Re: red jacket
(no name) ((no email))
Thu, 10 Dec 1998 00:31:45 -0600
Bob Gallo <rmgallo@NETGSI.COM> wrote:
>By the time I attended the 7th NationalJamboree (1969), red
>jackets were worn by both Boy Scouts and Explorers as an optional
>item. I don't know the reason for dropping the dark green
>jackets.
The reason why, Bob, was because the BSA was busy trying to
reestablish the khaki and red colors as "their color combination"
for Scouting items. With the "impending" move of Exploring away
from a "uniformed organization" (two years away from the
introduction of girls as full members and the "contemporary
Exploring program"), and with the numbers of "traditional Explorers
(read this as "uniformed Explorers") dropping, the BSA wanted to
create one set of clothing for Boy Scouts and Scouters
"generically".
The current khakitan uniform is another one of that "master plan"
to create one set of "generic uniforms" which could be
interchangable amoung all "parts" of the BSA's program.
But this gets stranger, Bob: In 1972, the BSA introducted "action
wear" for Explorers in dark blue; this includes a dark blue
jac-shirt (I'm trying desperately to find a large one for myself!)
identical in style as the red traditional jac-shirt, but made for
Cub Scout and Exploring leaders and members. There were also
jackets in poplin and nylon which were made in that same color for
Explorers to wear. The most popular jacket amoung Explorers in the
early 70s was the nylon "Action Jacket" in blue!
So, I don't believe it was a cost-cutting move as it was a desire
to get BSA items in one "generic color and style" and use cheap
patches and buttons to "make the distinctions" between wear for Boy
Scouts and Scouters and wear for Cub Scouters and Scouts and now
Venturers and Venturer Leaders.
Settummanque!HEY!! If ANYONE has a lead on one of those BLUE
Jac-shirts (and yeah,I've even wrote to Woolrich, who makes the
BSA's jacshirts!!!), please pleeeeeseee let me know!
My guess is
> that BSA wanted to reduce the number
>of line items on their uniform supply inventory, and chose red
> because of its popularity.
>
>I don't know if this helps at all, but I hope you at least found
th
>e info interesting.
>
>- BOB GALLO
> Eagle Scout Class of 1971
> District Commissioner, Harford District, Baltimore Area Council
> "I used to be a Beaver . . . "
>
>--------------------------------------------
>Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1904 02:01:37 +0000
>From: Dan and Barb Borgwardt <danbarb@MWT.NET>
>Subject: red jacket?
>
>I was recently asked why scouters wore the red wool shirt jacket.
> I
>replied that it was concidered official uniform but they wanted to
>know why the red jacket was picked. Can anyone help me?
>
>YIS,
>Dan Borgwardt
(c) 1998 Mike Walton ("no such thing as strong coffee,...") blkeagle@mninter.net
http://mninter.net/~blkeagle Burnsville, MN 55306-7130 (612) 435-3085
privately at kyblkeagle@aol.com or waltonm@server.kaiserslautern.army.mil
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