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Did You Know? |
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The core program of scouting has remained the same since scouting began in 1910 in the United States. However, there have been a number of interesting changes over the years.
Did you know at one time:
For a good resource on "Traditional Scouting: Boy Scout Activities B-P Traditional Scouting Scouts Resources," visit www.inquiry.net.
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Life Scout Was Earned Before Star Scout |
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Adults Could Earn The Rank of Eagle Scout
Scouting began in 1910 and included boys in the age group of 12 to 17. In 1949, the age group was changed to 11 to 17. And in 1972 it was again changed to 11 or completed 5th grade.
However, adults could earn rank until the official end in 1965 when BSA added the Eagle requirement of "serve actively for 6 months as a troop warrant officer." This requirement was actually added in a Handbook supplement in 1963 but was optional until 1965. Terry Grove in his book A Comprehensive Guide to the Eagle Scout Award, goes on to state: "However, during the late 40's and early 50's the National BSA program began to frown on the idea of an adult scouter earning the Eagle Scout Award. Nevertheless, during the 50's and 60's, whether or not an adult earned the
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 Eagle award largely depended on the individual council's program emphasis. Some councils discouraged adults from earning the award while other encouraged the adults to earn the award believing that an adult who earned the award would be more helpful to the boy and more understanding of what was required to earn the Eagle Scout Award."
As said, earning Eagle was discouraged after 1940 but there were a number of service men that were not able to complete Eagle Scout before World War II and did earn their Eagle Scout award after the age of 17. An example of an adult earning Eagle is talked about in a nice dedication web page to a father from a son who earned his Eagle less than 12 years later.
Until 1914, neither Life or Star were required for Eagle. In fact, eight of the first nine earning Eagle Scout did not earn Life or Star. And in this first group was an adult.
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Ric Williams put together a collection of adult Eagle Scouts at www.adulteaglescout.com that he has shared with me. |
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The Number of Merit Badges Needed for Eagle |
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The Number of Green Bars of Yesteryear Signified Different Positions Than Today   |
JASM | SPL | ASPL |
 Today, most scouts and scouters are familiar with the position badges that have three full green bars, two and one half green bars and two green bars behind a First Class emblem. These are the positions of Senior Patrol Leader (1989 - present), Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (1989 - present) and Troop Guide (1989 - present) respectively. However, the emblems of these positions were originally used by other positions. They were Junior Assistant Scoutmaster (1934 - 1947), Senior Patrol Leader (1934 - 1971) and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (1959 - 1971) respectively.
Troop Guide became a brand new position in 1989.
The position of Junior Assistant Scoutmaster (JASM) was introduced in 1926. Between 1926 and 1947, three full bars represented the position. (The first class emblem over the bars was introduced in 1934.) In 1948, the position emblem was changed to look more like the Scoutmaster emblem. The JASM border, lettering and eagle at that time was brown or bronze, while the Scoutmaster emblem was silver and the Assistant Scoutmaster emblem was gold.
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 The Senior Patrol Leader position badge was established in 1915. Between 1915 and 1971, two and one half bars represented the position. In 1972, the position emblem was changed to three full bars behind a Tenderfoot emblem. The bars were changed from green to gray or silver.
 Assistant Senior Patrol Leader was created as a position in the last months of 1959. In 1972, the position emblem was changed to two and one half bars behind a Tenderfoot emblem. The bars were changed from green to gold.
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Patrol Leaders Had Silver Rank Badges |
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Background Color on Service Stars Denoted Years of Service   |  Service stars were introduced in 1923. When introduced, they had no numbers on them. It was the background color that determined years of service until the change in 1946 when the background color indicated program. The backs were felt, not plastic like today's. The following color combinations were used:
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 Service strips were used before service stars from 1913 until 1924. They were worn on the right sleeve. Wide stripes were used until 1920 when narrow stripes were introduced. A green service strip for 1 year, a red strip for 3 years and beginning in 1921, a gold strip for 5 years.
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1 year - gold star on green 3 years - gold star on gray 5 years - silver star on red 5 years - gold star on red 10 years - gold star on purple | 1923-1946 1932-1936 1923-1931 1932-1946 1932-1946 |
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Brass Belt Loops Were Used in Advancement
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Skill awards, brass belt loops with painted designs, were a part of the advancement program for Tenderfoot through First Class from 1972 until 1989. Today like in the past, camping, for example, is part of Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class. During the time of the skill awards, you completed a skill award as a requirement or as an elective for a certain rank. Once completed for the specific rank, you did not have to deal with the subject area again.
There were 12 skill awards. They were: Camping, Citizenship, Communications, Community Living, Conservation, Cooking, Environment, Family Living, First Aid, Hiking, Physical Fitness and Swimming.
To complete Tenderfoot, a scout had to complete the Citizenship skill award and any other. To complete Second Class, a scout had to complete the Hiking and First Aid skill awards and any other for a total of 5. To complete First Class, a scout had to complete the Camping and Cooking skill awards and any other for a total of 8.
For those who collect variations, the earliest First Aid skill awards had a red cross. The later ones had a green cross.
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Patrol Identification Was By Colored RibbonsPatrol Signs  |
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 From the beginning of scouting until 1929, patrols could wear a pair of colored ribbons on their right shoulder to denote a specific patrol. Patrol emblems were authorized in 1921 to replace patrol ribbons, but were not officially produced until 1926. The patrol colors can be referenced below.
The colored ribbons were reintroduced in the Webelos program in 1967.
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 The colors for the Webelos program were red, gold and green representing at that time, Exploring, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts respectively. They were worn at the top of the right shoulder seem as in the beginning years of scouting. Since 1989, there have been a number of changes in Cub Scout uniforming and the Webelos colors have lost their significance.
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Patrol Names and Colors
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Mongoose Hawk Wolf Peewit Hound Cat Jackal Raven Buffalo Peacock Bull Seal Owl Tiger Lion Kangaroo Horse |
Brown/Orange Pink Yellow/Black Green/White Orange Gray/Brown Gray/Black Black Red/White Green/Blue Red Red/Black Blue Violet Yellow/Red Red/Gray Black/White |
Fox Bear Stag Stork Panther Curlew Hyena Ram Wood Pigeon Eagle Hippo Rattlesnake Wild Boar Cobra Cuckoo Otter Beaver |
Yellow/Green Brown/Red Violet/Black Blue/White Yellow Green Yellow/Brown Brown Blue/Gray Green/Black Pink/Black White/Pink Gray/Pink Orange/Black Gray Brown/White Blue/Yellow |
Additional information and colors can be found at: www.gilwell.com/patrolPatch/ribbons.htm |
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This is not an official site of the Boy Scouts of America. The rank badges and pins are scanned images of Ron Vinatieri's collection and the scanned images are copyright. You are welcome to print these pages for your reference. However, if you would like to use the images in any other manner, you must receive permission from Craig Murray.
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