To fulfill obligations to the troop, the Scoutmaster, with the assistance of the Troop Committee, recruits Assistant Scoutmasters to help operate the troop. Each Assistant Scoutmaster is assigned specific program duties and reports to the Scoutmaster. They also provide the required two-deep leadership standards set by the Boy Scouts of America. An Assistant Scoutmaster may be 18 years old, but at least one in each troop should be 21 or older, so he or she can serve in the Scoutmaster's absence.
   A troop should recruit as many Assistant Scoutmasters as possible. It has been found that many successful troops have three or more.