The Scout Uniform

I have mentioned earlier that our troop is a full-uniform troop. Once, every Scout troop wore the full uniform and one would scarcely have been considered a part of Scouting without it. Lord Baden Powell, the British founder of the international Scouting movement, believed the uniform was one of the essential pillars of Scouting. The idea of having Scouts wear a uniform grew from purely practical considerations.

Lord Baden Powell wrote this about the origins of the Scout uniform:

I knew from experience with boys of all sorts in our first experiments in Scouting that one fellow got his trousers all torn and wet going through a scrub, another wearing a small cap got his face - very nearly his eyes - badly scratched by thorns in going through the bush at night, and the rain ran down his neck, others got too hot in their coats and waistcoats, another, going bareheaded, got sunstroke, and so on. So it became necessary to suggest some kind of dress that would suit all phases of Scouting and yet be healthy and inexpensive and comfortable. Then everybody would come to be dressed much the same as his neighbour - in fact, in uniform. So I thought out what would be the best patterns to adopt. Now - and here is a useful tip for you - whenever I went on an expedition of any kind I kept a diary and that diary included a list of the clothing and equipment I took with me, with a note of what I need not have taken and also of what I had omitted to take. All this information came in useful when one was going on another expedition. Also I drew a sketch of myself showing what dress I found to be most convenient for the job I happened to be doing. At one time it was in India, another in South Africa, also Scotland, Canada, West Africa, Himalayas, etc., etc.

From these data I compiled what I thought would be a dress applicable to most countries. I had used it to some extent in dressing the South African Constabulary when I formed the Corps, and so a good deal of the idea came into the Boy Scout uniform when I devised that. But there was nothing military about it. It was designed to be the most practical, cheap and comfortable dress for camping and hiking, and in no way copied from soldier's kit.

Thus, the Scout uniform is not militaristic in origin at all. Its features that most remind us of a military uniform are those that make such a uniform practical garb for being in the outdoors for an extended period. When attired in full uniform, a Scout is well-dressed for adventures in the out-of-doors. Scouting is not a militarist organization. If we affect the pose of attention, for example, it is out of respect, such as when we salute our country's flag. We do not do it to ape military actions.

The Scout uniform serves another purpose as well and that is identity. When a Scout puts on a uniform for a troop meeting, he marking that as a special occasion by adopting distinctive clothing. This reinforces the notion that Scouting is different from more mundane activities. It is something special for which it is worth taking a little extra effort to prepare.

Wearing the uniform also marks a Scout as a Scout. Seeing that uniform, many strangers will immediately form an opinion about who that Scout is and what values that Scout may have.  That is, wearing the uniform ties the Scout to more than a Century of Scouting history and values. It may well cause a Scout to think twice before doing something inconsistent with the Scout Oath and Law while so conspicuously attired.

This is also why the Scouts of Troop 451 wear their class B's while at camp.

When we see our Scouts around the camp during the day, they are immediately recognizable, even in their class B uniforms, both as Scouts and as members of Troop 451. Their actions will redound not only upon themselves but upon their troopmates as well. This is just as true when the Scout is an outstanding exemplar of Scout behavior as when a Scout falls notably short of that mark (we are pleased and grateful no such circumstance has occurred in recent camping memory!)

It is for considerations such as these that our troop follows Lord Baden Powell's lead and retains the full Scout uniform as our official dress. It is purely a side benefit that in doing so, we manage to earnt "Sharpest Unit" recognition each evening of camp.

Besides, it is great being a part of a sharp outfit!