What Patches Are Worn on Boy Scout Uniforms?
The Boy Scouts of America is a national organization that promotes a variety of social and life skills for boys of all ages. Each age group has its own sub-group within the Scouting organization, from Tiger Cubs to Eagle Scouts and beyond. Each level has its own uniform requirements, but in general the boys who are in the Boy Scouts have specific patches to wear on their uniforms with only minor variations from Scout to Scout.
Other People Are Reading
-
Left Sleeve
-
The left sleeve of the Boy Scout uniform holds several patches and insignias. On the very top of the shoulder, a Scout would wear a green shoulder loop to identify his status as a Boy Scout. Varsity Scouts wear orange in this position instead. At the very top of the sleeve near the shoulder seam is the position for the Scout's council shoulder emblem, signifying his Boy Scout regional council membership. Directly underneath this goes the unit numeral (the number of his individual Boy Scout unit), with his veteran unit bar sandwiched in between. A circular patch showing his office or rank in the troop is positioned in the center of the sleeve just touching the unit numerals, 4 inches below the shoulder seam. If the Boy Scout is a trained leader, this emblem goes underneath his office; if he is a den chief, then he wears a cord to indicate that over the left shoulder.
Right Sleeve
-
The top, centered position on the right sleeve is for the United States flag patch. His circular patrol emblem is centered on this sleeve, and the most recently earned Centennial Quality Unit Award patch goes below this. If he is a musician, then the Scout wears a musician badge 1/2 inch below the patrol emblem as well.
-
Left Chest Pocket
-
The Arrow of Light award goes directly below the left pocket, centered horizontally. The rank badge is worn in the center of the actual pocket, above the Arrow of Light patch. Directly above the pocket, centered in rows of three, a Scout can choose to wear embroidered square knot patches. Above this, he may hang up to five medals, pinned over the pocket and hanging down over the knots. His service stars should be worn 3/8 inch above the knots, or the top of the pocket if the Scout does not wear knots. The Scout wears his world crest emblem centered vertically at the halfway point between the left shoulder seam and the top of the pocket, also centered horizontally above the pocket.
Right Chest Pocket
-
The Scout wears his Order of the Arrow lodge insignia patch directly on the flap of the right pocket. His temporary insignia patch goes directly in the center of the pocket itself, sewn on or buttoned to the pocket's button instead. Directly above the pocket he wears his Boy Scouts of America strip patch, with his interpreter patch (if he has one) centered above this. His varsity or venture strip is the next one above the interpreter patch, and his name plate is centered above all of these. A round jamboree insignia goes above the rest of these strips, centered horizontally. If he doesn't have an Order of the Arrow lodge patch, then he wears his name plate on the pocket. If he is a recruiter, this patch goes directly below the right pocket.
-
References
- Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
