Uniforming

[WB Bear]

To my dismay, I have seen many Troops, Scouts and Leaders, that do not wear a complete field uniform (class A's). Even at formal ceremonies. I was wondering what others thoughts were on that. Should the uniform be optional part of the program?

[scoutdad]

I have seen a lot of grumbling among the older boys about uniforms. I asked my son about it and the issue seems to be comfort. I think the new pants will help.
Many of our leaders are coming from work and do not have time to change. I would rather have them there out of uniform than not there at all.

I think we need to have a better Class B to wear during meetings or outings.

[FRUSTRATED SCOUTMASTER]

You have hit another Hot button with me.

As a leader, I always wore my Full Class A uniform to all meetings. i was there to set an example for the boys. ifelt that if i had pride in my uniform that maybe they would also.
At Courts of Honor or Uniform Inspection nights, if a boy did not show up in his Class A, i would send him home to get or don't come back.
We even have boys wear their Class A shirts to meetings If they showed up without it, they were sent home.
I did this because if they dressed like a Scout maybe they would act like Scout.
I even told my Leadedrs that I expected them in uniform. This was because if we made the boys be in uniform, the Leaders should also be in uniform. I stated what message are we sending the boys if they are in unifrom and we are not.
As to formal occassions, youre right about Leaders not being in proper uniform. this really irks me also.
One of the Buuilding Blocks of Scouting is Uniforming. If we don't abide by it, we are doing a disservice to the program.
Maybe alittle of my military background is also creeping in when i talk about uniforming. i always had prid ein my uniform when I was an Officer in the Army Reserve. I got out as a Major and did my share of inspections.

[ScoutmasterJerry]

Remember that the Uniform is a Method to achieve the Aims of Scouting. Therefore... it is not an option.
Also, the field uniform should always been worn complete. While the Uniform is not "Required" by the BSA, when worn it should be worn properly.
One can make all excusses they want.. but the uniform is a major part of Scouting and always has been. Coming straight from work.. throw the uniform in the car and change at the meeting location.
Comfort.. not buying it.
What we do in our Troop is require all leaders to be "Fully Uniformed". That is to say, all the Adults wear the full uniform and the youth leaders do to.
Once a Scout takes on a leadership role he is required to have a full uniform so he can set a good example. All members of the OA in our Troop are required to have a full uniform.
Most Scouts coming up from Cub Scouts (Earning AOL) already have the tan shirt, so really the only expense coming up is pants. They find that within the first year of seeing all the older boys and leaders wearing them they want them too.
We do not require the Full uniform on all campouts, but meetings and Special events they wear it all.
We also travel in Uniform (Shirt and Troop hat) that way when we stop at a rest stop or convience store, they are an example of Scouting.
"Class B" or as Scouting calls it, the ACTIVITY UNIFORM... That is up to your Troop. Our Troop has a great Activity Uniform. We went to a local T-shirt printer and had great shirts made up, we also did hoodie sweat shirts. We wear it on campouts and on the last meeting of every month during out Troop Fun night.
http://www.scoutingpages.org/us/or/troop664/memaloose0905017.jpg
Here is a picture of a couple Assistant Scoutmasters with our Troop Sweat shirt and Troop Hat on a Backpack Trip.
Uniforming is too important to push away or accept excusses. The best way to have a uniformed Troop is to start with the leaders.. If Adults do not wear the uniform properly.. you can not expect the you to.

[FRUSTRATED SCOUTMASTER]

Scotmaster Jerry:

I totally forgot about travelling. When we would travel, it was Troop policy to travel in at least the Class A Shirt. As you stated, so that when we stopped at a Rest Area or a Fast Food Restaurant, we looked like Scouts and also the Leaders could take a head count to make sure everyone was accounted for when we were ready to leave. Many times I received compliments about how well the boys behaved and how well they looked.
Finally, when we would go to Summer Camp, whether Local or Out-of-council, I would require full Class A uniform for the :) trip.
Again, as I stated before, I aways told the boys to have pride in their Uniform and where it correctly. I know, because I did as Scoutmaster, and now as a Unit Commissioner.

[1st Mate]

I like the uniforms of scouting. I support wearing them correctly when you wear them. But I also support all the other methods of the programs and their correct usage.

It seems lately that at the Cubscout level is where the poor uniforming habits begin. If we could get more parents involved early on and teach them the benefits gained from wearing a full uniform then we would have less difficulty getting them to wear a full uniform at the troop level. To often we are our own worst enemies. When we dress badly the scouts will dress badly. When we expect partial uniforms we will only get partial uniforms.

The other problem is that too often leaders present the uniform in a demanding way rather than in a motivatitional way. Uniforming is one method of scouting, it addresses, all three aims of character, citizenship, and fitness.

When you teach the scouts the values of these aims then the wearing of the uniform makes sense to them. The uniform becomes an outward sign of their acceptance of these qualities. As a unit leader at differnt times in each of the three traditional programs, our leadership team took this approach to uniforming and in each case we enjoyed complete uniforms (at the appropriate times) from all of our youth and adult members.

Rather than make them put on a uniform to learn what it represents, teach them what it represents and they will put the uniform on themselves.

That at least has been my experience.

Fair Winds and Following Seas,
1st Mate

PS
On scout trips the youth and adults I served wore activity uniforms, the dress uniform is for ceremonies and their is nothing ceremonial about riding in a car for mile and miles.

[miscoutmom]

Coming from a Cub Scout level. We encouraged the boys to wear their Class A shirts <pants weren't required>, neckerchief and hat. Be neat! Of course, about half would...we were happy they showed up and joined in on the activity. As a leader, I didn't often wear my shirt. The yellow female leader shirts are cut small and transparent. I wore them for pack meetings and special occasions.

In the Troop level... The boys wear their Class A's to and from anywhere, to meetings.. sash is worn at COA.

Coming from a parents point of view... The uniforms are expensive and not always designed for wash and wear. The new zipper kneed pant shrinks alot. Now, I actually do a trade system out of my house where parents turn in small stuff for larger uniforms. Problem is, they are mostly Cub clothes. I rarely have the older boy uniforms.... I was happy to throw my old yellow uniform in there.... but haven't put through the expense for a new one....

Ok, so I'm whining I suppose. :rolleyes: .. but I'm playing all sides of the perspective here. I have always tried to look at it from all views, cause truthfully.. I'm broke, but want my autistic son in Scouts. I know there are others that way too.

I know the uniforms are important, I do encourage the boys to show up in them and look neat. I know it frustrates the Troopmaster when they don't wear them in or only half of it.

Good luck to all
Jenny
Troop 744:cool:

[1st Mate]

A big part of the problem of getting Boy Scouts to wear the complete uniform is the habit of wearing only half the uniform that is encouraged in many Cub Scout Packs.

Coming from a Cub Scout level. We encouraged the boys to wear their Class A shirts <pants weren't required>,

Nowhere does the BSA program give the pack the authority to make that uniform allowance. In fact the Cub Scout Leaders handbook goes as far as to say that it is better to not wear the uniform than to mix it with civilian clothing.

The only way to achieve the growth benefits of the Uniform Method is to encourage complete an correct uniforming at all program levels.

[Frank]

As a leader, I didn't often wear my shirt.

There is the primary reason why 1/2 the boys didn't wear a uniform.

[ScoutmasterJerry]

I have to agree with Frank. As a leader you should always be in full uniform unless of course your unit is doing an activity in which all are in the Activity uniform of your unit.
Point of clarification there is no such thing as a Class A or Class B uniform.
Those are military terms and should not be used in Scouting (this coming from a retired Command Sergeant Major).
The Boy Scouts of America has a Field Uniform and Dress uniform. It allows for activity uniforms to be worn rather than the field uniform for activity.

Page 1 of the Insignia Guide#33066E states:

"Personal Commitment. The uniform is a constant reminder to all Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers, and adults of their commitment to the ideals and purpose of the Boy Scouts of America. The uniform encourages them to take Scouting seriously because their investment in uniforms by parents of youths and by adults. The uniform is a way of making visible memebers' commitment to a belief in God, loyalty to Country, and helping others at all times."

I know many units that do not enforce the proper wear of uniforms. Our Troop holds periodic inspections. I give out old patches and make a big deal out of the Scouts that wear it properly.

There are so many things that come out of wearing a uniform.
Being neat and clean, being a member of a team, showing pride in your unit and self, Responsibility, achievement, and Scout spirit.

Frank is right, "There is a primary reason why 1/2 the boys didn't wear their uniform..." If the adult leaders don't why should they.

Lead by example.

[miscoutmom]

I clearly admit... I wasn't great at wearing my shirt to the den meetings....
but with the boys <speaking of my webelos> I was lucky that most of them showed ever week, getting them to prioritize scouting over soccer was a harder issue than uniforms.
Not to say I'm not hearing what your saying... I am and do. I'm happy to see, at the Troop level, they are wearing them in full. They look nice too.
I just remember end of Mays and through June with one guaranteed child showing up.. mine. He wasn't in sports.
I'm glad to see the troops do put the uniforms first. I think the boys like to look nice. I even got my autistic not wearing a hat EVER! child to wear his hat at meetings and outings. <he likes that it has his name on it>

and me.. I'm getting a new uniform too...:)


Jenny
Troop 744 :cool: