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The BSA Centennial Uniform![]() Design for the latest boy scout uniform came out in August, 2008. The colors are pretty much the same so new uniform pieces can be transitioned as old ones are outgrown. A big difference is red shoulder loops and unit numbers are now forest green. The uniform is promoted as more versatile and wearable in the field instead of just for meetings. I do think the new boy scout baseball-style cap is a big improvement - I bought one myself and it looks great! The switchbacks pants are staying around but with a few changes. There are two styles, heavier and lighter. Update 10/2012: The zip-off pants I purchased in August, 2006 are finally about worn out. I've worn them over 6 years on over 60 weekend campouts, backpacking over 400 miles on 8 treks, 6 weeks of summer camp, and uncountable troop and district meetings. I also wore them all 1.7million steps of my 800-mile, 43 day hike of the Arizona Trail this spring and my 13-day 250-mile Superior Hiking Trail trek in September. My BSA baseball cap changed color from my sweating, and possibly the sun. Starting out green, it turned a mottled tan/green - I actually think it looks better but it finally wore out after almost 6 years. I've got a brand new one for my next hike. |
Placement of insignia on the uniform is important. The Scouting program in America has always included uniforms for its members and volunteers to identify members and show they are part of the Boy Scouts of America. Scouts and leaders should wear their uniforms to all patrol meetings, troop meetings, and scout outings. The tan and green Boy Scout uniform is a well-known symbol of American scouting. All scouts in the program wear the same uniform with the major differences being the badges each scout has earned and the troop specific neckerchief. Most scout troops also have an activity uniform which is often a t-shirt customized just for the troop. Activity uniforms are worn for work projects, sporting activities, and other events in which the dress uniform might get damaged. The official dress uniform is commonly referred to as the 'Class A' uniform and the activity uniform as 'Class B' even though these are not correct BSA terms. The best place to buy customized scouting t-shirts is the ClassB.com web site. ClassB.com is an official licensee of the Boy Scouts of America and is actually run by a few Eagle Scouts. |
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Each scout belongs to a patrol within the troop. To foster patrol identity, each patrol chooses a Patrol Patch and creates a patrol flag, name, and yell.
Sashes and Such
The BSA Insignia Guide discusses all the uniforming, patch placement, and other insignia use.
Merit badge placement on the sash is up to the scout. The badges can be displayed in rows of two or three, starting three inches down from the top of the sash.
There is no required ordering of badges. The scout can put all silver-bordered Eagle-required badges first, followed by green-bordered elective badges. Or, he can display them alphabetically, or by favorites, or by color, or in the order earned (which is most common).
When the front of the sash is full, additional merit badges can be displayed on the back or on a second sash - but only ONE sash is worn at a time. A second sash is NOT worn over the shoulder or tucked into the belt. The same is true for Order of the Arrow sashes. The scout wears either a merit badge sash OR OA sash, but not more than one sash at a time.
These two sashes show merit badges in rows of three. They belong to my two Eagle sons. One has all his Eagle-required badges on top, the other just has them as earned.
| Boy Scout Uniform Costs | |||||||||
| shirt | neckerchief | slide | shoulder loops | cap | belt | zip-off pants | socks | handbook | total |
| $25-$45 | $5-$10 | $4 | $2.50 | $13 | $0 | $35-$50 | $6 | $10 | $100-$140 |
| (BSA zip-off pants give you long and short pant uniforms, plus a belt) Uniform Patches | |||||||||
| World Scout Crest Emblem | $1.50 | ||||||||
| Council Strip | $1.50 - $6.00 | ||||||||
| Troop Number | $3.60 | ||||||||
| Patrol Emblem | $2.00 | ||||||||
| Useful Items | |||||||||
![]() Scout Handbook Cover - $10 | |||||||||
![]() Scout Requirements Book - $5 | |||||||||
![]() Sewing Kit - $5 | |||||||||
Uniform details, price changes, and other scouting gear is found at ScoutStuff.Org - and you can now purchase online.
Retrieve a list of Scout shops and distributors in your area at this Scout Store Locator
Boy Scout Uniform Savings
These uniforms are a significant cost for many scouting families. Some possible ways to reduce costs are:
- Have your scout earn his uniform or part of it.(it might last longer, too)
- Purchase only minimum required items in your troop.
- Check with your troop or district about a Uniform Exchange where you can pick up or drop off uniforms.
- Buy used Boy Scout items at local clothes store.
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Comments:
Feb 19, 2012 - Julie Schmidt
It doesn't matter if the person is male or female.
The neckerchief is always worn as part of the uniform, if the troop has decided that a neckerchief is to be worn - that is one part of the uniform that each individual troop gets to decide on. Wearing a neckerchief or sash do not relate to each other at all.
If patches are sewn onto the back of the sash, that is the part that is visible on the scout's back - not the inside of the sash.
If the scout wears a longsleeved uniform shirt, he can display up to 6 merit badges in 3 rows of 2 badges, just above the right cuff.
I am not sure of the order to put them in. I've been told
to sew them 3 across and the silver close to the heart but
would feel better if I saw a picture.
As far as I know, the NYLT pin is something specific to your council and the pin is pinned to the NYLT patch. See samoset.org/training/documents/NYLTPinLetterandApp2012.pdf
They can be shown off on a patch vest, hide, or blanket. Or, just kept in a box.
If there is a published definition of your council's jamboree uniform, I'd ask to see it.
But, why would someone NOT wear it? It is the only patch that goes in that position and it shows the wearer to be a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. It's kind of like choosing to not wear your council patch or unit numerals.
Many districts or councils have uniform exchanges - you should ask yours.
ClassB.com is a great source for activity shirts for reasonable prices. You can design your own or use a stock design.
The complete Boy Scout uniform is: headgear, neckerchief, shirt, pants, belt, socks.
Headgear is determined by troop. Neckerchief is determined by troop.
A sash is not part of the uniform. It is worn on special occasions.
See uniform inspection sheet for details.
It would make sense for the scout to wear headgear for an outdoor ceremony. I would not recommend wearing the merit badge sash, and definitely not the OA sash unless they are representing the OA.
Thanks,
YiS,
JB
Well done on your achievement! Now that you are moving into the adult leadership ranks, the patrol patch is not part of the adult uniform and should not be worn
There is no 'Class A' or 'Class B' uniform defined in the BSA.
No other organization will allow youth to wear half a uniform (think of a baseball or soccer team - do they wear jeans??). My troop requires full uniform - not even white socks are allowed. A well-uniformed troop stands out at summer camp and camporees.
When the adult volunteers wear the uniform, that helps.
If a scout does not want to wear the uniform, I wouldn't let that worry me at all. But, I would most certainly recognize those scouts that ARE wearing the most complete uniform. I might give them some small reward for promoting that method of scouting which seems to be lax in this particular troop.
Regarding the hats - it is common courtesy to remove hats indoors. I would expect that of anyone, not just a scout. Outdoors, I wouldn't be concerned unless the hat represented something inappropriate, such as a beer brand.
In the current BSA Guide to Awards and Insignia, on page 14, it lists the official shoulder loop colors - blue, forest green, blaze (orange), green, silver, gold.
It also states: "Custom loops are not authorized for wear with the BSA uniform."
Those red-white-blue shoulder loops ppear to be a keepsake but not to be worn on the uniform. But, the BSA has created temporary shoulder loops in the past, for national and world jamborees, for example. They were to only be worn for 6 months just before, during, and after participation in the jamboree. So, maybe NYLT has permission to do the same thing, but I've not heard that.
Reguarding Leader Knots..Can you use your Tenure for one Knot to be used for another Knot? Say you are a Scout Leader as a Cub Master for 3 yrs. and earn the Cub Master Knot can you user the same 3 yrs. towards Cub Master Key Award or Den Leader Award? Do you earn one Award and then start your Tenure over to start on another Knot?
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