What the quartermaster does
- 1Take inventory of all troop gear — know what you have and its condition.
- 2Maintain it — clean, dry, and repair gear so it's ready.
- 3Check gear out and in — track who has what, working with patrol quartermasters.
- 4Inspect on return — note damage and clean before storage.
- 5Report at the PLC — flag what needs repair or replacement.
- 6Organize storage so the next trip's gear is easy to find and ready.
The role
- Keeps the troop's gear tracked, maintained, and ready.
- Makes campouts run smoothly — nothing missing or broken.
- Coordinates the patrol quartermasters — a small chain of gear responsibility.
Notes & safety
- Gear condition is a safety matter. A maintained stove, sound tent, and good rope keep scouts safe; the quartermaster's upkeep prevents field failures.
- Store gear safely — fuel, sharp tools, and stoves stored properly.
- Serve genuinely — advancement credit requires real service, not just the title.
Going deeper
- The supply boss. Every campout runs on gear that's there and works — the quartermaster is why.
- Inventory, maintain, report. The three-beat job: know what you have, keep it working, and tell the PLC what needs fixing.
- Patrol QMs report up. The troop quartermaster coordinates the patrol quartermasters.
Official source
Troop Positions — Troop Leader Resources, Scouting America →Duties are paraphrased. Confirm current details with the source.