Uniform Uniform
Chatlynne, Charles, , SAF/AQT (chatlync@AFSYNC.HQ.AF.MIL)
Wed, 29 Nov 1995 13:53:00 PST
Scouts must be in complete uniform following the insignia guide exactly.
That's an absolute rule.
Now for the exceptions:
New Scout, parents aren't sure what BSA is, do they want to spend the $.
Scout wears the shirt, and if our uniform exchange is working it doesn't
cost anything.
Scout is growing out of his pants every week. Wellllllllll, maybe he can
wear just the shirt.
And on and on.
Sure the uniform is important, but these are kids. As they get older, put
more pressure on them, but only reward compliance, don't punish
non-compliance--AND MAKE IT FUN. Another mentioned patrol competition and
peer support--good idea.
Then there are the adults. We should be in complete uniform at all
times--even if the pants keep shrinking in the waist (which they seem to do
just hangning in the closet!). It's not really that hard. On the other
hand, I hate the socks so I wear brown orlon ones. And then there's my
"untrainable" patch.
Anecdote:
As a unit commissioner, I did a uniform inspection for one of my assigned
units last year. (And we made it fun.) One of the Scouts had his MB sash
on his left shoulder. I asked him if it was correct. He said his SM gave
him guidance. I turned to the SM and asked. He said he didn't remember.
So I said "Lets check the BSHB." Then we discovered that if the BSHB is
your only reference, you don't have a clue. What's a parent to do. Anyway,
we all appologized to the mother, who had to sew on the MBs again (only 6).
We also made sure that the Scout understood that h'e done all the right
things and it wasn't his fault--and it would be something to talk about at
his Eagle C/H.
Chuck Chatlynne
Potomac District, National Capital Area Council
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
