

Scout Uniform

Placement of insignia on the uniform is important.
The Uniform Inspection Sheet has insignia placement guides.
There is also a Male & Female Leader Uniform Inspection Sheet.
If you wonder where a patch goes, it is probably a 'temporary' patch. See Scouting FAQ page for help - they can be displayed on a blanket, vest, wall display, shoebox, or the back of the merit badge sash.
See the BSA Insignia Guide for more information on uniforms, patches, and such.
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 Scouts BSA 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.
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, 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 or third sash.
The merit badge sash is worn draped over the right shoulder and left hip.
Only ONE sash is worn at a time.
A second sash is NOT worn over the shoulder, nor 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 | necker | slide | shoulder loops | cap | belt | zip-off pants | socks | book |
$30-$45 | $10-$15 | $6 | $4 | $15 | $0 | $35-$45 | $8 | $18 |
(BSA zip-off pants give you long and short pant uniforms, plus a belt) Uniform Patches | ||||||||
World Scout Crest Emblem | $2.30 | |||||||
Council Strip | $1.50 - $6.00 | |||||||
Troop Number | $4.50 | |||||||
Patrol Emblem | $2.50 | |||||||
Total Uniform Cost | about $150 to $185 |
Uniform details, price changes, and other scouting gear is found at ScoutShop.Org - and you can now purchase online.
Retrieve a list of Scout shops and distributors in your area at this Scout Store Locator
Scout Uniform Savings
These uniforms are a significant cost for many scouting families. Some possible ways to reduce costs are:
- Have your scout earn the uniform or part of it.
- Purchase only minimum expected 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 Scout items at local clothes store.
Comments:
Jan 26, 2017 - DCScoutMom
Jan 29, 2017 - Scouter Paul
He can wear his Venture uniform, or borrow a better-fitting Boy Scout uniform from a friend.
Mar 03, 2017 - Lynn
Mar 03, 2017 - Scouter Paul
If you follow the link to the BSA Insignia Guide in the page content above, you'll find the official BSA policy - which does not mention when to wear and when not to wear the sash.
May 30, 2017 - District Commish
I checked and there is no specific mentioning of this in any of the BSA guidelines that I checked.
Jun 19, 2017 - Fabel Konicke
Jun 20, 2017 - Scouted Paul
Dec 21, 2017 - Eli
Dec 21, 2017 - Scouter Paul
Dec 26, 2017 - Lisa
Dec 27, 2017 - Scouter Paul
Apr 11, 2018 - Larry Cox
Apr 13, 2018 - Scouter Paul
Apr 17, 2018 - Larry Cox
Thank you! Our troop doesn't wear (or require) a neckerchief's with the uniform which makes certain tees, well...awful as a choice. With no guidance the boys tend to go for any tee, often their brightest neon colors from their dresser, which keeps them warmer and more comfortable wearing a tee, but looks yucky... Of course easiest answer is to just wear neckerchiefs which hides the tees, so hopefully the troop will reconsider one day!
May 10, 2018 - Scouty Ed
May 14, 2018 - Scouter Paul
If their lack of appropriate footwear causes their patrols to perform poorly in contests with other patrols, then maybe their patrolmates would encourage them to change. For example, some simple recognition for the patrol with the highest percentage of scouts climbing the tower or participating in the game - their patrol could never get it without them participating.
Or, maybe there is some other reason besides laziness why they wear what they wear. A caring adult volunteer might try to find out the reason.
Dec 15, 2018 - LLM
Dec 16, 2018 - Scouter Paul
Mar 01, 2019 - Xine
Mar 02, 2019 - Wife
Mar 04, 2019 - Scouter Paul
Mar 04, 2019 - Scouter Paul
Apr 03, 2019 - DH
Apr 03, 2019 - Scouter Paul
@DH - If you are asking about the Attendance Pin then
it goes above the left pocket. There are no set requirements
for earning it, so it is up to the scout's troop to decide how
to earn it. And, anyone can purchase it from the Scout Shop.
If
your scout is interested in earning it, he should ask his
Scoutmaster what requirements the troop has for earning
it.
Scout On!
Apr 24, 2019 - Ken
Apr 24, 2019 - Scouter Paul
Some shirt pockets are now flat, rather than pointed. Some are billowed, rather than sewn flat. So, the exact vertical center is different on different pocket types.
Centering the patch in the available horizontal and vertical space is the goal.
Apr 24, 2019 - Ken
Apr 24, 2019 - Ken
I understand that pockets have changed, but in this instance Scouts BSA specifically demonstrates two different ways to vertically "center" the patch on the same pocket. I will make a judgment call so that my son can wear his rank, but Scouts BSA can't expect an exacting result quite in accordance with it's unexacting instruction. Centered between the top and bottom of the pocket would result in the flap overlapping the rank on a "square" pocket. The official guide to insignia and the inspection sheet depict the same pocket but with the rank insignia in different positions, one centered between the flap tip and the bottom, and one just below. I stand by the notation Scouts BSA is disseminating conflicting information.
Thanks for your work on this question, but it appears we get to pick individually what it means since vertical centering isn't even well defined by official Scouts BSA rules and literature.
But just to be clear, am I to take away that we can't trust the official Scouts BSA insignia rules and guidelines and instruction sheets, nor the inspection sheets, since they are just "artist's interpretations?"
I think our kids and we as Scooters deserve better than that for direction on badge placement
Apr 24, 2019 - Scouter Paul
@Ken - Using your judgment is a good idea. Center the patch as
best you can, and I believe it will be fine.
I think the BSA is
not too concerned about a patch being 1/4 or 1/2 inch off center,
but if you feel that this lack of specific information needs
correction, please contact the BSA at this address.
Apr 25, 2019 - Ken
Apr 25, 2019 - Ken
Oct 09, 2019 - Jen
Oct 11, 2019 - Jane
BSA Guide to Awards and Insignia: Official Policy
www.scouting.org/resources/insignia-guide/
BSA says uniform shirts should always be tucked in
blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2013/10/09/tuck-everlasting-scout-uniform-shirts-should-always-be-tucked-in-bsa-says/
Oct 19, 2019 - Heather Cullen
Oct 19, 2019 - Scouter Paul
The 3-inch diameter bugler patch goes in the badge of office spot (also referred to as 'position 3') - see the Insignia Guide.
Oct 24, 2019 - Mick Epperson
Oct 29, 2019 - Richard Wilson
Oct 29, 2019 - Scouter Paul
Dec 06, 2019 - Svitlana B
Dec 06, 2019 - Navybone
The BoR cannot fail a scout for an uniform item. It specifically states as such at section 8.0.0.4 on the BSA Scouts web site about BoR.
See scouting.org/resources/guide-to-advancement/boards-of-review/
I would recommend that your son talk to the scoutmaster.
Dec 27, 2019 - Ruth
As a former ASM to a troop of high standards and the wife and stepmother of Eagles scouts, I was disappointed to see such a drop in standards.
Even the Scoutmaster was wearing jeans as she officiated the CoH (does that speak volumes?).
Her son was one to attain Eagle and at the end of the ceremony she announced she was stepping down as SM.
I bloater bumped into the new SM and was glad to see he was at least wearing the green pants. I asked him about the neckerchiefs and he said they were now optional and the troop voted not to wear them. Even for class A occasions. Likewise for the pants, green were optional, jeans were acceptable even for class A.
Is this the new BSA standard or is it just that troops?!
Does anyone else think this is a terrible drop in standards?
Thank you.
Jan 05, 2020 - John
Down here in Florida, shorts are very common year-round. Scout or green (close color) shorts are pretty much what my Troop of 25 wears year-round.
Jan 05, 2020 - John
My Troop hasn't had a neckerchief for years. As a Scout-run organization, the Troop decided that they didn't want to have them several years ago (before my oldest joined) and every so often they have another vote. And, as far as I can tell, that's perfectly permitted. In the area (SW Florida), I'd say less than half don't have neckerchiefs.
Jeans are frowned upon; if not Scout shorts/pants, then at least green shorts/pants close in color. Could it be an economical issue?
Jan 06, 2020 - Cole Kiser
My question is whether the epaulets, which are a futuristic silver mesh, are legal since they were Scout issued at the camp?
May 13, 2020 - Joe
Thank You, Joe
May 13, 2020 - Scouter Paul
- Shoulder loops identifying the program (Cubs, Scouts BSA, Venturing)
- Council emblem
- unit numerals
Those items act kind of like the scout's "address" so others can see that the scout is in Scouts BSA Troop 123 in the XYZ Council.
Sep 20, 2020 - Gale Stanford
Sep 22, 2020 - Scouter Paul
Jan 09, 2021 - Scouter Dave
Feb 15, 2021 - Justin
Feb 15, 2021 - Scouter Paul
If you are helping out, but not currently registered with the BSA, then you should not wear the uniform.
Aug 15, 2021 - Micah Hamm
Aug 19, 2021 - Scouter Paul
Sep 29, 2021 - Scout Mom
Sep 30, 2021 - Scouter Paul
Mar 06, 2022 - Jade
Mar 06, 2022 - Scouter Paul
@Jade - If you've turned 18 then you're no longer a Scouts BSA youth member and should not wear the uniform. You could register as an adult volunteer with the troop and then wear your uniform. The Guide to Insignia and Uniform Inspection Sheet are useful for determining what can be on the adult uniform.
May 18, 2022 - Cris

Contest - Ask a Question - Add Content
Just for Fun: Socializing merit badge





Find more Scouting Resources at www.BoyScoutTrail.com
Follow Me, Scouts
Recent Comments