FEBRUARY 21, 2021

[ISSUE 666 – 20TH YEAR OF HELPING SCOUTS, SCOUTERS, & PARENTS]

Last week I was asked about what Cub Scouts wear when they’re acting as a flag detail or presenting the colors. My simple answer was to wear their uniforms—but that didn’t account for some really important issues. I apologize. Thanks to some wonderful readers who contacted me right away, the topic expanded in important ways. Let’s take a look (the order is as received)…

Hi Andy,
Your answer about uniforms last week was spot-on as usual, but I’m not sure that’s what that Scouter was asking. I think he was asking where he can find a regulation or guideline in writing that says Cub Scouts need to be in uniform to participate in flag ceremonies. I’ve known Scouters who make it a “rule” as a way to keep Scouts out of flag ceremonies—they call this a “consequence” of not showing up in full uniform. Quietly and on the sidelines, I’ll try to remind those who do this that the uniform is only one of the 8 Methods of Scouting and isn’t even mandatory at an Eagle Scout’s board of review or court of honor. (This usually produces looks of shock.) But back to the point, in writing? (Connie Knie)

Hi Andy,
How about Scouts in BSA-branded clothing, whether the full uniform or not. (Tom Linton)

Hi Andy,
This is going to be a bit nitpicky, but I have to take a mild issue with your response to the question about color details and uniforms. I agree that it’s best when Scouts (and their unit’s adult volunteers) are in full and complete uniforms. However, the various BSA guides on this state that uniforms are optional. We have units here in our council that use a unit-labeled tee shirt and a BSA neckerchief as their uniform, because the families of the unit can’t afford uniforms.

Plus, since our council is near the U.S. southern border, “uniforms” can be a polarizing element in certain neighborhoods. I think the big need here is for the color detail members to be uniform in look if full uniforms aren’t available. (Robby Wright, ACC, San Diego-Imperial Council, CA)

There are multiple reasons why Scouting has always been a uniformed organization. Having uniforms flattens the “fashion playing field”— When we dress the same, we avoid thrift store duds on some and Polo or Neiman Marcus attire on others. Uniforms are designed for outdoor wear and if the pants or shorts get beat-up, instead of “Sunday clothes” (yeah, old-fashioned expression), that’s a sign of an active Scout. Moreover, uniforms are designed for individuality, because what a Scout earns or is awarded can be worn on the shirts. But most important, uniforms give a sense of belonging, and of friendship with all other Scouts, everywhere.

Uniforms have never been mandatory, but here’s a quotation attributed to our Founder, Robert S.S. Baden-Powell: “The uniform is not mandatory, but what youth with Scouting in [their] heart would not want to wear one?”

An astounding number of BSA books, training courses, and other literature include information on uniforms. It’s in every handbook, from Lions and Tigers and the other Cub Scouting books for boys and girls through the Scouts BSA handbooks, Sea Scout Manual, and more. It’s in volunteer leaders’ guides including both for Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA. The BSA even has a “Uniform Inspection Sheet.” The BSA-published GUIDE TO AWARDS AND INSIGNIA also has uniform information galore. Moreover, there are dozens if not hundreds of citations about Scouting uniforms to explore online. The BSA guidebooks for adult pack and troop volunteers contain solid information on uniforms—more than I can possibly provide in a column. I encourage all Scouters to track these down and remember what you’ve read.

My own WOLF book from 1950 says to me, the new Cub Scout, “How about wearing the Cub Scout uniform? Of course, you can be a Cub Scout and not have a uniform. It is the things you do that make you a Cub Scout.”

Moving on, “no flag ceremony if you’re ‘out of uniform’” is pure horsepucky. It’s hardly a “consequence”—it’s an out-and-out punishment. Whoever is playing that nasty game needs to be tossed out of the pack or troop on the spot.

BSA-branded clothing—why not? Maybe for some packs or troops, it’s a full uniform. Maybe for others it’s a BSA tee shirt and inexpensive khakis or chinos.

So what is a “uniform”? Ideally, it’s the official BSA uniform for the program specific youth are enrolled in. But some years ago, when military personnel and employees in Iraq found dozens of kids roaming the streets of Baghdad, they formed the unofficial-but-recognized “Green Zone Council” and introduced Scouting activities and principles to these kids (who ate it up, by the way). Their “uniform” was a length of rope, wrapped and tied around the waist that they used for games and skills. (In 2008, I was able to assist Eagle Scout [’91], Scouter, and U.S. Army Captain John Green in raising over $10,000 to help these Iraqi kids and their American Scouting volunteers.)

Next: Having been a Scouter throughout Southern California for seven years, I’m personally well aware that uniforms can be polarizing, particularly to Mexican and Central American immigrant parents. This has a lot to do with the cold fact that, in their former countries, Scouting was for “rich kids” only. This can be a major barrier for membership development, but once the ice is broken, many, many families want their sons and daughters to be Scouts…because “¡Scouts es verdaderamente Americano!” They may start out with “uniforms” of tee shirts and shorts, but pretty soon they’re using their council’s “experienced uniform exchange” and earning money to buy their own uniforms!

About neckerchiefs for a moment, if there’s one item of clothing that says “Scout!” it’s the neckerchief. I still have mine, from when I was a Scout. It’s torn in some places, tattered on others. It’s once-sharp green-and-gold is now mossy-looking and yellowish. That’s because I USED IT! A neckerchief is a handy tourniquet, a sprained ankle support, a signal flag (use two for Semaphore!), a water-rescue aid, an emergency “belt,” a First Aid dressing for wounds, a ditty bag (when tied right), a horse’s blindfold or a smoke-mask in a fire, a cap or an ear-protector in cold or frigid weather, even a facemask in this coronavirus period, and the list goes on and on. Short answer: If a Scout has only on thing to identify himself or herself, it’s the neckerchief.

BTW, an important reason why we use neckerchief slides and not risk tying the ends in an overhand or other knot is to avoid the possibility of strangling.

To wrap up, Scouts’ uniforms are their bond, their way to show their individuality, and a grand way to eliminate “class” differences—which, we need to recognize, is a whole lot more significant in many of the 223 countries and territories outside the U.S.!
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Hi Andy,

I’d like to offer some assistance to that Scoutmaster with a troop of “bored” Scouts, who needs to get them engaged and excited again, even in this Covid era. Some years ago, when I was connected to a troop, we had a BSA-issued book called WOODS WISDOM. This was a great tool for our youth leadership. What was especially great about it were the many games and activities that paralleled skills needed for rank advancement. Unfortunately, the BSA doesn’t publish it anymore, but sections of it can still be found online! I just did a quick search and found many troops out there that are still using this book. I still use it to come up with scenarios to use at Camporee learning stations (once we can re-start them!). (Chet Wickett)

Yup, that was a fabulous book! Back-in-the-day, our troop’s Patrol Leaders Council relied on it for planning both weekly meetings and monthly outings. Luckily, it’s still available in full online: http://dankohn.info/~scouts/resources/Woods_Wisdom.pdf 

Consider saving it to your PC and then printing any of its 664 pages as needed. Today it’s also available as a BSA-published three-volume set titled TROOP PROGRAM FEATURES. “Don’t leave home without it!” <grin>

Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay positive!
Happy Scouting!

Andy

I personally answer every message I receive. There’s no “writing staff”—just me. When writing, please include your name & council. If you’d rather be anonymous—if published—just tell me and I’ll honor that. Although these columns are copyrighted, you have my okay to quote or reproduce any column or part, so long as it’s attributed: “Ask Andy” by Andy McCommish.

[No. 666– 2/16/2021 – Copyright © 2021 Andy McCommish]