Uniform Method

From the Scouting America OFFICIAL POLICY

Scouting America has always been a uniformed body.

Its uniforms help to create  a sense of belonging. They symbolize character development, leadership, citizenship training,  and personal fitness. Wearing a uniform gives youth and adult members a sense of identification and commitment.

Personal equality. The uniform represents a democratic idea of equality, bringing people of different racial, economic, religious, national, ethnic, political, and geographic backgrounds together in the Scouting tradition.

Identification. The uniform identifies youth and adult members of Scouting America, visible as a force for good in the community. When properly and smartly worn, the uniform  can build good unit spirit. When worn on the correct occasions, it can attract new members.

Achievement. The uniform shows the wearer’s activity, responsibility, and achievement. What each youth or adult member has accomplished with program opportunities can be recognized  by the insignia worn on the uniform.

Personal commitment. The uniform is a constant reminder to all Cub Scouts, Scouts, Venturers, Sea Scouts, and adults of their commitment to the ideals and purpose of Scouting America. The uniform is a way  of making visible members’ commitment to a belief in good, loyalty to country, and helping others at all times.

Unit discretion. Effective January 1, 2023, each Scout unit may decide whether to wear shirts tucked in or untucked. Both tucked and untucked shirts should be neat in appearance. For Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scouting units, this decision should be made in consultation with unit youth leadership. This update will appear in related resources, such as the uniform inspection sheets, as they are revised and printed.

The leaders of Scouting— both volunteer and professional—promote the wearing of the correct complete uniform on all suitable occasions.