Tennessee Military Department Merit Badge University

This is the third Merit Badge University hosted by the Tennessee Military Department, with instructors from the Army and Air National Guard as well as leaders from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA). Our intention is to provide a full day of exceptional education and inspiration! There are 18 total Merit Badges ranging from Architecture to Auto Maintenance, and First Aid to Search and Rescue.

Registration fees are $20 for each Scout and $15 for the assigned adult leader (not including EventBrite platform fees). The registration fees include lunch, course materials, and a special souvenir patch! Each Scout may select one Merit Badge from the list with alternate choices if the program has reached maximum capacity. All entries are only valid with payment.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Timeline

• 0700-0750: Troop Registration
• 0800-0830: Opening Ceremony
• 0830-1130: Merit Badge Classes
• 1130-1230: Lunch in Hall of Flags
• 1230-1530: Merit Badge Classes
• 1300: Counselors turn in completed blue cards to Registration
• 1530: Closing ceremony
• 1530-1600: Troop representative picks up blue cards at Registration
• 1600: Dismissal

Opening Ceremony will take place 0800-0830 in the Hall of Flags and will feature the Commissioner of the Military Department General Warner Ross, Scouting Executive Larry Brown, and Merit Badge University Program Manager Sergeant First Class Ken Weichert.

After Opening Ceremony and lunch, counselors will hold up signs to gather Scouts for movement to assigned classrooms.

Two Instructional Periods take place from 0830-1130 and at 1230-1530. All merit badges extend across both periods with the exception of 1) Crime Prevention and Fingerprinting, 2) First Aid and Healthcare Professions, and 3) Physical Fitness and Orienteering. For these set of three (two merit badges per set) the first instructional period will cover the first listed merit badge and the second instructional period will cover the second listed merit badge.

Adults that remain on campus are free to sit in on any of the merit badge offerings. However, only registered adult leaders are permitted to take offsite transportation and only if seating is available after all Scouts are seated.

Lunch will take place 1130-1230 in the Hall of Flags for any registered participants and volunteers. Name tags will serve as a proof of registration.

Lunch will include chicken sandwiches, chicken nuggets, salads, apples, and bananas. Adults are free to leave the installation to secure alternate food options for themselves or their Scout. However, we ask that parents/guardians do not take Scouts off post until the event dismisses at 1600.

Vending machines can be located in the northwest corner of the Hall of Flags, outside the gym, and on the second floor of the Hugh Mott Building. There is also a break area on the second floor of the Hugh Mott Building as well as a water bottle filling station.

Outprocessing: One representative from each Troop will claim their Troop’s outprocessing packet during the Closing Ceremony 1530-1600. The packet will contain all blue cards. Please ensure no blue cards are missing prior to departure.

If a parent or guardian needs to check-out a Scout prior to 1600, registration will need the Troop’s registered event leader to verify the identity of the parent/guardian and sign the Scout out with registration for accountability purposes.

Uniforms: All registered participants are requested to wear BSA Class A uniforms. All Military Department Volunteers will wear their duty uniform.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Joint Forces Headquarters, 3041 Sidco Drive, Nashville, United States