Being a patrol leader or assistant is not a position earned because a scout is the oldest or next oldest, it's a position which is earned through maturity, behaviour and experience. The role is key to each patrol.

Patrol leaders and assistants should take their Patrol register at the beginning of each troop meeting, ensure they are in their patrol corners and spend a few minutes discussing badges, or planning any patrol activities before getting the patrol fallen in and inspected.

The responsibilities of a PL or APL are as follows-

• Plan and lead patrol meetings
• Ensure that their patrol is fully aware of what is going on or expected from them
• Assign duties when its their turn as duty patrol
• Represent your patrol at all patrol leaders' forums
• Prepare the patrol to participate in troop activities
• Work with other troop leaders to help run the troop
• Know the abilities of each patrol member
• Set a good example
• Wear the Scout uniform correctly
• Observe the Scout Promise and Law
• Show and develop a patrol spirit

In addition to the above responsibilities Patrol leaders and Assitants should be responsible for collecting lists of badges owed and activities and experiences gained from each member of their patrol and passing them to the section leaders.

Patrol leaders should train their APL to become PL, once they have achieved this, and they have proved themselves as a worthy PL, they will have earned their promotion to Senior Patrol Leader (as long as there is an SPL space vacant within the troop).