Scouting America’s Military Agreement – GGAC Update

March 16, 2026 |

After listening closely to our members’ feedback, it’s clear there is a lot of concern about recent news. We want to honor those perspectives by clarifying the rumors and stating the Council’s official position on this agreement.

Here is our position, which follows the guidelines from the National Scouting America organization.

  • Our name, mission and commitment to the Scout Oath and Scout Law do not change.
  • We will welcome and serve ALL youth, no matter race, religion, background, or identity.
  • Our member registration does not change and always had two boxes: one for male and one for female.
  • Our safeguarding youth commitment has not changed
  • Our core commitment to developing leaders of character for service to God, country and community has not changed.

Regarding welcoming transgender people, here is CEO Roger Krone’s statement to the Associated Press and what we will be guided by:

“We have transgender people in our program and we’ll have transgender people in our program going forward,” Scouting America President and CEO Roger Krone (Associated Press).

Bottom line: The Golden Gate Area Council welcomes every family into Scouting. We are committed to ensuring the character-building benefits of Scouting are available to all youth who participate in our programs.

We leave you with this note.

Scouting is local, led by amazing leaders, parents, and the community. I have full confidence that you will do what is right, safe, and just for the youth in our care. 

You are the ones delivering the Promise of Scouting, and our council could not be in better hands.

  • Golden Gate Area Council – Scouting America

Citizenship in Society Merit Badge

Citizenship in Society Merit Badge has been discontinued effective February 27, 2026.

Beginning on February 27, 2026, Scouts are no longer able to start requirements on the Citizenship in Society Merit Badge.

Those Scouts who had already started and completed any requirements for the merit badge will be allowed the rest of 2026 to complete the full merit badge and still utilize it for attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. This has been standard practice for Eagle requirements and other advancement changes in the past.

Effective February 27, the rank of Eagle Scout will have 13 required merit badges instead of 14. All of the remaining 13 Eagle Required merit badges will still apply, just not Citizenship in Society. Scouts will have 8 elective merit badges from which to choose instead of 7, and the total for Eagle Scout will remain at 21 merit badges (13 required + 8 elective = 21 merit badges).

Council & District Advancement Chairs, as well as Council Registrars (Eagle Scout app processors), will have the ability to allow the Citizenship in Society Merit Badge to count towards Eagle Scout for those few Life Scouts who started the requirements prior to the discontinuance date, and will complete the merit badge before Dec. 31, 2026.

These details are available on https://www.scouting.org/program-updates/citizenship-in-society-merit-badge-discontinuance/.

Military families

National is waiving registration fees for children of active-duty, Guard and Reserve families, effective June 1, 2026. However, council and unit fees may still be required.