Order of the Arrow Unit of Excellence Award

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.

Requirements

1. Leadership: Implement the Troop/Team OA Representative and Troop/Team OA Representative Adviser (Assistant Scoutmaster or Assistant Coach Designee) programs in your unit.
   1. Every six months, ensure that the senior patrol leader (Troop) or Team Captain (Team) appoints or reappoints one Scout or Team Member to serve as Troop/Team OA Representative and the  Scoutmaster/Coach appoints one adult to serve as Troop/Team OA Representative Adviser.
   2. Feature an annual presentation at a Court of Honor by the Troop/Team OA Representative on the Order of the Arrow with a focus on the accomplishments of unit members.
2. Participation: Promote lodge events and provide transportation to all Arrowmen wishing to participate.
   1. At least 50% of unit OA members attend at least one lodge event in addition to their Ordeal.
3. Elections: Schedule a unit election with the chapter election team annually.
   1. Hold an election and have 100% of elected Scouts or Team Members complete their Ordeal.
4. Planning: Maintain an active planning process that prevents overlap between lodge and chapter events with unit events.
   1. Review the local OA calendar with the Patrol Leader’s Council or Team Leadership during annual troop/team program planning and schedule unit events so that 100% of troop/team programs do not overlap with any full-lodge events.
5. Conversion: Demonstrate the depth of your unit’s OA program through Brotherhood conversion.
   1. At least 30% of eligible troop/team members seal their membership in the Order
      by converting to Brotherhood.

Forms may be found at:

    Unit Award Ribbon

    Troop/Team Representative & Adviser Award