Rip Van Scouter

ROFL! I am glad you have a good sense of humor FScouter, although some might not have seen that you had your tongue firmly planted in your cheek when you posted that! You might just start another flame war with people who thought you were making a serious suggestion instead of being sarcastic. Of course the ills in Backpacker's council must go way beyond the argument over wearing too many knots. I think it is the knotheads themselves who are the issue. Focusing on the knots is just inciting to riot. I am sorry to see my simple inquiry degenerate into such a ludicrous, and illogi

I am still waiting to hear which knots Backpacker thinks can be earned by simply attending an activitiy? Yes, many of the knots are for awards that are fairly exclusive. In our district, only 7 scouters are being recognized this year with the District Award of Merit, and this out of hundreds who attend the Roundtable every month, and even more who don't. And this was a big year. Other years have seen only 3-6 win the award. Heroism awards are even rarer, as are the Council Silver Beaver awards and several national awards. Perhaps Backpacker was exagerating a LITTLE! 30 knots (his low nu

Backpacker said: "I don't know how many times I have heard some old time scouter say ,'I think I will attend that event to get another knot for my uniform.' " I would really like to know which knots he is talking about. Most of the ones I have seen are either for a combination of training and service, top acheivements as a youth (Eagle, Arrow-of-Light, Religious award), or recognition for acts of bravery or meritorious and continious service over and above the call. Tell me, which official BSA knots can one earn by simply attending an event? Training knots (position specific) re

Twocubdad wrote: "I know of no official restriction on wearing any official patch, as long as it is worn properly -- which usually means as a temporary patch." Does that mean only to wear it on the right pocket, or that it must be suspended from the right pocket button, either by its own tab or in a holder, without being sewn on the pocket. Can a temporary patch be sewn on, if you wish to wear only that patch, and not change patches frequently? What about getting duplicate arrowhead patches to sew on extra shirts or on the jac-shirt? Tooth-of-Time Traders, which sells Philmont

Now I know that the insignia guide is very clear on Adult wear of some patches/badges/insignia earned as a youth. For example, Scouters may wear the appropriate square knot patch for Eagle rank, Arrow of Light, and religious awards earned as a youth. Of course, Scouters do not wear youth rank awards, but what about other accomplishments from their youth Scouting days? Specifically, is it appropriate to wear patches from Philmont, or other High Adventure base which you "earned" as a youth, but have not (yet) experienced as an adult Scouter? For example, having been to Philmont as a Boy Sco

Your confusion is understandable. See my posting under Uniforms: "Expedition Hat". The Uniform inspeciton sheet for Boy Scouts shows only the Campaign Hat and visored (B-Ball style) cap and says: "Headgear. Two styles: (1) visored cap; or (2) campaign hat. All troop members must wear one of the headgear chosen by vote of the troop/team.Varsity Scouts wear only the blaze and brown visored cap." And the Leaders uniform inspection sheet is only a little more specific: "Headgear. Boy Scout leaders wear the olive and red visor cap, or campaign hat. Cub Scout leaders

NWScouter wrote: The parts of the field uniform are: BSA Long-sleeve or Short-sleeve BSA trouser (long) or shorts BSA socks or knee socks BSA twill or mesh cap or campaign hat (troop option) BSA web belt and buckle BSA troop neckerchief (troop option) The parts of the activity uniform are these: BSA t-shirt or activity shirt (designed by the troop or Scout camp shirt) BSA shorts BSA socks or knee socks BSA belt and buckle BSA cap, expedition hat, or campaign hat ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Can the expedition hat be worn with the official uniform sh

I guess councils have a lot of latitude as to what they allow and do not allow on the uniform. In St. Louis, I was informed that in the GSLAC they do not allow the "Tiger Cubs BSA" strip to be worn under the right pocket of former Tigers, as shown on the national uniform inspection sheet. Yet, adult leaders are required to wear a district patch on their right sleeve below the flag and any den patch (if a Cub leader), but above where the "Quality Unit" patch would go. I guess since there is no "Uniform Police" in the BSA and inspections are option (as indeed some uniform parts seem to be!)

NWScouter wrote: Troop 100 of Mt. Vernon, Washington just has a C on its ball caps. Hmmm...maybe they are just Reds fans!

Roman numerals might work for some, but my old troop would have had to shoulder CDXCVI while my current pack would have to wear CMDCCCIX! Meanwhile, I found my old brag vest with the community strip sewn on. As I thought, no state strip. I am surprised how well those old patches held up. Of course, my Arrow of Light patch is a little the worse for wear, since it was always worn on all my scout shirts! My Star rank is a little worn also, since I held it the longest.

Yes, that makes sense. I found my old school district website and the history section was quite informative. Mason Ridge was one of the original elementary schools which consolidated to form a district in the 1950's. Before consolidation to form the Parkway School District and to build a high school, the Mason Ridge school district (included two other elementary schools)included an area of St. Louis County larger than the City of St. Louis itself! I guess if I want a complete display I need to find a MISSOURI strip to go underneath the community strip, right?

Thanks for the input. Those of you with further interest in this subject may want to refer to the thread with the same title on the UNIFORM forum, where I cross-posted the original posting.

Hmmm.... Well, the school is located in St. Louis County, which, at that time was still partly rural/agricultural, and just becoming suburbanized. The school may have been in an unincorporated part of the county, and the school, Mason Ridge, may have been named for the community. Heck, back then rural schools and communities were sometimes synonymous since the locals gathered only for church and school activities. Might bear some more research. I do not have the smaller state strip, but my 1967 Boy Scout handbook actually show the community strips you are talking about on the insignia pla

I have a pewter color 1960's vintage neckerchief slide in the shape of a Mercury space capsule. The graphics on the slide include the mercury capsule with spacesuited Mercury astronaut standing behind both a Boy Scout (yellow enamel) and a Cub Scout (blue enamel). The boys are shoulder-to-shoulder and shown from waist up (as I remember). The astronaut is centered between and behind the boys. Anyone know the background of this slide? It may have been from some event sponsored by McDonnell Aircraft, the prime contractor for the Mercury capsule program, here in St. Louis. McDonnell later mer

When I was first in Cub Scouts in 1963 (Whew!) we had the old style red and white council patch (St. Louis Area Council). However, my older brother had been a Cub a few years earlier in the same pack. Instead of a council patch they had a curved shoulder strip with the name of our pack's chartering organization, a local public school. The strip was not a full semi-circle, but more of an arc, and it was white letters on red background, just like the numerals and the council patch which replaced it. Were these common before the 1960's? Are they collectable? I still have it on my old Boy Sco

What would be really "cool" would be a BSA version of the old USAF MA-1 flight jacket, which is commonly available in many colors already at your local military surplus store. Dark blue would be suitable for Cubs and Sage Green (close to olive, since Olive is not available). Since MA-1's are not official issue in the Air Force anymore (being replaced by a newer "nomex" flight jacket), why couldn't they be adopted by the Scouts? After all, the current red and blue windbreaker jackets are simply a version of the old nylon "coach's jacket", with the official patch or embroidered logo added o

Hmmmm..... "Its a jacket...technically not part of the uniform." It may be "optional", but if it is has official BSA insignia (Universal emblem with the letters BSA), has insignia placement described in the official insignia guide, and is approved to wear with the field uniform (either for activity or BSA-sanctioned events, meetings, training, etc.) I would say it IS part of the uniform. I know my old Air Force First Sergeant would have had a fit if you told him that his optional poplin windbreaker with his rank pinned on was "not technically part of the uniform" because it was not s

I posted this under UNIFORMS but got no response. Maybe some Cub leader will see this here and have an answer for me! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OK, in the Scoutstuff catalog both the red "Boy Scout" windbreaker and the blue "Cub Scout" windbreaker appear in the LEADERS section. Obviously, a female leader wearing the yellow/blue uniform would wear the blue jacket. But, if you are a male cub leader or a female cub leader wearing the "khakitan" uniform, would you wear the corresponding red jacket with the BSA emblem or the blue jacket with the wolf head embroid

Backpacker, I have to agree with you. If the BSA National Stores and Supply Division were run like a real business, lots of people would be fired! I had to get custom made uniforms because I am a large guy (size 5x) and nothing is stocked in my size (except the jac-shirt of all things!). However the 6 weeks I was quoted doubled to three months. First, they lost my measurements and I had to come in again to be measured. Then the long pants came in, but two pair instead of the one pair I ordered, and no shorts! When the rest of the order came in the shirts fit fine (I ordered 100% cotton, n

"Your kids don't grow out of civilian pants, only Scout pants? Durability of Scout pants must be pretty good then." I don't think durability is the issue. Cost effectiveness is. If $10 pants last for one year and they grow out of them after that time, it might still be cost effective, but $25 pants cannot be used for 2.5 years, because they grow out. Therefore the "official" uniform pants are not as cost effective. "Seems like a minor detail considering the extra life one can get out of the pants." Yes, I agree. My Mom did that (leave extra material inside above the hem to let out later)

You all have made good points. However, judging in part by my wife's own reaction, I have to agree with Kristi and "ScoutMomAng" that cost is an overriding issue for many. When the short-sleeve shirt cost $22 (almost $26 for long-sleeve), a hat (which may be optional but all the kids want them) is $11.50 (AND MUST CHANGE EVERY YEAR NOW! That I DON'T get at all!), the belt is either over $6 or over $8, depending on size, insignia adds up to around $10 or so, socks are another $4.40 (which many do not get, but some do, and the inspection sheet says they ARE required, like the hat), $7 for n

OK, in the Scoutstuff catalog both the red "Boy Scout" windbreaker and the blue "Cub Scout" windbreaker appear in the LEADERS section. Obviously, a female leader wearing the yellow/blue uniform would wear the blue jacket. But, if you are a male cub leader or a female cub leader wearing the "khakitan" uniform, would you wear the corresponding red jacket with the BSA emblem or the blue jacket with the wolf head embroidered logo? The green and red socks are to be worn by leaders with the khakitan uniform, not the Cub Scout blue and yellow. Cub leaders also wear the green "Boy Scout" web bel

My pet peeve is this unwritten policy that seems to pervade councils, districts and packs. That is that it is OK to wear just about any other kind of pants with the uniform shirt in Cub Scouts. BSA uniforming policy says that only "official" long pants and shorts should be worn with the "field uniform", which includes the official uniform shirt, blue for Cubs, tan for leaders (optional for Webelos). Activity shirts, like polos and T-shirts are of course a totally different matter. However, when I go to our Pack meeting, and even the Blue and Gold dinner, I see such a hodgepodge of pants,

My pet peeve is this unwritten policy that seems to pervade councils, districts and packs. That is that it is OK to wear just about any other kind of pants with the uniform shirt in Cub Scouts. BSA uniforming policy says that only "official" long pants and shorts should be worn with the "field uniform", which includes the official uniform shirt, blue for Cubs, tan for leaders (optional for Webelos). Activity shirts, like polos and T-shirts are of course a totally different matter. However, when I go to our Pack meeting, and even the Blue and Gold dinner, I see such a hodgepodge of pants,

As a new scouter I purchased two shirts, one short sleeve for active wear, and one long-sleeve, for winter and "dressier" occasions. I see on the inspection guide that neck-wear is optional on the short-sleeve short, if the collar is unbuttoned. This implies that neck-wear is required on the long-sleeve shirt. However the options given are: 1. Bolo Tie 2. Neckerchief ("if applicable", what does that mean?) 3. Olive leader tie Personally, I do not like Bolo ties. The neckerchief is OK, but I would prefer to wear the Olive leader's tie, however my local scout shop says they are no