Scout Uniform

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Official Policy

The Boy Scouts of America has always been a uniformed body. Its uniforms help to create a sense of belonging. They symbolize character development, leadership, citizenship training, and personal fitness. Wearing a uniform gives youth and adult members a sense of identification and commitment. 

Personal equality

The uniform represents a democratic idea of equality, bringing people of different racial, economic, religious, national, ethnic, political, and geographic backgrounds together in the Scouting tradition. 

Identification

The uniform identifies youth and adult members of the Boy Scouts of America, visible as a force for good in the community. When properly and smartly worn, the uniform can build good unit spirit. When worn on the correct occasions, it can attract new members. 

Achievement

The uniform shows the wearer’s activity, responsibility, and achievement. What each youth or adult member has accomplished with program opportunities can be recognized by the insignia worn on the uniform. 

Personal commitment

The uniform is a constant reminder to all Cub Scouts, Scouts, Venturers, Sea Scouts, and adults of their commitment to the ideals and purpose of the Boy Scouts of America. The uniform is a way of making visible members’ commitment to a belief in God, loyalty to country, and helping others at all times. 

Unit discretion

Effective January 1, 2023, each Scout unit may decide whether to wear shirts tucked in or untucked. Both tucked and untucked shirts should be neat in appearance. For Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scouting units, this decision should be made in consultation with unit youth leadership. This update will appear in related resources, such as the uniform inspection sheets, as they are revised and printed. 

While wearing the uniform is not mandatory, it is highly encouraged. The leaders of Scouting— both volunteer and professional—promote the wearing of the correct complete uniform on all suitable occasions. 

Official BSA Guide to Awards and Insignia 

Scouts BSA Program Identification 

U.S. flag emblem

U.S. flag emblem, cloth, red, white, and blue, No. 103; Scout and Scout leader, right sleeve, position 1, just below shoulder seam. New uniforms have this emblem already sewn in the correct position. Only the BSA-issued flag may be worn. The flag orientation of the BSA uniform flag meets U.S. flag code. 

Council shoulder emblem

Council shoulder emblem, cloth; Scout and Scout leader, left sleeve, position 1, just below shoulder seam. 

Unit number

Unit number, cloth, green on tan, Nos. 18070 through 18078 (last digit indicates the unit number for 0 through 8); for unit number 9, order No. 10406. Scout and Scout leader, left sleeve, position 2, touching council shoulder emblem if veteran unit bar is not worn. Multiple-digit numbers may be special-ordered—2-digit, No. 10409; 3-digit, No. 10410; 4-digit, No. 10411. 

Lone Scout emblem

Lone Scout emblem, cloth, red and black on tan, No. 621122; Lone Scout, left sleeve, position 2 (in place of unit number). 

Founder’s bar

Founder’s bar, cloth, worn directly under unit number, left sleeve, position 2b, No. 610129. 

Veteran unit bars, cloth, Scout and Scout leader, left sleeve, position 2a; 25 years, No. 133; 30 years, No. 50006; 35 years, No. 50007; 40 years, No. 50008; 45 years, No. 50009; 50 years, No. 105; 55 years, No. 194; 60 years, No. 195; 65 years, No. 196; 70 years, No. 197; 75 years, No. 107; 80 years, No. 198; 85 years, No. 138; 90 years, No. 50010; 95 years, No. 50011; 100 years, No. 50012, 105 years, No. 631067. 

Unit number with veteran bar

Unit number with veteran bar, cloth, unit number with veteran bar embroidered above the numerals. Special-ordered 2-digit unit number, No. 10412; 3-digit, No. 10413; 4-digit, No. 10414. 

National Honor Patrol Award

National Honor Patrol Award, cloth, No. 367; Scout; beneath patrol emblem of qualifying patrol, right sleeve, position 2a. Circles patrol emblem if earned more than once.

Patrol emblem

Patrol emblem, cloth, many different emblems including one blank to make your own design; Scout, right sleeve, position. Patrol emblems are 2-inch round emblems with tan border and background. They may not have numbers or letters and can have up to three thread colors. See specific emblem for correct number. Optional for Webelos Scouts if Webelos dens are named. 

Order of the Arrow identification

Order of the Arrow identification, lodge insignia fits the exact size and shape of right pocket flap and may not extend beyond this size and shape in any way. Order of the Arrow membership emblem, No. 604942, suspended from right pocket button. Appropriate OA honor sash worn over right shoulder—under epaulet of uniform shirt—diagonally across chest to left waist. The Order of the Arrow sash and the merit badge sash may not be worn at the same time. 

Scouts BSA Advancement 

Arrow of Light badge

Arrow of Light badge, cloth, gold on tan with blue frame, No. 44; metal pin, No. 463; Scout, below left pocket. 

Scout rank

Scout rank, cloth, gold on tan, No. 620078; metal pin, No. 414; Scout, left pocket 

Tenderfoot rank

Tenderfoot rank, cloth, gold on tan, No. 416; metal pin, No. 10; Scout, left pocket. 

Second Class rank

Second Class rank, cloth, gold on tan, No. 417; metal pin, No. 14; Scout, left pocket. 

First Class rank

First Class rank, cloth, gold on tan, No. 418; large standard metal pin, No. 17; Scout, left pocket; center front of campaign hat and expedition hat. 

Star rank

Star rank, cloth, gold on tan, No. 419; metal pin, No. 647109; Scout and Venturer, left pocket. 

Life rank

Life rank, cloth, gold and red on tan, No. 420; metal pin, No. 91; Scout and Venturer, left pocket. 

Eagle Scout rank

Eagle Scout rank, cloth, silver, white, and blue on red, No. 489; Scout and Venturer, left pocket. Adults wear square knot, No. 5011. 

Merit Badges on Required List for Eagle Scout Rank 

Merit badges (required)

Merit badges (required), cloth, silver border; Scout, right sleeve (long-sleeve shirt only), position 4, limited to six; merit badge sash, maximum of three per row as shown, no limit. 

Scouts may wear only one merit badge sash at a time. A merit badge sash is never worn on the belt. Merit badge sashes are worn only by Scouts, Sea Scouts, or Venturers who are earning Scout advancement. Merit badges may be worn on the front and back of the sash. 

Temporary patches may only be worn on the back of the sash. The merit badge sash and the Order of the Arrow sash may not be worn at the same time. 

Merit badges (optional)

Merit badges (optional), cloth, green border; Scout, right sleeve (long-sleeve shirt only), position 4, limited to six; merit badge sash, maximum of three per row, no limit. 

Scout Troop Badges of Office 

Adult Leader Positions. 

Troop committee chair, cloth, No. 18145; Scout leader. 

Assistant Scoutmaster, cloth, No. 424; Scout leader. 

Troop committee, cloth, No. 434; Scout leader. 

Chaplain, cloth, No. 440 (must be ordained or appointed clergy by religious organization). 

Scoutmaster, cloth, No. 423; or Unit Leader Award of Merit, gold border with gold star, cloth, No. 610093. 

Unit Religious Emblems Coordinator, cloth, No. 618744; Scout leader 

Youth Leader Positions 

Junior assistant Scoutmaster, cloth, No. 425; Scout. 

Senior patrol leader, cloth, No. 426; Scout. 

Assistant senior patrol leader, cloth, No. 427; Scout. 

Patrol leader, cloth, No. 428; Scout. 

Assistant patrol leader, cloth, No. 429; Scout. 

Chaplain aide, cloth, gold on green, No. 443; Scout and Venturer. 

Instructor, cloth, No. 90; Scout. Scribe, cloth, No. 430; Scout. 

Quartermaster, cloth, No. 431; Scout. 

Librarian, cloth, No. 432; Scout. 

Bugler, cloth, No. 433; Scout. 

Den chief, cloth, No. 387; Scout and Venturer. 

Den chief shoulder cord, cloth, blue and gold strands, No. 388; Scout and Venturer, over left shoulder. 

Webelos den chief shoulder cord, cloth, blue, gold, and red cords, No. 457; Scout and Venturer, over left shoulder. 

Troop historian, cloth, No. 450; Scout. 

Troop guide, cloth, No. 21; Scout. 

Outdoor Ethics Guide, cloth, No. 624048; Scout and Venturer. 

Order of the Arrow troop representative, cloth, No. 606776; Scout. 

Webmaster, cloth, No. 18088; Scout. 

Participation and Achievement