All Uniform Right Front Right Pocket and Vests

Cool!

One of the mothers (retired military) vehemently noted that the boys could not wear military insignia on their vests.

Not true.

I spoke with a freind who is retired special forces who disagreed with that.  He said that as long as it is on the brag vest and not on the scout uniform (which it's not) that wearing of a unit insignia is OK and is honoring to the unit.

He's about half right...I'll explain it later...

I've looked around in the US Army uniform code and have not found any clear explanantion.  I wondered if you could shed some insight.

You won't find it there. The Army's uniform policies don't apply to the Air Force nor to the BSA.

Here's the current policy:

"A Scout, Venturer, Sea Scout, volunteer or professional leader may place ONE emblem centered on the right pocket of the field uniform shirt. The emblem or patch (and any segments worn with the emblem or patch) CAN NOT EXCEED the dimension of the right pocket. This emblem or patch is of the INDIVIDUAL'S CHOOSING and CAN BE A BSA or NON-BSA emblem or patch. One such patch or emblem is worn at a time centered on the uniform shirt. The duration of wearing this emblem or patch is again up to the discretion of the individual wearing the uniform. An emblem dangling or suspended from the right button is considered "worn" on the right pocket as if it was sewn onto the pocket.

The only restriction is that such insignia should be general in nature, of good taste, and reflective of the experience the Scout, Venturer, Sea Scout, volunteer or professional participated or provided support to.

The only exceptions to this policy are that Cub Scouts may wear a temporary emblem centered on the right pocket AND the "Progress Toward Ranks" plastic bead display suspended from the right pocket at the same time; WEBELOS Cub Scouts may wear a temporary emblem centered on the right pocket AND the WEBELOS "Compass" cloth emblem suspended from the right pocket at the same time; and local Councils may allow staff members of camporees, summer camps or other local Council events to temporarily wear the emblem of that event in addition to a permanently worn emblem of the individual's choosing centered on the right pocket at the same time but ONLY during the duration of the camp or event."

This is found in the BSA's Administration Guide and a condensed version is found in every Insignia (Control) Guide since 1967.

So, if a Scout wishes to wear that Air Force patch centered on his right uniform pocket, he can go right ahead and do so. The same would go for the Coast Guard patch.

(This is a link to a more in-depth discussion on "temporary insignia"; in 2010, this policy will change and the only place that military insignia may be worn is on the patch vest. The 2010 Insignia Guide will reflect this revision to the current policy. )

ANYTHING may be worn on the red "brag vest." Anything up to the Scout and of course his parents. So the Coast Guard and Air Force patches may indeed be worn anywhere on the vest. There is absolutely NO POLICY (written or otherwise) on what could or could not be worn on the red vest. Likewise, if a Scout or Scouter is wearing a non-BSA vest or jacket, anything may be worn on it as well.

Thanks for asking me!

Settummanque!

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Credits: Scans courtesy of Mike Walton.

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