centurion6868

Funny you should mention that. My 13 year old son IS our troop bugler. You'll love this story. He sight read naturally and can usually play something after hearing it too...once. The guy teaching the bugling mb at summer camp was playing on a larger horn and kept telling Danny he had to play everything lower (which sounded and octave off to me after hearing them every day for half a decade). At one point my son looks at him and says "Look, you play waht you see on the music and I'll play what I see". The next day, after stalking off angrily, the instructor comes back and apologizes and tells my son he was right and that his horn was tuned improperly. My son was so scared he wouldnt get the merit badge for speaking up.

Thus far he was the camp Bugler for the 100th anniversary camporee for Erie Shores Council at Maumee Bay State Park and the D.Exec was very unhappy when our troop didnt arrive at the Winter Weekend campout until 9 am sat. He wanted his bugler.

So. We have a Bugler. Who is also a member and training to be in the color guard. And has already loooked up the military bugle manual to learn how he is supposed to present and move during ceremonies. Says he's going in the Coast Guard anyway after HS.

Second note. Got official word from our District Executive. He apparently inquired directly with National and the reponse he received was

"I heard back from the National Office and they said that since there is no National Policy in writing for Parade Rifles it would be a Council decision. "

Shocked and surprised as I?

Thank you all but I had a surprising response. Council is behind it. PLC, SPL (an initiator) and Troop Committee behind it. The "group" does not exclude everyone in the troop from doing flags. Their job is actually to TEACH younger how to do it properly and such. The Council likked the idea. The boys in it are only there because the volunteered and once trained are eligible. It's not just an every day meeting opening group. Berets, bib scarfs and shoulder cords were approved! Not even going to think about parade rifles but found 3 other troops in the ara that use them. So I guess the concensus at least in our council is that it would be a good thing (and yes they are required to have full uniform) to have this group of kids that have volunteered for this ceremonial training. So in the whole concept of it, they love it.

Should be interesting. oh, and you need to check about the alteration of the uniform. There is a caveat...unless approved by the council executive. Also, headgear...approved by the scoutmaster for specific functions.

Sorry if some dont agree. All scouts should be taught and will be but not all have the ineterest to take it to the next level and seriously learn the executions involved. They can take a flag up and down and they can carry a flag in a gaggle but to parade or execute a reveille or retreat? Not many have the interest or dedication to learn it right so rather than force it down the throats of all, all will learn the basics, the few that choose will perfect it.

Thank you all but I had a surprising response. Council is behind it. PLC, SPL (an initiator) and Troop Committee behind it. The "group" does not exclude everyone in the troop from doing flags. Their job is actually to TEACH younger how to do it properly and such. The Council likked the idea. The boys in it are only there because the volunteered and once trained are eligible. It's not just an every day meeting opening group. Berets, bib scarfs and shoulder cords were approved! Not even going to think about parade rifles but found 3 other troops in the ara that use them. So I guess the concensus at least in our council is that it would be a good thing (and yes they are required to have full uniform) to have this group of kids that have volunteered for this ceremonial training. So in the whole concept of it, they love it.

Should be interesting. oh, and you need to check about the alteration of the uniform. There is a caveat...unless approved by the council executive. Also, headgear...approved by the scoutmaster for specific functions.

Sorry if some dont agree. All scouts should be taught and will be but not all have the ineterest to take it to the next level and seriously learn the executions involved. They can take a flag up and down and they can carry a flag in a gaggle but to parade or execute a reveille or retreat? Not many have the interest or dedication to learn it right so rather than force it down the throats of all, all will learn the basics, the few that choose will perfect it.

THIS IS IN REGARDS TO SCOUT COLOR GUARDS ONLY

Don't much care about bdu,s and boots. I see kids at summer camp at flags in bermuda shorts and their scout shirts.

So here is my problem...or opportunity:

Several of the adults in my troop are ex-military including myself. I go farther in that I was also a member of an organization that did some of the neato things the Marine Silent Drill team does.

I have a core of boys with the support of the new scoutmaster that want to form and formally trained Color Detail for parade and ceremonial event. They want this to be a self perpetuating thing that will set the model for their fellow scouts and maybe we can lose the bermuda shorts and actually stand at attention during reveille and retreat.

The vast majority of those boys as well as us ex military types are sick of boy scout color guards being viewed as ...sloppy is the nicest thing I've heard.

So uniform question - Flag ceremonials and color guards shold always be covered (hats) And by the way the offical smokey bear hats the Scouts have are the official headgear of marine corps drill instructors so how is that within the rules. The boys also want something to distinguish the members that have earned the right to be a member of the color guard. SO this is what they want to do. and I have talked them DOWN, not up

During ceremonials where they are presenting, marching, or handling the flag - Full Class A's, BERETS with the color guard pin on it. Normal Class a wear, they want new members to be awarded a single strand shoulder cord that can be worn at all times with their scout shirt. They wanted a patch and I thought the shoulder flash that said color guard but thought the cord alone when not performing and the beret and cord in full uniform while performing would be sufficient. They want to do it right and in an military manner as flag ceremonials are supposed to be so. Beret and cord in green to match the official scout pants. I talked them out of bib scarf and gloves and rifles though we'll see what the scout exec thnks after he sees what they can do. They will be trained in accordance with the Army manual of arms to do it RIGHT or at least in as much a military manner as possible. We should be at least able to match the Fire Department.

I remember as a when a kid scouts had a beret. What happened to it. So gentleman and ladies. Should I foresee a problem in the wearing of beret and cord, cord at all times, while performing flag ceremonials by a constituted Troop Color Guard? And then tell me why when any and every organization. civic, public, or governmental, from the VFW, to the Fire Department color guards ALL wear COVER and GLOVES when handling the flags in any ceremonial or parade.

They want by their bearing their appearance and their performance for people who are used to seeing Boy Scouts sorry excuse for Color Guards to say...WOW.

Just use a spot or two in the future to fix the patch then sew with clear nylon thread. no color matching. that stuff no matter what you use to get it off leaves a residue. except maybe the dry cleaning.