Scout Uniform or Insignia question

Hi D!!

You wrote and asked me:

“My son earned his Eagle award in Nov. ’09 and turned 18 in May ’10.  Which patches do I need to take off of his field uniform (old- style) shirt?”

(what *I* am calling the “legacy shirt” for lack of a better title; the shirt may STILL be officially worn although the BSA recommends moving onward to the “Centennial” shirt and uniform items.)

I am going to make the assumption that your son is currently registered as an Assistant Scoutmaster in his troop. If he is NOT, then you and he should make that happen because when he turned 18, he no longer remains a youth member of the BSA *UNLESS*  he is registered as a Venturer.

(Venturing has DIFFERENT UNIFORMS — many of these items can be worn there as well…but basically he is a YOUTH member, so it is basically moving *just about everything* to the same locations on the Venturing green, white or blue shirt.)

From left to right, up to the bottom:

On the LEFT SHOULDER the only emblems which should be replaced are the position patch he wore as a youth member along with the “Trained” strip if he was trained in that position. Those are replaced with the Assistant Scoutmaster emblem. If he earned the Den Chief Service cord, this should be REMOVED and stored as a keepsake.
Adults DO NOT WEAR those cords.

On the LEFT FRONT, the World Crest (with or without the “Centennial” or “Jamboree” ring), year pin(s), and any square knot insignia he wore on his “under 18 shirt” is still worn. Additionally, the Eagle and Arrow of Light emblems are REMOVED from the pocket and replaced with the appropriate square knot insignia representing Eagle and the Arrow of Light. 

(There are TWO Eagle Scout square knot pieces…he needs to wear EITHER the plain Eagle square knot emblem (with khaki border) OR the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) Life Member square knot (which is IDENTICAL to the standard Eagle Scout square knot insignia EXCEPT FOR THE SILVER MYLAR THREADED BORDER).  Eagle Palms are worn centered on either knot emblem (for reference, take a look at the devices page at http://www.scoutinsignia.com/devices.htm) )

NOTHING is worn on the adult’s left pocket.

On the RIGHT FRONT, a Jamboree emblem (with or without segments surrounding the emblem) is worn, followed by any interpreter strips (limit 3), worn above the “Boy Scouts of America” strip.  The same OA flap he worn “under 18” may be retained, as well as any temporary insignia centered on the right pocket. The “recruiter” strip, if he has earned it, should be removed and kept as a keepsake.

On the RIGHT SHOULDER, the Patrol medallion should be removed. Adults are NOT part of a patrol, even the “old goats” or “rocking chair” Patrols — UNLESS they are participating in basic or Wood Badge volunteer training courses.

As a reminder — merit badge sashes are NOT WORN by adults. Something else to put away as a keepsake of his Scouting experiences.  Order of the Arrow sashes are worn ONLY while performing service as an Arrowman or while participating in an Order of the Arrow ceremony or event.

Hope this all helps you out….thanks for asking me.

(please note that I have moved much of the content on the Badge and Uniform Site to its new home: http://www.scoutinsignia.com  — please bookmark the new location as I do not know how long I will have the old location!)

Mike Walton

—–Original Message—–
From: DT <dtileston@yahoo.com>
To: kyblkeagle@aol.com
Sent: Wed, Aug 4, 2010 9:50 pm
Subject: Scout Uniform or Insignia question