A Merit Badge Earner is someone who has earned a merit badge in the Boy Scouts of America program. A merit badge is a recognition of the completion of a set of activities related to a particular topic or skill. To earn a merit badge, a SCOUT must demonstrate a mastery of the subject matter and complete a series of tasks. The SCOUT must also be a member of the Boy Scouts of America program. The term 'SCOUT' is a five-letter word that is used to refer to a member of the Boy Scouts of America program.