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youth uniform

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Shirt Front Sleeves Uniform Accessories

Youth Uniform

Shirt Front

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Merit Badge Sash:

  • If worn, merit badges are attached to front (and back, if needed) of sash.
  • Venture/Varsity letter is attached at bottom front corner.
  • Temporary insignia may be worn on back.

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Left Pocket:

  • Service stars above the pocket.
  • If a medal or embroidered knot for youth members is worn,service stars are raised.
  • Embroidered square knots are worn centered above the pocket in rows of three.
  • Not more than five medals may be worn, pinned centered immediately above the pocket (extending over knots if both are worn).
  • The wearing sequence for knots or medals is at the wearer ’s discretion and lead color is to the wearer ’s right.
  • Badges of rank are worn centered on the pocket above the Arrow of
    Light Award.Flap buttoned.
  • The World Crest is worn centered horizontally over the left pocket and vertically between the left shoulder seam and the top of the pocket.

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Right Pocket InsigniaRight Pocket:

  • Jamboree insignia (only one) worn above BSA or interpreter strip.
  • Order of the Arrow lodge insignia worn on pocket flap.
  • Temporary insignia worn centered on the pocket. Flap buttoned.
  • The Varsity or Venture strip is worn above the BSA strip or above the interpreter strip.
  • Nameplate, if worn, is centered above the BSA strip, interpreter strip, and Venture or Varsity strip.

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Sleeves

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Right & Left Sleeves InsigniaShoulder Epaulets:

  • Red shoulder loops identify Boy Scouting (all members of a troop).
  • Blaze (orange) loops identify Varsity Scouting.
  • Green loops identify Venturers.

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Left Sleeve:

  • Council patches, unit numeral, and badge of office are worn as shown snug up, and touching each other. Badge of office is centered below and touches unit numeral.
  • The veteran unit bar (25, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, or 80 years) is positioned above and touching troop numeral and in turn touching council patch.
  • Den chief cord is worn over the left shoulder and under epaulet.

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Right Sleeve:

  • U.S.flag.
  • Only the most recently earned Quality Unit Award may be worn below patrol emblem or below National Honor Patrol star.
  • Musician badge,if in band or drum corps, is worn 1/2 inch below patrol emblem.
  • Up to six merit badges may be worn on the long-sleeve shirt in two columns of three starting 3 inches above the bottom edge of the cuff.

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Uniform Accessories

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Hats:

There are two styles: (1) visored cap; or (2) campaign hat. All troop members can wear one of the headgear chosen by vote of the troop/team. Varsity Scouts wear only the blaze and brown visored cap.

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Neckerchief and Slide:

Insignia at back should be right side up and centered. Fold long edge over several flat folds to about 6 inches from tip of neckerchief. A tight fold prevents gathering around the neck and is more efficient than rolling or twirling. Draw neckerchief slide over ends and adjust to fit snugly. By vote of troop, ends may be left hanging loose or tied in a slip-knot. The neckerchief is optional to the troop.

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Shirt:

Official long-or short-sleeve shirt with red, blaze orange, or 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.

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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.

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Socks:

Official olive-colored mid-calf-length socks with red tops worn with official shorts or trousers. (Long socks are optional with shorts.)

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Shoes:

Leather or canvas, neat and clean.

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Knots:

Many Scouters have asked about how to properly display knots on their uniforms. You may wear as many different knots as you would like (the uniform insignia committee in the past has recommended that not more than 15 knots be worn). However, you may only wear one of each knot. If you have earned the same knot more than once - for example, the Scouter Key and Commissioner Key, you would wear a single knot with two devices to denote multiple awards. There is no order of precedence as to what knot is worn in what order. You can wear them in the order of importance to yourself, the order earned, etc. To keep your uniform sharp, however, you should group the knots properly.

As a general rule, the knots should not be worn when the medal, medallion or device is worn. The knots are designed for informal, everyday wear by Scouts and Scouters including Professional Scouters.

The knots are worn centered on the left side of the uniform, above the left pocket and in rows of three with the bottom edge of the knot emblem(s) touching the top edge of the pocket flap. Subsequent rows of knots are placed above the initial set, in rows of three and again, at the discretion of the wearer. See the image below for proper placement of knots.

There is no order for wearing the knot awards. However, there is a proper way for each knot award to be displayed. The loop of the embroidered square knot that comes in front of the standing part is always to the wearer's right. Knots are worn with the distinguishing color (not white) toward the wearer's right.

Knot Placement

Knot Device Pins

When an award is given to a Scout or Scouter that also has a related square knot, the knot may be worn by itself on the uniform or with one of the devices depicted below to indicate the program phase where the award was earned.

For example, a Unit Commissioner that earns the Commissioner Key (same knot as the Scouter Key) would wear the Commissioner device. If a Scout or Scouter earns a subsequent award represented by the same knot, the Scout or Scouter should wear a device for each program phase where the knot was earned (you do not wear multiple issues of the same knot) . For example, a Scout that earns a sequence of religious emblems as a Cub Scout, Webelos, and Boy Scout would wear the universal religious emblem knot and three devices -- one each for Cub Scouting, Webelos, and Boy Scouting.

Cub Scouts PinBoy Scouting PinVarsity Scout Coach PinVenturing Pin
Skipper PinDistrict Committee Member Pin Commissioner Pin
Actual size of these pins is much smaller.

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