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The current uniform for Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts is illustrated below. Note the RED shoulder loops,
which distinguish Boy Scouts and Boy Scouters from Varsity Scouts and Varsity Scouters. The Varsity Scout shoulder loops are
blaze (orange).
Other than the shoulder loops, hat, neckerchief, and some Varsity-specific insignia items (which will be shown on a Varsity
Scout page), both Boy and Varsity Scouts wear this same field uniform (if they can), as shown here on this page.
The Scout shown here is wearing insignia on the LEFT shoulder and LEFT pocket. From top to bottom on the sleeve, the insignia
is:
On the left pocket should go the following insignia:
- Centered on the pocket is Scout rank. ONLY SCOUTS wear ranks; adults wear the appropriate square knot insignia
to denote Eagle Scout and other rank earned as a youth. The rank emblem (in this case, Life Scout)
is worn centered on the left pocket.
- If a Boy Scout or Varsity Scout is the holder of the Arrow of Light, Cub Scouting's highest award, he wears the Arrow
of Light BELOW the left pocket. On the current khaki-tan shirts, the pockets taper down to a point...the Arrow of Light
should be centered at that point and NOT sewn to the pocket. If the Scout wears the older khaki shirts, the Arrow of Light
is worn so that the top edge of Arrow of Light emblem touches the bottom edge of the left uniform pocket. Again, ONLY SCOUTS
wear the Arrow of Light; adults wear the Arrrow of Light square knot insignia to denote their attainment
of this award.
- Nothing else is worn below the pocket.
Above the pocket would go year pins(if earned) and square knot insignia (if earned or received). Adults only
may wear special 50th or 75th Annivsary Stripes above the square knots but below the World Crest emblem.
Above those items would go the World Crest if not already pre-sewn onto the shirt.
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. If worn, the neckerchief should be worn UNDER the collar of the uniform shirt as
shown above and below. Wood Badgers belonging to units without a designated neckerchief should wear the Wood Badge neckerchief
the same manner as shown here.
Hats are also a Troop option. Check with your unit to insure that you're getting and wearing the correct
hat. The second illustration shown below 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.
Under the sash, on the right side of the shirt would go the following insignia from top to bottom of the shirt:
- Jamboree Insignia: The BSA keeps going back and forth; here's the current policy: ONLY ONE Jamboree
emblem (one World/International or one National) is to be worn. I would imagine this policy was made because over the years,
the size of the Jamboree emblems have been increasing, especially the BSA's National Jamboree emblems.
- Interpreter Strips: Take a look at the interpreter strip information for more guidance. For best uniforming, no more than
three narrow-sized strips should be worn at any one time.
- Order of the Arrow insignia: The Order of the Arrow has "dibs" on the right pocket flap. While other local Councils have
developed special insignia for Scouts and Cubs to wear on the pocket flap, only Order of the Arrow Lodge insignia
should be worn (a current OA flap or a special OA activity or service flap) from THE LODGE IN WHICH YOU ARE A CURRENT MEMBER
OF. Those Arrowmen without a current Lodge affiation should not wear a flap but instead wear the Arrow pin suspended from
the right pocket flap button.
- Temporary Insignia: ONE temporary patch or a temporary patch with segmented patches not to exceed the dimensions
of the right pocket are to be worn on the field uniform. Patches suspended from the right pocket button are considered as
"sewn on" for proper uniforming. "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 pocket.
- A special "Recruiter" strip may be worn below the right pocket by members of local Councils that authorizes the
wearing of such a strip. In other local Councils, no other strips or patches should be worn below the right pocket.
The activity uniform (right side) is worn during travelling or other occasions in which the field 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).
I have seen Wood Badgers wear the small Wood Badge beads and axe-log combination pin in gold below the "Boy Scout" emblem
and words.
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.
Uniforming is important to Scouts and Scouters. It is part of the eight methods of Scouting. However, don't confuse "uniforming"
for "Scouting", because if one recalls, the earlier Scouts and Scouters had no official uniform and they did just fine with
the presentation of Scouting to their communities. Having a uniform allows the Scout to take pride in his Troop or Team, gives
the Scout a place to put all of the personal achievements and participation items that will become a part of his Scouting
experience, and to share and show others the extent to his experiences in our programs.
Every Scout should have a uniform either the present uniform as illustrated above or one of the older versions.
Every Scouter should set the positive example and wear a uniform, either as illustrated above or one of the older uniforms,
during all Scouting activities and events and programs in which Scouts may be present, with or without uniforms. Scouts --
kids -- take their cues from us, the adults of the movement. If we show up with sloppy uniforms or uniforms with insignia
not in the right places, they will do likewise and will wonder why we get "bent out of shape" when we correct their uniform
problems.
The BSA's Insignia Guide is a publication which contains information on many of these badges and insignia; check also with
your local Council for the wearing of insignia and items which come in conflict with the information presented within this
unofficial online guide and within the Insignia Guide. In many cases, your local Council may not be aware of the wearing of
a particular item -- its hard to keep up with well over 2000 pieces of BSA insignia and uniforming options !!!
Here's hoping that your Scout or Troop's Scouting experiences are positive and grand!
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