Persuading Boys to Wear the Uniform

[Hunt]

I was thinking that one way to encourage the wearing of the uniform is to point out to the scouts all the "special" situations in which they want to be sure to wear a complete and correct uniform, such as (1) if they will be having a Board of Review (2) at a Court of Honor (3) if there are going to be guests at a meeting (3) for the OA election (4) if they are a patrol or troop leader (5) Scout Sunday, etc...if you have enough of these, most boys will be uniformed most of the time, and the others may well follow suit. This occurred to me when I observed that certain scouts who almost never wear proper uniforms did so on Scout Sunday, when reminded that do do so would show respect for Mr. X, our COR.

[EagleInKY]

It might work, but I've found trying to reason with teenage boys about as difficult task to do as anything. Generally, the boys who don't want to wear the uniform have always been that way. The ones that do wear the uniform have always been that way as well. I see very little change in attitude toward the uniform over their tenure in scouting.

[BrentAllen]

Hunt,

One of my WB Ticket items was to improve the uniforming in our Pack. Granted, this is Cubs, not Boy Scouts, so there is a difference.

When the WB Course Director/SM came to our Pack for the beading ceremony, he was very impressed with the way our Pack looked - nearly 100% in complete uniform. He asked for further details about how we got to that point. This is the email I sent him:

 

Hope you and your family are doing well. You had asked me awhile back about our uniforming methods for our Pack. I've been giving it much thought, and finally have time to type them out.

While we are working with Cub Scouts, I think some of these ideas could be adopted to Boy Scouts. I also have included some ideas that local Troops are using to get the boys in uniform.

For our Pack, we try to have a quick uniform inspection at the Pack meetings. The den that scores the highest receives $2 Brusters Ice Cream gift cards for the members. It is very easy to get Cub Scouts excited about Brusters!

Last year, we also had a year-long contest, where the winning den won a big pizza party. Events that counted toward the contest included Pack meetings, and we also included attendance at service events and campouts. While successful, I think the monthly Pack meeting inspections and immediate rewards worked better. If you have a really nice prize for a long-term contest (special trip, maybe), the contest could help develop esprit de corps among your patrols.

At our December Pack meeting, we have a Marine visit for our Toys for Tots drive. He arrives in Dress Blues and goes over the significance of the parts of the uniform. He usually inspects at least one den, and has fun with the boys. They really listen to what he has to say, and he goes over their entire uniform - "you need to button that button" etc... I think getting some people like that, who really take pride in their uniform, in front of the boys might help them appreciate their uniform a little more. They might want to look a little sharper, as well. Army Rangers might be another group to arrange a visit - some in dress uniform, some in field, maybe even some in full camo. Fighter pilots might be another idea.

Two local Troops have very good uniforming. At both, the boys have decided to require full uniforms, and require any adults who attend the boys' part of the Troop meetings to be in full uniform as well. They take this very seriously. There are some boys who play sports, and if they come straight from practice or a game, they are not required to be in uniform.

That is all I can think of right now. Not sure if it is much help, but hopefully at least a little.

Yours in Scouting,

Brent Allen

I used to be a Fox...

[Meechgalanne]

In my troop, we have inspections and contests. But One of the 11 leadership skills is "Setting the Example". All adults and junior leaders need to be in uniform. Me and the scoutmaster of my troop really emphsis that. With my leaders in uniform, i came to notice a major improvement in the troop.

 

Its tough to realize, but scouts really do look up to their leaders.

[Hunt]

On one occasion it helped to remind the scouts that there would be a "photo op."

 

My observation was really that scouts will sometimes do something out of respect for or loyalty to a person that they don't necessarily see the value of doing otherwise. This is probably even more true when the person in question isn't Dad.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Hunt I like your idea. I would like to see a list developed.

1. BOR- maybe once per year

2. COH- quarterly

3. Guests at meeting- 2 x's per year

4. OA elections- 1 X per year

5. Leadership Requirement- Set the Example

6. Scout Sunday

7. Travel to and from Monthly campouts

8. Camporees- Flag times and gatherings

8. Travel to and from Summer Camp

9. Dinner and Flag lowering at Summer Camp

10.

[Hunt]

My idea is to be able to say, "Oh, no--uniforms aren't required at meetings of this troop--except, of course, everyone wears a complete uniform when.... because....." Maybe we could start a new group: the SUP, or Secret Uniform Police.

[click23]

10. Unit commissioner uniform inspection

[scoutingagain]

Some may not like this idea, but it worked.

 

We had a day outing last year to the science museum. Normally at a public outing like this we would get poor uniform participation, especially from the older scouts, who heaven forbid might be seen in public in a scout uniform. The committee offered to buy lunch for all scouts who participated in uniform. We had 100% uniformed participation.

 

SA

[EagleInKY]

Hey SA! Great thinking. I like that idea.

[SueM]

...just another reminder of how my boys are leaving for Summer Camp tomorrow and I would really like them to make sure to put their Class A shirt on if they stop and get out of the car anywhere (they will travel in their Troop T & pants) and how I know that none of my adult leaders who are going (I can't go!) will make sure that happens no matter what I "request" that they do!

[Lisabob]

I just returned from a few days at summer camp with my son's troop. They travel in class A. Most of them only own one pair of anything uniform-related and I tell you, it was a smelly car ride home after one of them took his shoes off in my car. I'm tempted to buy an extra couple pairs of socks and stash them in my glove box, to lend out to my car's passengers on future occasions.

 

But actually I was impressed by how many troops were in uniform on Friday night for flag retreat and the closing campfire. Now if we could also convince them to tuck in their shirts! What struck me as strange though was that there were a few troops where the boys were (mostly) in uniform and the adults were not.

 

As for older/younger scouts and uniforms, I've noticed that in my son's troop it is the younger scouts who are the hardest to get in uniform. None of the cub packs around here require full uniform so they're not used to it. They don't own most of the parts so the parents have to be convinced to purchase or otherwise acquire it. (we do our best to help them but sometimes they don't seem to want help) And 5th-6th grade boys are so image conscious. After about a year in the troop though, I've noticed most of the boys seem to change their mindset about the uniform. I've even heard the older boys coaching the younger ones on some choice rejoinders to be used in case they get teased about it at school! So I guess it is a troop culture thing and if you can get your older boys on board, the rest will follow - but it'll take a couple of years to work its way on down.

 

By the way my son told me the most effective thing for him at first was the fact that the SPL will not allow the troop to leave campouts until everyone is in full uniform. And on Sunday morning they really want to get home! Big incentive to make sure he knows where his belt and socks are. I'm not sure that's the best place to start but there's no question the youth leadership takes it seriously and that has a huge impact on those younger guys.

 

Lisa'bob

 

 

[SueM]

Lisabob,

 

....my SPL is the worst culpret! I had 22 boys going...21 showed up in our troop t-shirt..SPL was the only one NOT in a troop Tee..though it was at least a BSA Tee. His shirt is also always out and he gets annoyed at me when I tell him to tuck it! I'm really frustrated with things at the moment..I not only can't get past the current roadblocks..I seem to be going backwards...

[SWScouter]

Lisa'bob wrote, "Most of them only own one pair of anything uniform-related and I tell you, it was a smelly car ride home after one of them took his shoes off in my car."

 

Some of the adults have started to bring along a bottle of Febreez or whatever it's called and spray the scouts one by one as they enter their vehicle at the end of camp. It does help. I would have sprayed the socks myself.

 

SWScouter

[oldsm]

A few years ago my predecessor, in an attempt to get a dysfunctional unit back on track, worked through the troop committee to get the boys back into uniform. It gradually came to be understood that BSA policy is that you either wear the complete uniform, or none of it. And none was not an option.

 

It didn't take long before the boys started being recognized in the community and at district events for "looking sharp" and, more importantly, "acting sharp". There was a sea change in attitude and self-image. The troop has been called upon repeatedly by our Council to assist at a number of very public events.

 

The boys take great pride in their appearance and actions, and what they represent.

 

We have no problem getting boys to wear the whole uniform ("including scout underwear" -- joke!). If there's a lapse, the boys quickly correct it without any adult intervention.