Since its inception over a century ago, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has made a commendable reputation for grooming and mentoring character, good citizenship, and physical fitness for boys between the age of 7 to 17. The division is for boys who are at least 10 years of age and are not yet 18. A Boy Scout upholds the finest of the human spirit; he is dependable, courteous, and loyal. He must be at all times willing to help others and be brave when the situation demands.
These are an integral part of the uniform of the Scouts of America. The uniform is important because it upholds equality while displaying individual achievement. Most of the shirts are similar in their basic design but they vary in color and detail. The similarity in design is to generate a level of identity within the unit and the community.
Wearing shirts has been the way of scouting since the very beginning. Years of experience have shown that wearing the uniform gives the members a feeling of belonging and identity. There are many benefits of wearing a uniform including these:
• Equality- the uniform gives and promotes a democratic idea of equality. Boys from varied economic backgrounds, races, and cultures wear a similar uniform and perform the tasks as equals.
• Identification- the uniform identifies the boy or the youth as a member. That itself is a matter of pride, it identifies the boy or youth as a good force in the community.
• Achievement – the boy scouts shirts display the badges, awards, and insignias displaying the wearer’s responsibility and achievements. The accomplishments can be understood and acknowledged by looking at his boy scouts shirt.
• Personal Commitment – the uniform is a continual reminder of their commitment and purposes of Scouting: trust in God, loyalty to the country, and being helpful to others at the time of need and at all times.
For these reasons, the leaders of the Scouts, the volunteers, professionals, and especially the parents should emphasize and promote always properly wearing the Boy Scout uniform.
Wearing a Boy Scouting Shirt
In general, the whole uniform for all the activities like pack meetings, den meetings, unit outings or any other activity done with the pack must at all times:
• Keep the uniform clean and in good condition
• Never wear non-BSA insignias and badges with the Boy Scout uniform, never alter or change the design of the uniform as per your own wish.
• Do not mix and match the uniform parts with non-uniform clothing. Like wearing boy scouts shirts with blue jeans. The uniform should always be worn together or not at all.