How does world Senior Scouting work?
William H. Sills (whs@idcnet.com)
Thu Jan 22 11:35:44 1998
Joanne asked when our US Sea Scouts wear their uniforms. The answer is
the following:
(1), Meetings require the US Navy dungaree working uniform for Sea
Scouts which means the blue work shirt and jeans (sometimes just the Sea
Scout tee shirt.) They wear baseball caps. Officers wear khaki working
shirts and trousers except winter when they use the black working shirt
and trousers. Depending upon the activity, they wear ball caps or the
visored cap with matching black, white or khaki cover;
(2), Ceremonies, parades, etc. require the white or black uniform
depending upon the season. The Sea Scouts use the "fighting Bob Evans"
or dixie cup hat and the officers wear the visored hat with matching
cover, ladies may wear "party" dresses for dances and other social
events;
(3), Iceboating just requires really warm clothing although we do have
"official" helmets;
(4), Sailing is shorts and a tee shirt with ball caps and dark glasses
for al; and
(5), Trips call for uniforms or civilain attire depending upon the
occasion and the vote of the Sea Scouts.
We are similar to other traditional units in the USA such as packs and
troops.
Many Fire and Police Explorers wear the uniform of their chartering
organization modified with BSA insignia. Most Explorer Posts do not wear
a uniform per se. The exception is "High Adventure" Exploring, the
former Explorer Scouts. They are also traditional and wear their Green
Uniform. Unfortunately, they are not authorized to wear rank insignia.
They may regain the opportunity to utilize the Ranger advancement track
this summer. All Explorers may get back the Silver Award advancement
track in 1998. This may make "High Adventure" Explorer Posts the land
based version of traditional Sea Scouts. The "jury" is still out on Air
Explorers and the ACE Award track.
Now you know more than you wanted to know! <VBG>
How does that work in Australia? Do you still have Rovers? We
discontinued that program in 1965. What are the ages of your Rovers and
Venturers and what do they do? Do you have Sea Scouts? Are any of the
foregoing equivalent to USA's Explorers?
We all get along here in the USA even though many of our Senior Scouting
programs are widely divergent. Is that also true in Australia?
As an Australian, you may have heard of our awesome helmsman,
Buddy Melges. He is a committeeman of our Sea Scout Ship Hathor (1),
committeeman and past commodore of Sinnissippi Council's Sea Scout
Squadron and is a member of the National Sea Scout Fleet Committee along
with another great yachtsman, Bill Koch.
Does Australia with its incredibly rich yachting heritage have its great
sailors serve its Sea Scouts?
How about that for questions?
YISS;
Bill Sills
US Sea Scout Leader
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