Order of the Arrow
Unit of Excellence Award
or "How to make the OA Troop/Team representative position an asset to your unit"
As the primary platform where the Scouting program is delivered to youth, the unit is the most vital and important level of the BSA for the Order to support.
The Order of the Arrow Unit of Excellence Award seeks to identify those units, and the leaders within them, who excel at incorporating the OA into their annual planning. This award is intended to provide a tool for lodges to recognize, incentivize, and operationalize unit-level participation in Order of the Arrow programs.
The
OA Unit of Excellence Award criteria recognize units that invite the lodge to conduct quality unit elections, participate in lodge events and meetings, and operate a complete
OA Troop/Team Representative program. Our hope is that units that complete these criteria will benefit from the support programs that the Order of the Arrow has implemented to strengthen unit-delivered program. This recognition program, along with other tools for unit support, should be distributed and promoted to Scoutmaster/Coach,
OA Troop/Team Representatives and Advisers, and chapter election teams to include in communication to units
Award Requirements
Units must complete all of the requirements listed here in order to be eligible as an Order of the Arrow Unit of Excellence. If all requirements are completed, the unit receives a ribbon for their troop/team flag, per annum. In addition to the ribbon, the award system has built in recognitions for the key players in each unit responsible for creating a strong Order of the Arrow culture in the unit. These awards are available for the following three positions: