A Couple of Recent Uniform Questions
This question has come up several times over the past few years and this is the response I have given the troops and new leaders.
QUESTION:
WHO DO I CONTACT TO FIND OUT ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS I HAVE, IF MY SCOUTMASTER OR COMMITTEE CAN NOT ANSWER THEM?
ANSWER:
If your Troop can not answer your question the Troop committee should forward the question to the George Strake District Unit Commissioner for your troop. If for some reason your troop does not have a commissioner, please go to the George Strake District web page and look up a Commissioner in the District Committee roster and contact them. or Bring your questions to the monthly roundtable 2nd Thursday of the month.
QUESTION:
WHAT IS THE BSA POLICY ON CAMOFLAGE CLOTHING FOR SCOUT ACTIVITIES?
ANSWER:
The Scouting program in America has always included uniforms for its members and volunteers to identify members and show they are part of the Boy Scouts of America. Scouts and leaders should wear their uniforms to all patrol meetings, troop meetings, and scout outings.
The uniform is an important part of the Scouting program, especially for the youngest boys just starting their Boy Scout trail. It identifies the boys and adults with Tiger Cubs and gives them a sense of belonging to the den, the pack, and the Boy Scouts of America. Scouts enjoy wearing their Tiger Cub uniform. They should wear it to all den meetings, pack meetings, and special pack activities.
A field uniform (Class B) should be one of good taste and represent the beliefs and insignias of the BSA. Even though there is no fast rule on colors for T shirts. The Sam Houston Area Council and the George strake district believe in staying with tradition solid colors, like red, green and black etc. We do not want to represent the BSA as a military organization or a hunting group. Instead we would prefer to represent ourselves as a Boy Scout. It would be kind of like going to a soccer game in a marching band uniform. We would like to see all the boys dressed the same through out scouting, but we know that does not always happen and NO your pack will not be kicked out of scouting if someone wears a non uniform dress. There are very few reasons to be kicked out.
I have attached a dress code description of each group in scouting up to Boy Scout for your review. If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail or call your Troop Commissioner.
TIGER
The current uniform for the Tiger Cub, introduced in August 2004, is the official blue Cub Scout shirt with blue/orange neckerchief and neckerchief slide. This replaces the Tiger Cub orange T-shirt with the Tiger Cub emblem on the front. The official Tiger Cub cap and blue web belt with a Tiger Cub buckle are optional. There are also blue socks with orange band to complete the uniform. Adult partners don't have to wear a uniform, but it is highly recommended that they wear a Tiger Cub orange T- shirt or sweatshirt.
The Uniform Inspection Sheet has insignia placement guides.
The uniform shown here is known as the Field Uniform. The Activity Uniform is a Scouting-related T-Shirt and scout pants. These two uniforms (Field and Activity) are often referred to as Class A and Class B uniforms, but that is not correct BSA terminology.
There is no separate uniform for the Bobcat rank. The regular blue Cub Scout uniform is worn by all Cub Scouts. They should wear it to all den meetings, pack meetings, and special pack activities.
BOBCAT
The Bobcat rank should be the first rank earned by any boy joining Cub Scouts. The Bobcat rank in Cub Scouts is similar to the Scout rank in Boy Scouts - it is quick to earn and shows that they boy is now on his way in scouting.
The Bobcat rank badge is worn on the left pocket of the blue Cub Scout uniform.
The uniform shown here is known as the Field Uniform. The Activity Uniform is a Scouting-related T-Shirt and scout pants. These two uniforms (Field and Activity) are often refered to as Class A and Class B uniforms.
The uniform is an important part of the Scouting program as it has been since scouting was first started. The uniform identifies the boys and adults with Cub Scouts and gives them a sense of belonging to the den, the pack, and the Boy Scouts of America. Scouts should wear their uniforms to all den meetings, pack meetings, and special pack activities.
WOLF
The uniform for the Wolf Cub Scout is the official blue Cub Scout shirt, Wolf neckerchief, and slide. The official Wolf cap and blue web belt with a Cub Scout buckle are optional.
Tip: Purchase a short-sleeved rather than long-sleeved shirt for your wolf scout. The short-sleeved shirts are less expensive, cooler in active play, and will not be outgrown as fast as long-sleeved. One short-sleeved shirt should last for the 2.5 to 3 years he'll need it.
The uniform shown here is the Field Uniform. The Activity Uniform is a custom T-Shirt and scout pants. These two uniforms are often called Class A and Class B uniforms, but that is not correct BSA terminology
The uniform is an important part of the Scouting program as it has been since scouting was first started. The uniform identifies the boys and adults with Cub Scouts and gives them a sense of belonging to the den, the pack, and the Boy Scouts of America. Scouts should wear their uniforms to all den meetings, pack meetings, and special pack activities.
The uniform for the Bear Cub Scout is the official blue Cub Scout shirt, Bear neckerchief, and slide. The official Bear cap and blue web belt with a Cub Scout buckle are optional.
Tip: Purchase a short-sleeved rather than long-sleeved shirt for your Bear scout. The short-sleeved shirts are less expensive, cooler in active play, and will not be outgrown as fast as long-sleeved. One short-sleeved shirt should last for the 2.5 to 3 years he'll need it.
The uniform shown here is the Field Uniform. The Activity Uniform is a custom T-Shirt and scout pants, often called a Class B uniform even though that is not correct BSA terminology.
WEBELO’s
The uniform is integral to the Scouting program. It identifies the boys and adults with Webelos and gives them a sense of belonging to the den, the pack, and the Boy Scouts of America. The uniform distinguishes Webelos from other Cub Scouts. Scouts and leaders should wear it to all den meetings, pack meetings, and special pack activities.
Webelos may continue to wear their blue Cub Scout uniforms for as long as the den chooses. Our den chose to transfer to the tan uniform in February of 4th grade. Reasons for this timing are:
• all the scouts earned their Webelos rank badge
• the new oval Webelos badge can be used in the same location that Boy Scout rank badges will be placed
• the tan shirt can be used in Boy Scouts
• when doing Arrow of Light activities with a Boy Scout troop the Webelos will fit in
• further distinction as the 'senior' group in the Pack
• many boys were outgrowing their blue uniforms
Each Webelos den should learn to work as a patrol. To help with that patrol identity, each den can choose a Patrol Patch and create a patrol flag, name, and yell.
Tip: If you get a green Boy Scout belt for your tan uniform, you will not be able to display any Cub Scout belt loops. The belt widths are different and the loops will not fit. Notice the blue belt in the photo.
The uniform shown here is known as the Field Uniform. The Activity Uniform is a custom pack T-Shirt and scout pants. These two uniforms (Field and Activity) are often referred to as Class A and Class B uniforms, but that is not correct BSA terminology
BOYSCOUT
The tan and green Boy Scout uniform is a well-known symbol of American scouting. All scouts in the program wear the same uniform with the major differences being the badges each scout has earned and the troop specific neckerchief.
Most scout troops also have an activity uniform which is often a t-shirt customized just for the troop. Activity uniforms are worn for work projects, sporting activities, and other events in which the dress uniform might get damaged. The official dress uniform is commonly referred to as the 'Class A' uniform and the activity uniform as 'Class B' even though these are not correct BSA terms.
The uniform described on subsequent pages is known as the Field Uniform. The Activity Uniform is a Scouting-related T-Shirt and scout pants. These two uniforms (Field and Activity) are often referred to as Class A and Class B uniforms though that terminology is not used in any official BSA publications and is not correct. It would be better to call them Field and Activity uniforms following the BSA terminology.
The Venturing uniform policy follows a different format. So I would refer you to the BSA policy on Venturing Uniform
