How references work
- 1Pick your references — people who genuinely know how you live the Oath and Law.
- 2Ask their permission and confirm their current contact info.
- 3List them on the Eagle application (religious, educational, employer if applicable, two others, parents/guardians).
- 4Skip categories that don't apply (e.g., no employer if never employed).
- 5Let the unit/council contact them — you don't collect the letters.
- 6Follow up gently if needed — but the recommendations go confidentially to the council/board, never to you.
The categories
- Commonly — a religious reference, an educational reference, an employer (if employed), two others (adults who know you personally), plus parents/guardians.
- Skip what doesn't apply — categories that don't fit your life are simply omitted.
- Owned by the council — the references are confidential and often destroyed after the board of review.
Notes & confidentiality
- Confidentiality is the point. Recommendations are confidential to the board so references can be honest — a scout who tries to see or collect them undermines the process, and references cannot waive it.
- Ask permission first — it's courteous and improves the odds references respond promptly.
- Give accurate contacts — wrong or outdated contact info is a common cause of delay before the board of review.
Going deeper
- You never read them. The single most-misunderstood Eagle step: the letters are confidential — the candidate lists references but never sees the recommendations.
- Ask first, then list. Choosing references who know you and asking their permission up front is the scout's actual job — the collecting is the council's.
- No employer? Skip it. Categories that don't apply to your life are simply omitted.
Official source
Eagle Scout — Scouting America →The reference process is paraphrased. Verify the exact categories, number of references, and confidentiality/retention rules against the current Guide to Advancement and Eagle application.