A new Boy Scout in Kilt

[SFCRick]

You should be very careful these days, these glares from parents could be them trying to figure out if you are some kind of perv.

[Zardoz]

This was not uniform night, that is one night a month where everyone wears the correct uniform, the other nights the boys come in their troop shirts with shorts or pants. This is when I wear my kilt so there is no problem with the uniform police.

MM

"not uniform night" Get it? The kid didn't wear it with his uniform! What are you going on about? Save the vitrol for defending the ill dressed peerage y'all obsess over!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Sikhs are barred from Boy Scouts?
who knew?

Of course not Tony, and you know that. There is a difference between clothing worn as part of a religious observance-- yarmuke's for example-- and clothing worn just to be different.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

"not uniform night" Get it? The kid didn't wear it with his uniform! What are you going on about?

Actually, according to the post, the scouts were attending a monthly troop meeting in their Scout shirts, which is the basic Boy Scouts of America uniform, and the only uniform item a Scout is required to possess. And, according to the same post, the boys were in their uniform shirts. The point, which you seem to have missed, was about how wearing the Scout uniform instills certain, highly commendable, universal values in the boys who take part in Scouting.

Save the vitrol for defending the ill dressed peerage y'all obsess over!

If any of the posts on this thread can be characterized as vitriolic, it would seem to me that post # 22 is the one that may have crossed that line.

[Zardoz]

you're confusing ennui for vitrol there...

[EagleJCS]

Folks, the Boys Scouts of America is not a heritage organization and therefore cultural/ethnic clothing is not accepted part of uniform wear, with the exception of those items worn in religious observance (e.g. the yarmulke - kippah, or skullcap - for Jewish Scouts, the turban for Sikh Scouts, etc.). Since it is a private organization, it does have a say in what its members can and cannot wear, especially in public, as what its members wear reflects back on the organization. That's why all members are encouraged to wear the complete uniform correctly (whichever form of uniform they're wearing - see below).

Originally Posted by MuffinMan
This was not uniform night, that is one night a month where everyone wears the correct uniform, the other nights the boys come in their troop shirts with shorts or pants. This is when I wear my kilt so there is no problem with the uniform police.

MM

If the unit is not requiring uniform wear to the meetings on a particular night, then the Scout should wear whatever he chooses. However, IMO, if no uniform is not required, then no part of the uniform should be worn (that includes troop t-shirts, or any other item identifying the individual as a Scout).

The two uniforms accepted by the BSA (per the Boy Scout Handbook, 11th Edition, pp. 12-13) are the complete official uniform (a.k.a. the "Field Uniform") - the Scout long- or short-sleeved shirt, Scout pants or shorts, Scout belt & buckle, and Scout socks - or a modified uniform for outdoor activities (a.k.a. the "Activity Uniform"), replacing the Scout shirt with a troop or camp t-shirt. Paraphrasing from the Insignia Guide, no other additions/subtractions may be made without approval from the Executive Board.

My troop also wears the Field Uniform to meetings once a month, wearing the Activity Uniform to the other meetings. The only exceptions allowed are those Scouts coming directly from athletic practice to the meeting and the once-a-month Patrol Leader's Council meeting. Many of our Scouts can't afford to purchase uniform parts upon joining, so allowances are made until they have earned the money (through troop-sponsored fund-raisers, etc.). Then they are encouraged to get the needed uniform parts. The experienced Scouts in the troop (especially those in leadership positions) are expected to wear the appropriate complete uniform.

As I've said in another thread, the local Scout professionals look the other way when I'm wearing my kilt with my uniform shirt, etc., because I'm playing my pipes and there's a context for the kilt. I have been informed by more than one professional from the council office that I should not wear the kilt with the uniform (either the khaki-tan shirt or a Scout t-shirt) at any other time, in any other context. If I do, I could be asked to leave the event or removed from membership in Scouting. As much as I like to wear my kilt, I follow that advice because I enjoy Scouting more.

[ChrisfromMO]

I'm a Den Leader and I've worn a kilt, Black Watch, to a Pack camp out. Folks loved it. In fact when we wrote or by-laws we left the pants option open. At the Cub Scout level the uniform is defined by the Pack By-Laws. This may be different from the Boy Scout Troop. Stillwater makes boys kilts that are on par price wise with the Cub Scout pants.
My sons own three. Also, if I'm not mistaken B-P wore a kilt. I think there is a picture of him in a kilt on a thread here.
Chris

[GMan]

One turns into two, two turns into four, four turns into eight, etc.

[EagleJCS]

At the Cub Scout level the uniform is defined by the Pack By-Laws. This may be different from the Boy Scout Troop.

That may be, Chris, it's been a while since I've been involved directly with Cubs. I don't want to sound like a hard-nose (I know, too late , but Scouting is my second family, and I defend my family), nothing I can see in the literature I have makes that distinction. In fact, the national website even has a page (here) indicating the full uniform should be worn. The reason being, as has been said before, is that the uniform is an equalizer. Again, paraphrasing from the Insignia Guide (which covers all of the various BSA programs and uniforms), no other additions/subtractions may be made without approval from the Executive Board.

I wouldn't call anyone out in public for not wearing the complete uniform (not my place), but if I had the opportunity, I might give them a heads-up on the side.

Also, if I'm not mistaken B-P wore a kilt. I think there is a picture of him in a kilt on a thread here.
Chris

I've seen lots of pictures of B-P, but none in a kilt. Shorts, but no kilt. Per Hamish in this thread, B-P wore the kilt, but I haven't seen a picture yet.

That thread also notes that only Venture Crews may choose their uniform, since there is no official uniform for the Venture program. (There is a recommended standard uniform - the green "Explorer" shirt and gray pants - which crews are expected to wear at National and International events - i.e. Jamborees, etc. - but there is no required uniform as there is in the other programs.)

[O'Callaghan]

My usual disclaimer, I'm not a scouter, although my wife is.

In our council there are very few boys who wear the scout trousers. Most parents say they are too expensive. This is unrelated to the recession, and this is not a low income area, although it is a high cost area. If they show up in green trousers of any type there is great rejoicing, but most wear jeans or khakis with their scout shirts. You can take a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. How anyone gets strict observance of uniform rules in a voluntary organisation is a mystery to me, although evidently many seem to.

In the above context, I would say that a kilt is no better or worse than a pair of blue denim jeans. Come to think of it, I have seen one of the boys wearing a utilikilt or similar, but none of the leaders.

I have previously pontificated on the scout kilt rules on the other side of the pond, but I will just say that it is not only Scotland that permits kilts as uniform. However, Scotland allows any tartan on any scout, whereas in the rest of the UK you must of Scottish descent and either be 'entitled' to the particular tartan, or else wear Maclaren. Saffron kilts are also permitted in Northern Ireland, and for any scout of Irish descent in the rest of the UK. In the Republic it seems that anyone in a troop scarf is 'in uniform' AFAIK.