"Official Hats"

[mdutch]

I have looked through the uniform and insignia guide, and can't figure out what an official hat is, and what isn't. I know that the expidition hat is, and that the campaign hat is. I can guess that the Boy Scout Cap (WW543) is also part of the uniform, but can't find that in the guide. Does anyone know where some official document says what is allowed, and what isn't?

 

Thanks,

Eric

(This message has been edited by meamemg)

[Rip Van Scouter]

Your confusion is understandable. See my posting under Uniforms: "Expedition Hat".

 

The Uniform inspeciton sheet for Boy Scouts shows only the Campaign Hat and visored (B-Ball style) cap and says:

 

"Headgear. Two styles: (1) visored cap; or (2)

campaign hat. All troop members must wear

one of the headgear chosen by vote of the

troop/team.Varsity Scouts wear only the blaze

and brown visored cap."

 

And the Leaders uniform inspection sheet is only a little more specific:

 

"Headgear. Boy Scout leaders wear the olive

and red visor cap, or campaign hat. Cub Scout

leaders wear the blue and gold visor cap.

Webelos leaders wear the blue Webelos visor

cap. Varsity Scout leaders wear the blaze visor

cap."

 

The "Insiginia Guide 2002-2004" goes into more detail but may be even more confusing:

 

"HEADGEAR REGULATIONS - Official headgear may be worn while the unit or individual is participating in an indoor formal ceremony or

service duty, except in religious institutions where custom

forbids. Typical indoor activities of this type are flag

ceremonies, inspections, orderly duty, or ushering service.

In any informal indoor activity where no official ceremony

is involved, the headgear is removed as when in street

clothes. The Scouter dress uniform is always worn without

headgear. Pins may be worn on the jamboree hat but only while at

the jamboree, and Webelos activity badges may be worn on

the Webelos cap (see page 10). As part of the First Class

Emphasis, the large standard metal pin, No. 00017, has

been reinstated as an option to the cloth First Class rank

badge. The large pin also may be worn only by boys on the

front of the campaign hat, No. 501, and the expedition hat,

No. 637. Adults may wear the adult universal hat pin, No.

50150, on the campaign hat and the expedition hat. No

other pins may be worn on official headgear of the BSA."

 

Ref: http://www.scoutingusa.org/uniforms.html

 

The above certainly implies that the campaign hat and expedition hat have equal standing as "official headgear of the BSA", since they use the same hat pins. However, the Scoutstuff.org website text for the Expedition hat says, "Approved as an activity hat for leaders and Scouts", while the Campaign hat text says nothing.

 

I think one of the Looney Tunes characters said it best, "Corn-fusin', ain't it?"