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Resources Training Awards Literature
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Venturing Uniform Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Because of the flexibility of Venturing uniforms over those for Cub/Boy/Varsity Scouts, the issue of what is/is not ‘proper’ Venturing uniforms comes up too frequently on-line. This FAQ file tries to answer those questions. The “Official” word on Venturing uniforms comes from the Venturing Reference Guide, included with the Venturer Handbook and Venturing Leader Manual. The current version from the Venturer Handbook says: uniforms and insignia (BSA). The BSA green Venturing shirt is available for wear by Venturers and adult leaders. The green Venturing short-sleeve shirt with green shoulder loops will be worn with charcoal gray shorts or long pants as the recommended field uniform for Venturers. Male and female Venturers should not wear the BSA tan shirt with green shoulder loops. Existing insignia placement policies related to BSA uniforms shall apply to the green Venturing shirt. Crews choosing to wear a patch related to their specialty may do so on the right shoulder sleeve. District, division, council, and national adult leaders related to Venturing may wear the green, silver, or gold shoulder loops with the green Venturing shirt. Sea Scouts may choose to wear nautical-style uniforms using Sea Scouting insignia available from the BSA Supply Division. For further information on BSA uniforms and insignia, contact your BSA local council or refer to the Venturer Handbook. A uniform, if any, is the choice of the crew. Information on proper insignia placement may be found in the current Insignia Guide. Please note that Sea Scout uniforms are a bit more complex then those of Venturers. For information on those uniforms, please see the current Sea Scout Manual. 1. Can Crews choose their own uniform? Yes. If Crews do not want the recommended uniform, they can come up with their own, such as t-shirts or polo shirts with a Crew design on it — or no uniform. 2. Can Crews choose not to have a uniform? Yes. However, they should consider some means of identifying themselves as a group. This can be as simple as wearing the Venturing pin or Venturing t-shirts. 3. What is the Official BSA Uniform for Venturers? The “recommended” BSA uniform is the forest green Venturing shirt with charcoal gray shorts or pants. As it’s recommended, Crews do not have to choose this as their uniform, but if you are at an event where BSA uniforms are expected (i.e. OA events, council or National events like Jamborees), you should have and wear it. However, you must follow proper insignia placement with this shirt, including wearing the green loops. I recommend that if Crews choose not to use the green shirt as their official crew uniform, that they allow those crew members (youth and adults) who are involved with other scouting activities (OA, council events, national events) to wear it. 4. Can I (our Crew) choose not wear the green loops on the green shirt? No. It specifically states that green loops will be worn with the green shirt. You can’t leave them off. 5. Can I (our Crew) choose to wear other color pants with the green shirt? No. It specifically states that charcoal gray shorts or pants are to be worn. These do NOT need to be the ones made by National Supply. There are many sources for charcoal gray shorts/pants, many better then the ones supplied by National. That said I doubt that most will get upset if your crew chooses a different color. As some Venturers (and leaders) are Boy Scouts or former Boy Scouts, they probably have the BSA khaki pants and want to keep wearing them. Not proper, but so what. I would not recommend going out and purchasing new khaki pants to wear, though. 6. Can Venturers choose to wear the tan shirt with green loops? No. The literature clearly states that Venturers (i.e. the youth) cannot wear the tan BSA uniform. 7. Can adults choose to wear the tan shirt with green loops? Yes. The literature indicated that adults can choose to wear either the tan or green shirts. Most choose to wear the green, which is a good idea. 8. Can I wear the Eagle Badge (or other Boy Scout Rank patches) on my green shirt? Yes. The Venturer Handbook states that the Eagle Badge (the patch) may be worn on the green shirt by Venturers until they are 21. Personally, I recommend that Venturers should wear the Eagle and AOL (Arrow of Light) knots instead of the patches. 9. Can a Venturer wear the Silver Award Knot? Yes. As there is no ‘informal’ way to indicate they have earned the award (ie there is no Silver Award patch), they can wear the knot. Remember, knots are not only for adults. 10. Can the Bronze Awards or the Gold Award ribbon be worn after turning 21? No. Like other youth awards, they should be removed after turning 21. If earned, the Silver Award knot is worn. 11. Can the Ranger Award bar be worn after turning 21? Yes. This is a permanent award, much like the knots. 12. Can a female Venturer wear the Religious Award knot? Even if it’s for an award earned as a Girl Scout? Yes. Remember that the BSA does NOT administer the Religious Awards program. It administered by the churches and setup such that any youth, regardless of youth organization, can earn them. The knot just indicates the youth has earned an award. Even if it was earned as a Girl Scout, that should not matter. 13. Can our female Venturers who have earned the Girl Scout Silver and Gold Awards wear them on their Venturing green shirt? This is kind of a gray area. The Girl Scout Silver and Gold Awards would fall under the heading of ‘awards from other scout associations’. There is no proper placement for them per say, as the Insignia Guide is more dealing with knot or knot-like awards from other associations. Most likely the best place to wear them would be the left pocket flap (same as the Ranger bar) or left pocket itself. Have your Crew decided what will be the standard for them. 14. Can our Venture Patrol wear the green shirt? No. Members of Venture Patrols are Boy Scouts, and as such wear the tan Boy Scout uniform with the red loops. The only thing they wear to indicate membership in the Venture Patrol is the “Venture” shirt strip. This is clearly shown in the current Boy Scout Handbook. 15. Can any Boy Scout or Boy Scout leader wear the green shirt with red loops? No. The green shirt is only for Venturing. Boy Scouts and any involved in other programs may not wear it. The days when Boy Scouts could wear the green shirt are long over.
Michael L. Brown |
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Last updated: Sunday, 26 February 2006 04:19 PM |
Mecklenburg
County Council
