The Scout Uniform
The uniform makes the Boy Scout troop visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth
image in the community. Boy Scouting is an action program, and wearing the uniform is an action
that shows each Boy Scout's commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. The uniform gives
the Boy Scout identity in a world brotherhood of youth who believe in the same ideals. The
uniform is practical attire for Boy Scout activities and provides a way for Boy Scouts to wear the
badges that show what they have accomplished.
Class A and Class B are unofficial nicknames for the scout uniforms. Though generally
understood, some scouters prefer the proper uniform names.
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Class A is the nickname for the BSA "Field Uniform". See above.
Class B is the nickname for the BSA "Activity Uniform"; i.e. scouting related t-shirt and
scout pants.
A scout is "in uniform" when he wears the four parts of his uniform.
The complete official uniform includes the Scout long-sleeved or short-sleeved shirt, Scout pants or shorts, Scout
belt and buckle, Scout socks or knee socks. A neckerchief and cap or campaign hat are optional. But the troop may
have their own requirements. Wear full uniform for all ceremonial and indoor activities, such as troop meetings,
courts of honor, and most other indoor functions. The uniform should also be worn during special outdoor
occasions, such as Scout shows, flag ceremonies and special times at summer camp.
For outdoor activities, Scouts may wear troop or camp T-shirts with the Scout pants or shorts or other appropriate
attire.
The uniform has four required parts:
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Headgear. Optional - All troop members must wear the headgear chosen by vote of the troop/team.
Shirt and Neckwear. Official long- or short sleeve tan shirt with green shoulder loops on epaulets. The
troop/team may vote to wear a neckerchief, bolo tie, or no neckwear. In any case, the collar should be
unbuttoned. The troop/team has the choice of wearing the neckerchief over the turned-under collar or under the
open collar.
Belt. Olive web with BSA insignia on brass buckle; or official leather with international-style buckle or buckle
of your choice, worn only if voted by the troop/team. Members wear one of the belts chosen by vote of the
troop/team. Members wear one of the belts chosen by vote of the troop/team.
Pants/Shorts. Official, olive, no cuffs. (Units have no option to change.)
Socks. Official olive-colored socks.
You will note that at the time of this writing, our troop does not have the “veteran unit bar” (the 25
above the troop number 12). That is the troop having a charter for more than 25 years.
The star(s) shown around the patrol patch are for the National Honor Patrol Award.
The National Honor Patrol Award is an embroidered star worn beneath the patrol medallion, and will
spotlight a patrol as a high-standard group. Help your patrol become a National Honor Patrol.
Your patrol can earn the award by doing the following over a period of three months:
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Have a patrol name, flag, and yell. Put your patrol design on equipment and use your patrol yell.
Keep patrol records up to date.
Hold two patrol meetings every month.
Take part in at least one hike, outdoor activity, or other scouting event.
Complete two good turns or service projects approved by the patrol leaders' council.
Help two patrol members advance one rank.
Wear the full uniform correctly (at least 75 percent of the patrol's membership).
Have a representative attend at least three patrol leader’s council meetings.
Have eight members in the patrol or increase patrol memberships over the previous three months
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BSA says uniform shirts should always be tucked in
Does the Boy Scouts of America require uniform shirts to be tucked in? The questions are specifically referring to
field uniforms (known to some by the unofficial name “Class A”) and not activity uniforms (“Class B”).
Effective Oct. 1, 2013, the official stance on the Boy Scouts of America’s uniform policy is
that shirts are to be worn tucked in, regardless of whether the wearer is a Cub Scout, Boy
Scout, Varsity Scout, Venturer or adult Scouter. All Sea Scout uniforms are designed to be
tucked in except youth dress whites and youth dress blues.
In the past, guidelines have simply stated the uniform wearer should be neat in appearance. Neatness includes
tucking in the shirt. This update will appear in related resources, such as the uniform inspection sheets, as they are
revised and printed.
“Tuck it in or take it off.”
Troop Guidance to our Uniform Policy
Scouts are expected to be in full Class “A” / Field uniform whenever traveling
unless otherwise instructed. Summer camps Class A / Field uniforms must include
the troop hat. If there is any question regarding the “dress of the day” please
contact your patrol leader.
Merit Badge Sash
Merit badges may be worn in any order that the Scout chooses, and not necessarily in alphabetical nor "required-non
required" order. Most Scouts choose to wear merit badges in the order in which they have earned them.
Merit badges ONLY are worn on the FRONT of the sash. On the back of the sash, additional merit badges may be
sewn as well as temporary insignias may be sewn. A Temporary insignia is defined by the BSA as special insignia
for participating in unit, District, Council or national events or programs. Previous rank, service stars and pins are
NOT to be worn on the sash. The 50-Miler, large camp patches, Historic Trails Award, and other "equipment
decoration insignia" do NOT go onto a merit badge sash -- there are separate places for those items.
If you are coming over from Varsity; The Varsity Letter and Gold Bar Pins may also be worn on the front of the
Merit Badge Sash (not the back).
OA Sash
Ordeal members wear the sash with a red embroidered arrow:
Brotherhood members wear the sash with a red embroidered arrow
enclosed by two red bars:
Vigil Honor members alone wear the sash with a red embroidered arrow
enclosed by two red bars, bearing a red triangle superimposed on the
arrow shaft. Within the red triangle are three white arrows:
The Order of the Arrow sash is worn with the official scout uniform or Scouting's official adult dress wear (a blue
blazer and gray slacks). The sash also may be worn by Elangomats who are not in uniform at an Ordeal, youth
wearing ceremonial attire, and in such other instances as approved by the Scout Executive. The sash is worn over the
right shoulder so that the arrow is pointing over the right shoulder (see the illustration above left). The sash is worn
diagonally across the chest. It is not worn in any other manner. I.e. NEVER looped through the belt. If worn with
either the "Legacy" or "Centennial" Scout uniform, it is permissible to place the sash under or over the right
shoulder loop.
Sashes may not be altered in any way or form. Beading or any other material is not permitted on the sash. Nothing is
to be worn on the sash, including signatures, patches of any kind, pins, or "legends" (embroidered or drawn
illustrations of the history of the Order of the Arrow or of the local lodge). The only exceptions are the 50 th, 60th or
Centennial anniversary awards. These may be worn as an option, by those who have earned them, on the shoulder
portion above the bar at the point of the arrow; or below the bar at the bottom of the arrow.
When and when NOT to wear the Sash:
The Order of the Arrow Sash is the outward manifestation of the OA founding ideals: Brotherhood, Cheerfulness,
and Service. The rule of thumb is its appropriate to wear the sash is when you are doing official Order of the Arrow
business or attend an Order of the Arrow ceremony. We wear the sash as a symbol of an ideal, it is not a rank, and it
is not an item to "show off" your honor.
Examples of inappropriate times to wear the OA sash:
Troop Meetings
Campouts
Courts of Honor
Trainings such as NYLT, Woodbadge, Den Chief Training, IOLS, BALOO
FOS Presentations
The only acceptation to these is you are representing the Order of the Arrow in an Official capacity.
Examples of appropriate times to wear the OA sash:
Unit Election
Lodge Fellowship
Chapter Meeting
Lodge Meeting
Winter Banquet
Section Conclave
OA Training Event
Tap outs
The sash is worn at Order of the Arrow functions (work days, conclaves, banquets, "tap outs", etc.) and special
Scouting activities, when members need to be identified as Arrowmen rendering special services (for instance when
Arrowmen are serving as escorts or honor guard members).
--- Order of the Arrow Handbook (#34996), page 57
However, at a campout where Arrowmen are working in a special capacity such as service corps or honor guard, the
sash is an appropriate way to set them apart. Otherwise, the sash wouldn’t be appropriate there either because
they’re not serving in an official OA capacity.
Long story short: If you’re at an OA event or working for the OA at a non-OA event, the sash is probably
appropriate. Otherwise, it’s probably not.
Wearing the OA sash and merit badge sash together
The BSA Insignia Guide says that a Scout should never wear both his merit badge sash and his OA sash. Wear one
or the other.
The Troop OA Representative and OA Troop Advisor
From National OA Chairman Ray Capp. “I would only suggest wearing it while actually conducting official OA
duties, like making announcements, during elections, at Courts of Honor when presenting the OA calendar to the
parents, etc.”
If a scouter is BSA-registered but isn’t current with lodge dues, they shouldn’t wear any Order of the Arrow
identification such as the sash or lodge flap. This is addressed on page 58 of the Order of the Arrow Handbook.
An Order of the Arrow member can always wear their sash and the Universal Arrow Ribbon once they
have completed the induction. However, wearing a lodge flap indicates that their current dues are paid in
the specific lodge that the flap represents. So, if the individual has not paid their dues, they should remove
the flap from their uniform.
What if you were a previous member of another lodge. National OA Leadership state that members may only be
registered to one lodge. That being the lodge chartered to the council where they have their principal Scouting
registration. Members may only wear the lodge pocket flap of the lodge where their dues are paid.
Many of these policies can be found in the Guide to Awards and Insignia.