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.