Why Do We Wear Uniforms?
The Boy Scouts of America has always been a uniformed body. There are many reasons for this. One reason stands out above all the rest. We wear the uniform because it is a means of identifying ourselves openly with the principles to which we are committed-character development, citizenship training, and physical and mental fitness.
The fact that youth and adult members of Scouting wear a uniform doesn't mean that we're all alike. We come from different ethnic and racial backgrounds. We have our own religious beliefs and political views. We are each individuals with our own family traditions and loyalties. So the uniform is not intended to hide our individuality. But it is a way we give each other strength and support. It is a bond that ties us together in spite of our differences. It is a way of making visible our commitment to a belief in God, loyalty to country, and to helping other people.
The Scouting movement is built on positive values. As we wear the uniform, we are openly identifying ourselves with those values where everyone can see us. We stand together, not alone, in encouraging others to live by those same principles. Boys and adults alike should take pride in belonging to such a movement and wear the uniform as it is intended.
Policies and Procedures: There are certain rules about how and where the uniform should be worn. There is a correct place on the uniform for each badge and insignia.
Note: The Scout should be neat in his appearance and his uniform should be as correct as possible, with the badges worn properly.General Boy Scout Field Class Uniform: This is the current uniform for Boy Scouts. The Scout shown here is wearing insignia on the LEFT shoulder and LEFT pocket.
From top to bottom on the sleeve, the insignia is:
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Council Shoulder Patch (CSP) emblem: Each of the BSA's local Councils and the National Council has a special shoulder patch which illustrates elements of the territory served by the Council. During National Jamboree years, special Jamboree Shoulder Patches (JSPs) are worn by those participating in the Jamboree from that local Council. Six months after the conclusion of the Jamboree, the JSP should be removed and replaced by the current CSP of the local Council for proper uniforming.
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Unit numbers: Unit numbers come in two varieties presently: a partially-embrordered single or set of numbers denoting the unit; or a fully embrordered single or set of numbers denoting the Troop number. Either is acceptable, although for proper uniforming, the present partially-embrordered numbers should be used. Above the unit numbers may go a Veteran's Bar which indicates the tenured years of that unit.
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Position Patch: Troop members serving as an elected or appointed Troop officer should wear the appropriate position patch (badge of office) indicating the position serving. Those no longer serving in those positions should remove their patches and keep them in a safe place at home. Those Boy or Varsity Scouts serving as Den Chiefs have two options: 1) wearing the Den Chief or WEBELOS Den Chief cord as shown above WITHOUT THE DEN CHIEF badge of office or 2) wearing the Den Chief badge of office WITHOUT wearing the Den Chief cord.
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Trained strip: Those youth and adults whom have completed a training course for the position that they CURRENTLY HOLD should wear the TRAINED strip. This strip should be worn immediately below and touching the badge of office (position patch).
On the left pocket should go the following insignia:
Above the pocket would go year pins (if earned) and square knot insignia (if earned or received).
The Scout belt should be the belt worn by Scouts and Scouters. The beads and holder shown above left is an optional item available to units to recognize immediate progress toward Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class rank as well as Troop and District/Council activities and events.
Neckerchiefs are a Troop option. Neckerchiefs can be worn under or over the collar. The scoutmaster sets the correct way the neckerchief is worn. Wood Badgers belonging to units should wear the Wood Badge neckerchief over the collar.
Hats are also a Troop option.The second illustration shows the merit badge sash and the activity uniform for Boy Scouts.
The merit badge sash is worn during formal activities and events, and not during Troop meetings or campouts. Only one sash may be worn at any time. Merit badges only are worn on the FRONT of the sash. On the back of the sash, additional merit badges may be sewn and temporary insignia may be sewn. "Temporary insignia" is defined by the BSA as special insignia for participating in unit, District, Council or national events or programs. Previous rank, service stars and pins are NOT to be worn on the sash. The Varsity Scout Letter may be worn at the bottom of the front of the sash by Varsity Scouts who have earned the Letter.
Merit badges may be worn in any order that the Scout chooses, and not necessarily in alphabetical nor "required-non required" order. Most Scouts choose to wear merit badges in the order in which they have earned them. Note also that the merit badge sash is worn on the wide sash, three merit badges should be worn in a row; on the narrow sash, two merit badges should be worn in a row in alternating rows.
The Order of the Arrow Sash should only be worn at Order of the Arrow Ceremonies, Order of the Arrow activities or Order of the Arrow sponsored events, not Boards of Review or Courts of Honor, as this sash is reserved for wear for Order of the Arrow sponsored programs.
Under the sash, on the right side of the shirt would go the following insignia from top to bottom of the shirt:
- Jamboree Insignia:
- Interpreter Strips:
- Order of the Arrow insignia:
- Temporary Insignia:
- A special "Recruiter" strip may be worn below the right pocket by members of local Councils that authorizes the wearing of such a strip.
The activity uniform (right side) is worn during traveling or other occasions in which the Field Class Uniform would not be appropriate wear. The Wood Badge is NOT worn with this uniform; however, a small pin denoting the rank of the Scout may be worn on the left side below the words "Boy Scout" or the Universal Emblem as shown (there are two versions of the shirts which were made - one version has the words "Boy Scout" or "Varsity" below the Universal emblem or the special BSA emblem; another version does not have any lettering below the emblems).
Not shown on either illustration is the items worn on the right shoulder. From top to bottom:
- U.S. Flag emblem. The US Flag emblem is an OPTIONAL item for the BSA's uniforms, and newer uniforms have the emblems pre-sewn onto the shirts. The older uniforms had the flag detached.
- Patrol emblem. Patrol emblems are worn by patrol members. Adult Scouters should NOT wear Patrol emblems except during Scoutmaster Fundamentals, additional training experiences and Wood Badge, for adults do not belong to patrols with the except during those training periods and in the case of Wood Badge, until the Scouter has received his or her Wood Badge.
- Quality emblem: The Quality Unit, District, Council and Region emblems may be worn by those members that have attained Quality status during the present or previous year. Only ONE such Quality (either unit, district, council, or region) emblem may be worn at any one time. If a unit becomes part of a Quality District, the unit emblem is replaced by the Quality District emblem. Likewise, if the Council becomes a Quality Council, and authorizes members of the Council to wear the Quality Council emblem, the Quality District emblem is replaced by the Quality Council emblem. Both youth and adult members of the Quality unit, district, council or region may wear the Quality emblem during the year in which Quality status has been earned.
Nothing else is worn below the single Quality Unit emblem.