kraut-60

Hi Greywolf, I was a scout in 1972 when berets were brand new and I was horrified by the first photos I seen of scouts wearing them. Keeping in mind that the year was 1972 most teenage boys as well as most scouts sported longer hair, the berets looked down right goofy to me as they appeared to be flying saucer shaped and the black ribbons at the back just seemed out of place. I wore the older overseas or "flat-hat" cap and didnt even consider getting a beret based solely on its rather peculiar appearance. I did get the first widely issued billed cap which was olive all over with a gold y

I was in the Sinnissippi council and purchased and wore a very handsome Jamboree fund raiser CSP for most of 2005 and only (reluctantly) took it off to replace it with the CSP of the new Glaciers Edge council I now serve in. The CSP was a green background with a red chevy suburban in red with a yellow FDL on the front dooor and it read "Home of the Suburban", along with a bright red border....one sharp CSP! My council seems to tolerate the wearing of FOS,JSP and other commemorative CSP's and I'm glad we do as I enjoy seeing other sharp CSP's that are issued in our council....diversi

Thanks Beav!, I'm so broke I cant pay attention so I'll have to see what I can do to satisfy the dues requirement. Oh, I'll pass on the chips and dip thanks, I've got to shed a few pounds for the trek at Philmont in August,..how about some carrot sticks and celery? I would let you know if the "barn door" was open in a polite and discreet way. you are right, the limited choices regarding uniform parts makes it so simple to be in uniform, so why does seem so hard for so few to do it?

I wouldnt go so far as re-tailoring a uniform shirt by removing the collar, but thats just me. I would like a collar that can handle wearing a tie and not look sloppy. The neckerchief would be better served if it were to be again a square of 32" and less decorative and more functional. The neckerchiefs now are too small to look right on an adult of even a small stature. I have found the MIL spec triangular bandage makes a dandy "field expedient" neckerchief that is large enough to be functional and practical. One has only to serge or hem the edges and voila',.. a necker like the old

Well, here we are again, debating the way to approach an individual in an incorrect uniform, and as I would expect...all the usual suspects are defending the "right" of a scout or scouter to walk around looking like a bag of rags. I see that those posting on the side of "anything goes" or "close enough for scouts" are still willing to pick the fly specks out of the pepper! The opinion of all posting on this are valid and deserve the respect of those responding, but the pontification of several respondents are getting rather old and tired, yes we know you want to do the best for your

Eamon, I am retired navy and served with the funeral detail and honor guards in Long Beach CA. Your Sea Scouts who perform flag ceremonies may consider wearing the dress blue uniform with the addition of white leggings and a white guard belt. If they do wear the white belt, be sure to tuck the jumper top into the trousers and use the belt to cover the tuck-in, it will look very sharp! My son is joining our local SSS and I am sure i will help out as an adult advisor.

I see gaming as little more than an electronic drug addiction. I really believe that the manufacturers are engineering these games to lead people to play them for hours on end and have seen recently where speculation suggested that the levels of dopamine in the brain are higher due to the stimulation these games cause their players to experience. I feel the gaming craze is also taking its toll on Scouts as I have seen the effects of game-withdrawl on scouts out at a camp-out, ie; they talk of games and not about the present activity. These damn games are truly an electronic cancer fo

We had scout who prefered the heavy metal/gothic look and was kind of from the wrong side of the tracks so I can see what you meant in your post OGE, I just hope that a scout wouldnt "need" a smoke (or anything else like drink or...?). Ma Scout; this boys appearance may well be deceiving as to his age, but I'd be willing to bet money he is no older than 14-15. An item the host council had clearly stated in the paperwork at the registration area was that any smoking by scouts and especially scouters (in uniform) was strongly discouraged and would be reprimanded. I suppose the rep

The troop I serve in had adopted the old flat hat or overseas cap as it was called several years ago after my son (then a new 2nd class scout) had seen an Eagle scout at the 50th Grant pilgrimage wearing his grandfathers old scout flat hat. Long story short; my son got a flat hat and soon other scouts in our troop also wanted them, so began the search and buying of them. Our scouts wear these caps usually for meetings and parades but have been known to wear them anywhere. My son brought his best one (he had 2, one mint,one a bit worn) to wear in the parade at the pilgrimage as the bo

I was at the Grant pilgrimage last weekend in Galena IL. where I witnessed a serious breach of scout etiquette on the part of a scout and a scouter. The scouts of the troop I serve were moving to the staging area for the parade when I saw a boy smoking a cigarette. The boy had on a jacket but could be seen to be wearing a tan shirt with a neckerchief visible at the neck of the jacket. What really nags at me know was that an adult wearing a scout uniform was standing right next to this boy and clearly looked at him and did nothing, in fact I frowned at the boy and shook my head (which

Instead of adding yet another insignia that is adult only, why not dig up one of the older SM patches from pre-1969. The SM patch I'm talking about was a green twill 3" circle with a first class emblem outline done in silver thread. 2 borders outlined the 1st class and between the borders the words "Boy Scouts of America was embroidered, all in silver thread. You want a patch for "retired" SM's? Well, use a retired design that is still valid to use. The patch design I'm talking about here was in constant use from 1938-1969, and its a way sharp design.

I think this idea could go over ok depending on what ones profession is. I am a powerplant operator and I dont think my uniform would come out looking too good at the end of my shift. Perhaps a different tack might work. What about wearing the uniform while traveling? You see more than a few of our young men and women serving in the armed forces of our nation in uniform in nearly any major airport daily, would'nt it show solidarity with them if we also wore our uniform while going from point A to B? I can only shake my head in agreement regarding teenagers and uniform wear, man am I

CajunCody, I am sorry that you were the victim of a "hover mother". I was a DL and WDL while my son was in Cubs and I ran the packs PWD. I heard no end of complaints from the hover mothers as well as the fortress fathers about how their son had been "wronged" during the derby or how come it takes so long, blah, blah, blah..... Cub Scout leaders who follow the program, get trained, wear the uniform and truly lead the pack are never far out the sights of the parents who never step up and get registered, trained or suited up. Such parents forever seem to second guess the program, active

Well, I suppose another patch for recognition of a leaders commitment to scouting isnt a bad thing, but I cant help thinking that there are several existing awards that have insignia that are worn on the uniform and do we as scouters really need yet another? If my service to scouting were to be recognized and rewarded by the troop I serve in, I would be thrilled to no end by having all the scouts in the troop in full uniform as my reward. I hope to earn the SM knot and the Scouters Training key someday, but I am not presently wearing the CS knot I was awarded as a DL. I received

Welcome jmenand, I would not tell you not to wear an older CSP (the council shoulder patch), but if the patch you want is the older red-white strips(RWS), I would put the rws only on an older khaki-green uniform. I am also a fan of the retro look and have designed a commemoritive CSP for our old council that has yet to be made but hopefully will. As for the OA flap, I would refer you to your lodge leadership to answer that one. The only folks who will get their undies in a bundle over what you proposed are the dreaded UP's (uniform police).

I may be able to suggest a flag fold and presentation that would reflect the dignity and somberness that are essential to a loved ones family and friends. I was assigned to the US Navy funeral and honors detail at the former US Naval station Long Beach CA. for almost 3 years, and have served at over 300 funerals during my tenure. I would suggest having 2 scouts fold and present the flag to the girls family. This will require having the US flag draped over the casket. Please ensure that the blue field with the stars is over the right hand side of the head of the casket. This is done s

At the COH our troop had last month, my son who earned his Star rank on 1-2-06 and had the patch the same night was in the gym of the church shooting baskets while the rank recognition part of the COH was going on. He had been sent there to re-direct folks who went there as the COH was held in a different room and he "forgot" that he had to come back by 7pm. I posed the topic question to a scout yesterday and in the scouts opinion receiving your rank badge as soon as they earn it is important to them,they know the card and pin will be at COH. I was told they like getting the patch first s

My truck....my tunes...the blues cant lose! I generally listen to classic rock stations,but when the reception goes south so does the music, I will put in some real blues like Muddy Waters,Howling Wolf,John Lee Hooker or just a blues greatest hits that will cover all the greats. So far the scouts dont seem to mind and most of the blues discs I've heard dont need an "Explict Lyrics" warning on them. We have even ad-libbed some blues that reflected on the week-end we were coming back from. I tried the "punishment" music thing once, didnt work well..I had heard enough loud debate so I p

There are two sizes availible at our council store,the normally seen "mothers" pin and a larger pin varying in size from about 3/4" in diameter to over 1" for the 1st class pin. I dont see very many full size rank pins being worn by boys. The pin can be seen in the current leaders catalog on a scout wearing the expedition hat, dont recall the page offhand though.

Oops, sorry Dug, I meant to pose the question to Vigil Hiker. Did think it would be great to take a uniformed troop to Gettysburg though, just wish the PLc would want to do it.

You are right about the neckers Dug,the issue one is all but worthless for most uses. The PLC in our troop has proposed getting full square 32" neckers made for the troop. I have found the old OD MIL.type triangular bandage hard to beat as an all round good emergency sling or ankle wrap, and it makes a dandy "drive-on" rag too as well as being able to roll and wear as a traditional necker(while not being so small as to appear ridiculous). As a Philmont vet Dug, what would your opinion be on taking a long sleeve uniform shirt along on the trail? I'm considering this for the trek I'll

This scout was unjustly judged and wrongly forced out of what may be the best place for him to be, a scout patrol/troop environment. Is the scouting experience only for the goody two shoes and those with unblemished "permanent records". What really stinks here is that a "Hover-mother" and/or a "Fortress-father", took their suspicions along with a heaping dose of hear-say and came up with what amounts to a steaming pile of innuendo. If a scout gets into trouble with drugs, we should do ALL WE CAN to retain and guide them back to the trail thats straighter and narrower. I can unde

I really have to agree with Anarchist here. Being able to immediately hand a scout his newly earned rank patch is very good for a scouts morale when he has completed a BoR successfully, as well as showing the rest of the scouts that progress is recognized ASAP. I believe we should be able to mantain an on hand stock of no more than 2 of ranks Scout through Life. This would ensure the ability to award when completed as well as allow scouts who own both long and short sleeve shirts to keep their uniforms current with their earned rank. Our troop practices immediate recognition while st

As most other troops do, so do we travel in field uniform (1/4 to full, depends on which scout or scouter). Seems that most of our scouts remain in at least 1/4 field or 1/2 activity uniform for the rest of the weekend/event. We do request field uniform for morning and evening colors as well as the evening meal. Most scouts comply with only a few having to be reminded. Our troop generally tries to inspect the packs of its newer scouts prior to their first overnighter and summer camp. This is conducted by the PL and SPL/ASPL. We try to discourage the wearing of jeans as once they are

I will state here that I would NOT approach ANY scout or scouter and attempt to point an error or errors in their uniform. I am in agreement that to do so is wrong and not scout-like. Now, without trying to patronize or sow the seeds of resentment, I will go on record to state that my personal point of perspective, is that more than a few scouters and scouts do not care to wear the uniform correctly and in fact seem to enjoy doing so as it flies in the face of the rules and to allow them to visibly flaunt their individuality. I have worn a uniform from the first time I joined Cubs, t