Oscar De La Renta died

[desertrat77]

As a scout in the '70s, I wore the green uniform of the era. Not great, not bad. Nothing to write home about.

 

Then the ODLR was adopted in the '80s. Kind of pricey. Not particularly rugged. Nor comfortable. More suited for indoor activity. I disliked them for many years. Wore it faithfully in town. In the field, a '50s era uniform from the thrift store worked best.

 

Well, perspective is everything. The Centennial uniform made me eat my words about the ODLR. By comparison, the ODLR was darn fine!

 

Enjoying the discussion about uniform psychology. I've since retired from the military, after 30 years on active duty. Many hours and brain cells spent on uniforms, enforcement of regulations, drafting standards, etc.

 

I'll spare everyone a potentially long screed on the subject, but I'll offer this: If a uniform a) looks dumb and b) does not withstand the rigors of the profession, folks won't wear it properly, nor with pride, and it will get a bad rap from wearers and observers alike.

 

You can't overlook public perception. While you may be a truly dedicated scout/scouter, and wear whatever uniform National fields with pride, the public gets a vote. If the BSA uniform makes the wearer look like a nerd/circus tent, it will impact recruiting, fundraising and civic support in general.