Boy Scout and Varsity/Venture Scout Uniforms
Early Uniform.
The first Scout uniform was an impractical copy of the
US Army uniform of 1910, which disregarded the far more
practical English uniform designed by Baden-Powell. The
early BSA uniform had no neckerchief, and Scouts
generally wore knickers with leggings and a button-down
coat with metal insignia. Scouts and adults both wore
their rank insignia on their hats (adults were allowed
to earn merit badges and ranks right along with the
Scouts).
1922-1981 Uniforms.
In 1922, the BSA modernized its uniforms to the style we
would recognize today. Coats and leggings were dropped,
and neckerchiefs were added. Scouts could wear shorts
and knee socks in the summer, knickers and knee socks in
the winter (trousers replaced knickers in 1944).
Until 1948, all Scouts wore campaign ("Smokey the Bear")
hats. At that time, the field (overseas) cap
(popularized by World War II soldiers) was added. Red
berets and baseball-style caps joined the options in
1972. Also in 1972, the BSA changed almost every uniform
insignia, making them multi-color, standardizing the
shapes, and adding wording to explain what they signify.
Brightly colored patches replaced the old black-on-red
patrol medallions and the black-on-khaki merit badges.
Current Uniform.
In 1981, fashion designer Oscar de la Renta designed a
more attractive Scout uniform (at no charge). The more
stylish new uniform maintained a clear Scout identity in
its appearance, but used more rugged material and added
colored shoulder loops. The most striking change was the
switch to a two-color uniform (something many other
countries have long had). A tan shirt and dark
khaki-green trousers replaced the old medium khaki-green
shirt and trousers (which in turn had replaced a medium
khaki-brown). In 1989, along with the other changes
largely restoring the pre-1972 program, the BSA changed
its rank and office insignia so that they more nearly
matched the pre-1972 insignia, keeping the wording but
replacing the multi-colored backgrounds with backgrounds
matching the tan shirt color.
In 1990, the BSA added an optional "activity" uniform in
addition to the standard field uniform (like the
leggings of the 1950s, the expensive activity uniform
has not caught on, mainly because Scouts must still own
a field uniform for more formal occasions).
In the early 1990s, the BSA discontinued its unpopular
knee socks, replacing them with shorter khaki socks with
a red band at the top. In 1995, responding to complaints
(mostly from adults embarrassed about their ugly legs, I
suspect), the BSA brought back the knee socks as an
option.
Shoulder Loops.
Today's Scouts and Scouters wear colored shoulder loops
to indicate the branch of the Scouting family to which
they belong. Cub Scout leaders (and Webelos Scouts who
choose to wear the Boy Scout uniform) wear blue loops
(other Cub Scouts and Tiger Cubs do not wear loops), Boy
Scouts and their leaders wear red, Varsity Scouts and
their leaders wear orange, Venturers and their leaders
wear green, District and Council Scouters wear silver,
and Regional and National Scouters wear gold.
The Most Important Change.
With all these many changes, you know what is easily the
most important one in the uniform's 86-year history?
It's permanent press! Until the mid 1960s, uniforms were
wrinkle-prone cotton or itchy wool. Ironing might last
an hour or so (sometimes minutes). Modern,
cotton/polyester permanent-press materials are a big
improvement.
Varsity/Venture Scout Uniforms.
Varsity Scouts who belong to a Varsity team have the
option of wearing the standard Boy Scout uniform with
orange shoulder loops and Varsity Scout insignia, or
they can wear a Varsity Scout T-shirt with non-uniform
brown trousers. Venture Scouts, and Varsity Scouts in a
troop, wear the standard Scout uniform with a "Venture"
or "Varsity" strip above the "Boy Scouts of America"
strip.
Cub Scout, Webelos, and Tiger Cubs Uniforms
Cub Scout Uniform.
The blue Cub Scout uniform has changed little since
1930, except for Webelos Scouts. Many minor changes have
occurred at about the same time as similar changes in
the Boy Scout uniform, including the switch from
knickers to trousers (in 1947, three years after the Boy
Scouts) and the switch to permanent press. Oscar de la
Renta redesigned the Cub Scout uniform at the same time
he redesigned the Boy Scout uniform, but the changes
were minor, the most significant being the change from
"beanies" to baseball-style caps.
Webelos Uniform.
The Webelos Cub Scouts of the 1950s and 1960s wore only
the Webelos den badge on the standard Cub Scout uniform.
In 1967, they were given special Webelos insignia,
neckerchief, and hat. Beginning in 1984, Webelos Scouts
got the additional option of wearing the standard Boy
Scout uniform with Webelos hat, neckerchief, insignia,
and blue shoulder loops.
Neckerchiefs.
The yellow Cub Scout neckerchief was originally worn by
all Cub Scouts. In 1967, Webelos Scouts got a special
plaid neckerchief. In 1984, the yellow Cub Scout
neckerchief became the Wolf Cub Scout neckerchief, and
Bear Cub Scouts got their own light blue neckerchief.
Tiger Cubs Uniforms.
Tiger Cubs have no official uniform, but members can
purchase an iron-on Tiger Cubs logo for parent and boy
to put on an orange T-shirt.
Venturer/Explorer Uniforms
The early Senior Scouts and Explorer Scouts wore the
same uniform as other Scouts. Sea Scouts and Air Scouts
had uniforms appropriate to their programs. Explorers of
the 1950s had a forest green uniform. Later, a blue
blazer "uniform" was allowed, and the forest green
uniform was dropped. Today, most posts wear no uniform
beyond jeans and a printed T-shirt. Even Sea Explorer
ships have total freedom to design their own uniform.
Career Awareness Explorers have never had a uniform. The
new Venturing program has restored the forest green
shirt (now called spruce green) with green shoulder
loops and gray shorts or trousers as an optional
uniform.
