The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has a long history of using patches to denote accomplishments, roles, and milestones. Patches and badges serve as emblems and signs that Scouts and leaders alike have progressed in the iconic youth organization. Yet BSA insignia are as varied as their meanings: from the golden arrows that adorn the shoulder seams of a uniform to the ranks of blue and tan that flake daily off Camp 18 and Camp 6 fires into the faces of smiling scouts. Both Camp 18 and Camp 6 use flammable patches and badges of merit to serve the fires and the faces of their camp scouts.
Uniform Breakdown: Placement and Purpose
The assignment of patches to Cub Scout and Boy Scout uniforms is anything but haphazard. Each badge and emblem has a designated spot on the uniform, signifying its reason for being and what it stands for. Let’s take a closer look.
Cub Scout Uniform
- Council Shoulder Patch (CSP): This is worn on the left sleeve and identifies the regional council the Scout is part of.
- Temporary Patch: These are worn on the right pocket and are often awarded for special events or activities.
- Arrow of Light: A mark of distinction, this patch is placed below the Rank Badge. In Cub Scouting, it signifies that the Scout has achieved its highest honor.
- Rank Badge: This patch, displayed prominently on the left pocket, indicates the Scout’s current rank.
- World Crest: This emblem, which rests just above the left pocket, signifies that the Scouts belong to the world Scout movement.
Boy Scout Uniform
- Badge of Office: This indicates the role of the Scout within their unit and is positioned on the left sleeve.
- Merit Badge Sash: Used on formal occasions to display merit badges, this is worn over the shoulder.
- Patrol Patch: Signifying the patrol within the troop, this is found below the American flag on the right sleeve.
- Unit Numerals: These identify the Scout’s troop or pack and are placed on the left sleeve, below the CSP.
- World Crest: Like the Cub Scout uniform, this is situated above the left pocket.
Shoulder Loops: Indicating Scouting Levels
The color of the shoulder loops (which are worn on the epaulets) signifies the division of Scouting:
- Gold: National-level volunteers and professionals These loops help distinguish between the various levels and leadership roles within the organization.
- Silver: Council-level volunteers and professionals
- Forest Green: Scouts BSA
- Blue: Cub Scouts
Rank Badges: A Scout’s Journey
Badges of rank are the cornerstone of the Scouting experience. Each badge represents advancement and accomplishment within the program.
Cub Scout Ranks:
- Bobcat: This is the first badge earned after joining Cub Scouts, regardless of age, and teaches the basic elements of Scouting.
- Arrow of Light: The only rank that can be earned both in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.
- Webelos: This is the bridging program for fourth and fifth graders. It prepares them to cross over into Scouts BSA.
- Bear: Made for third graders, this rank is common core for science and more adventurous activities.
- Wolf: Second graders learn about their responsibilities as Scouts and focus on acquiring fundamental skills they will use for the rest of their lives.
- Tiger: Scouts in the first grade build on what they learn in the Bobcat rank and delve deeper into teamwork and the basics of Scouting.
- Lion: This rank brings the youngest members into Scouting for kindergarten-aged boys and girls.
Scouts BSA Ranks:
- Eagle: The top rank that signifies premier leadership, community service, and a dogged dedication to attaining this rank.
- Star, Life: Ranks that necessitate earning merit badges, fund meteor showers, and partake in leadership experiences.
- Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class: Ranks that hammer home basic Scouting skills, outdoor readiness, and personal growth.
- Scout: The entry-level rank attained upon joining a troop.
Key Patches and Awards
Service Star
The criteria for earning these pins is simple: they are awarded for the number of years a Scout or leader has been involved in Scouting. Each star is companioned by background color, indicating to which division the awarded individual belongs (Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, etc.).
Order of the Arrow (OA)
This esteemed distinction is awarded to Scouts chosen by their contemporaries for outstanding representations of the Scout Oath and Law. Members of the OA may wear a lodge patch and the signature sash of the OA.
Patrol Patch
Every patrol has its own distinct emblem like an eagle, a dragon, or even a UFO that conveys the unique identity of the patrol. These patches give the boys a sense of pride and help foster the comradery that is essential to den and patrol life.
Journey to Excellence Patch
This award acknowledges the troop or pack’s excellence overall. It considers several areas of performance, including:
- Advancement: How well are the youth members progressing through the program?
- Retention: How well are we keeping the youth members involved in the program year after year?
- Service: How well are we helping the youth members serve their families and communities?
Merit Badges: Skills and Achievement
The Scouts BSA program’s hallmark is the merit badge. It offers the opportunity to explore a variety of skills and interests. You earn these badges through study, practice, and assessment by a merit badge counselor.
Recruiter Patch
This patch is awarded to those Scouts who bring new members into the program. It is worn below the right pocket.
Top 20 Merit Badges Earned in 2021:
The following are some widely recognized badges:
- Emergency Preparedness
- Swimming
- First Aid
- Environmental Science
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Camping
- Cooking
- Personal Fitness
- Citizenship in the Nation
- Family Life
- Fire Safety
- Archery
- Astronomy
- Wilderness Survival
These badges enable scouts to cultivate critical life skills, which in turn boost their confidence, and they are also invaluable in fostering future professional or amateur pursuits.
The Meaning Behind It All
Emblems on a Scout’s uniform do more than signify accomplishments; they tell a story. The variety and number of patches a Scout sports offer an impressive array of evidence in visual form, not to mention surface form, of the reach of Scouting into a young person’s life. The uniform itself stands for something; it stands for hard work and good behavior. In reaching for the next rank, or in simply moving through the natural series of events in life, a young person is bound to experience, not just fail, but also succeed, and not just succeed, but also serve. And when a young person does those things, those letters and numbers that come after Scout in such a form as to be worn proudly on a public street, signify not just something to be proud of, but also something that means something.
