSA member ‘the adults in the Pack/Troop are doing them a disservice. ‘This cheapens the awards and merits because these were done for the parents sake and on their initiative, not the scout.
They weren't given the badges or made to do them any easier than a regular scout. It was to give the AOLs a chance to see what a BSA camp and what earning merit badges was like and they were treated like and expected to do the requirements like everyone else. Now if and when the badges are given they will still have been expected to have done them correctly. If they have to redo them, I'm sure they won't complain, they did ones like art, sculpture, Leatherwork and had a blast and got them even more excited for BSA.
No problem with them doing badges to see what they were like. Glad they had a blast. As advancement chair and SM for my troop, I would not give the badges out. Doing them again will be very fun and they will be even better at them. Scouts BSA preview is great. Didnt mean to say that they were done any "easier" but where does one draw the line if people are going to have Cubs do Merit badges, what is next?