Questions re. the red jac-shirt and Venturing (April 2017)

Hey George!!

You wrote some great questions which I’m happy to answer for you and hopefully other Venturing adults…

You wrote and asked me:

“I’m writing to ask for advice on a uniforming matter.  I’m considering purchasing a red jac-shirt in the near future.  I intend to wear it with my Venturing uniform.  However, I have not personally encountered any other Venturing volunteers who wear the jac-shirt.  I therefore wanted to ask you a few questions:

1.  Is the red jac-shirt appropriate for wear with the Venturing uniform?”

Absolutely!!  The red jac-shirt is appropriate wear for any Scouting volunteer or professional; and it’s a great match for the Venturing field uniform.

“2.  Which left pocket emblem is most appropriate for best uniforming as a Crew Advisor?  You wrote at http://www.scoutinsignia.com/jacshirt.htm that most Scouters wear the “universal oval” patch, but you also mentioned a Venturing patch.  Do you have the item number for this Venturing patch?”

The Venturing emblem is the same one which is worn on the green field uniform shirt’s right shoulder, below the US Flag emblem.  This is BSA Supply #4038 and is worn centered on the left pocket of the jac-shirt instead of the standard “universal oval” for best uniforming. There’s no biggie in wearing the ovalled emblem although you want to make your jac-shirt stand out as a *Venturing jac-shirt*.

“3.  What back patch would be most appropriate for best uniforming as a Crew Advisor?  You provided a very helpful list at http://www.scoutinsignia.com/jacshirt.htm.  On that list, you referenced a jacket version of the World Crest emblem.  Do you have the item number for this patch?  If it is not stocked by BSA, would this WOSM patch (http://www.worldscoutshops.com/world-scout-13cm-badge-c2x10356129) do just as well?”

Yep. That would work. 

Absolutely!!  I’m going to order one of those from Craig too!!  I have a red fleece jacket that it would go great on!!

The bottom line is that while there’s some guidance on what should be worn where, the jac-shirt is YOURS and you may place insignia anywhere you choose to do so on your jac-shirt.  The BSA recommends a minimal amount of insignia, but that’s because they are thinking “less is more”.  However, you may wear whatever insignia you feel represents your role in Scouting.

I have one red fleece jacket in which I have my old unit numbers and CSP from the Council where I earned Eagle. The unit numbers, city and state are on one shoulder; the CSP and US flag emblem are on the other shoulder.  It never fails that the “uniform police” come out whenever I wear it, and I have to show them that it’s not an official BSA jac-shirt or jacket, and that I may wear insignia on the jacket wherever I choose.  The attitude changes to “wow, that’s cool….”  If you find a green fleece jacket, I would wear similar Venturing insignia there

Thanks for asking me!!