To Be Inducted Into the Order of the Arrow, a Boy Scout Must

ORDER OF THE ARROW

Eligibility:

To be eligible to be inducted into the Order of the Arrow, a Boy Scout or Male Venturer or Male Sea Scout or Male Varsity member must be a registered member of a Boy Scout troop or Varsity Scout team and hold First Class rank. The youth must have experienced 15 days and nights of Boy Scout camping during the two-year period prior to the election. The 15 days and nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of six consecutive days and five nights of resident camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America. The balance of the camping must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps. Following approval by the Scoutmaster or Varsity team Coach, Scouts are elected to seek membership in the Order by their fellow unit members. Then, after completing an Ordeal experience, they become members of the Order of the Arrow.

He must then be elected by the troop membership during the annual order of the Arrow Election: All registered active youth troop members have a vote, both current Arrowmen and non-Arrowmen. Membership selection is thus predominantly by non-members.

Co-ed Explorer posts or Venture crews cannot have OA elections, thus girls are not eligible for OA membership. A boy in a Venture Crew or Explorer post who has dual registration with a Scout troop (or Varsity unit) is, of course, eligible for election by his troop or Varsity unit

Once elected the Scout must Participate in the "Ordeal" and induction ceremony.

Adult scouters, both men and women, may be proposed for membership in the Order of the Arrow by unit or district committees or the Lodge. Once selected, they, too, undergo the "Ordeal" and participate in the induction ceremonies.

Induction

The induction process, called the Ordeal, is the first step toward full membership in the Order. During the experience, candidates maintain silence, work on camp improvement projects, and sleep apart from other campers. The candidate is expected to use this time to strengthen his involvement in the unit and encourage Scout camping.

Once this is completed the Scout or Scouter is an Ordeal member of the Order of the Arrow:

Ordeal sash

Next Level:Brotherhood Membership

After 10 months of service as an Ordeal member and after fulfilling certain requirements, a member may take part in the Brotherhood ceremony, which places further emphasis on the ideals of Scouting and the Order. Completion of this ceremony signifies full membership in the Order

This signifies the sealing of his membership and an additional emphasis on OA ideals and purposes.

Brotherhood Sash

Vigil Honor

After two years of service as a Brotherhood member, and with the approval of the National Order of the Arrow Committee, a Scout or Scouter may be recognized with the Vigil Honor for outstanding service to Scouting, his lodge, and the community. This honor is bestowed by special selection and is limited to one person for every 50 members registered with the lodge each year.