With 50 scouts in the troop and a new batch of 15 joining this month, we're finally forced to face the 'going green' issue. We can no longer purchase red shoulder loops, red troop numerals, or red Trained patches.

Fortunately, it's ok to put the loops and patches on the older khaki shirts so scouts can easily upgrade.

I got the ok from the troop committee, so I'm heading to the Scout Shop tomorrow to get green shoulder loops, numeral patches, and 2008 Centennial Quality Unit patches for all the scouts and registered adults in our troop. The SPL has decided we'll have a short ceremony at the next troop meeting to replace the shoulder loops and hand out the troop numerals. Hopefully, there will be some talk about the 100th anniversary in there someplace too.

I expect most of the scouts will not replace their existing troop numerals due to the sewing hassle. So, over the next couple years, the red numbers will fade away as scouts age out or outgrow their shirts.

Rather than purchasing 3 individual green numerals for a troop like 479, there is a 3-numeral patch that you can custom purchase in lots of a dozen. Instead of costing $3.57, it costs just $2.09 (according to my local Scout Shop guy). The shoulder loops cost $1.99/pair.

Don't forget the green Trained patches for troop leader training, too.

Scout On


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