BSA and the use of Kilts as Part of the Uniform?

[Colonel MacNeal]

While we have differing opinions on who should take a pill, sticking to the accepted uniform has a positive effect on the units that choose to follow the guidelines.

I also hope you aren't using the kilt for the entertainment factor. I believe a kilt is, or at least should be, a normal everyday clothing choice.

A metaphorical pill.

[Bugbear]

Welcome.

[Flag Folder]

A Warm and Sunny Welcome from the High Desert of Southern California!



You're off to a good start here.

[lethearen]

There seems to be a a fuss sorting in my hometown as to Boy Scouts and Venture Crews wearing Kilts with their Boy Scout/Venture Crew Shirts... and just basically the wearing of a Kilt by a Male Member.

Who else is supposed to wear a kilt if not a male?!

I wasn't a member of the Scouts, per se, but functioned as an adult leader a while back. Only saw one person in a kilt at the time (another adult leader), and all the boys loved it. No one else really cared. I think they were more concerned about the idea that one of the leaders might possibly be... gasp... gay!

I wish you luck in getting your town set straight!

(edit: the potentially gay leader wasn't the one wearing the kilt)

[McFarkus]

Welcome from Chicago.

[cavscout]

The lady with the issue about kilts can't see past her own self-righteousness and displays here own ignorance. Debating her is a waste of time. She has every right to take her son to a troop they like, and I'm sure everyone will be happier if she does just that.

The Scots heritage in Scouting is un-deniable and there is no reason it shouldn't be honored. However, since the BSA has not officially accepted the kilt as a uniform item, at a minimum, the troop should vote to adopt it as the troop uniform. The only valid point anyone in the comments had was that a uniform should be uniform for everyone. It's not a uniform if it's not uniform for everyone in the troop. In the military, when we were main side we all wore the same uniform but when we went to the field, it was more relaxed and if you wanted to wear a black poly-pro t-shirt under the BDU's instead of the GI Black cotton t-shirt it was fine. If you wanted to wear a hydration system while others carried canteens, fine. But when we went back main side, all that stuff got put away and we wore the same uniform items.

I think bringing kilts into a troop as things stand today needs to be done in a respectful and professional manner. I would not want an adult leader suddenly showing up and making any "statements" about politics, religion, or social issues in the BSA environment and I can understand how a parent might perceive it this way. Considering the insane crimes against children by people in leadership roles, my childs well-being is not worth giving another adult the benefit of the doubt when they suddenly show up doing, saying or wearing something out of the "norm". Don't freak out, we have to look at this from the un-knowing parents point of view. Not everyone has decided to accept kilts as a mans garment and us ramroding kilts down their throats is not the way to help them accept it.

The idea of a kilt should be proposed to the troop leadership, the boys and the parents. All discussion allowed and it would be good to actually assemble a budget and a mock up or a full uniform with the kilt to show how it would actually look and perform so there is no gray area on what a parent will have to buy, or the child will wear and demonstrate how the troop will look in mass. Then a vote can happen and the decision should be honored by all, no matter the outcome. If the decision cannot be accepted, that person should maturely move on to another troop where they will be happier.

I'm not saying the council will not have an issue with it, but, if the entire troop decides that the troop will adopt it, the council likely will not have much issue with it.

[Mark Keeney]

The Scots heritage in Scouting is un-deniable and there is no reason it shouldn't be honored. However, since the BSA has not officially accepted the kilt as a uniform item, at a minimum, the troop should vote to adopt it as the troop uniform. The only valid point anyone in the comments had was that a uniform should be uniform for everyone. It's not a uniform if it's not uniform for everyone in the troop.
I think bringing kilts into a troop as things stand today needs to be done in a respectful and professional manner.

The idea of a kilt should be proposed to the troop leadership, the boys and the parents. All discussion allowed and it would be good to actually assemble a budget and a mock up or a full uniform with the kilt to show how it would actually look and perform so there is no gray area on what a parent will have to buy, or the child will wear and demonstrate how the troop will look in mass. Then a vote can happen and the decision should be honored by all, no matter the outcome. If the decision cannot be accepted, that person should maturely move on to another troop where they will be happier.

I'm not saying the council will not have an issue with it, but, if the entire troop decides that the troop will adopt it, the council likely will not have much issue with it.

Look folks, I wish it were different but a kilt is not correct in the B.S.A.. You can't vote in a Scout Troop. Wishing doesn't make it so.
From the Official uniform guidelines
"No alteration of, or additions to, the official uniforms, as described in the official publications, or the rules and regulations covering the wearing of the uniform and the proper combinations thereof on official occasions, may be authorized by any Scouting official or local council or any local executive board or committee, except the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America after consideration by the Program Group Committee"

[Spartan]

Look folks, I wish it were different but a kilt is not correct in the B.S.A.. You can't vote in a Scout Troop. Wishing doesn't make it so.
From the Official uniform guidelines
"No alteration of, or additions to, the official uniforms, as described in the official publications, or the rules and regulations covering the wearing of the uniform and the proper combinations thereof on official occasions, may be authorized by any Scouting official or local council or any local executive board or committee, except the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America after consideration by the Program Group Committee"

A key here is the definition of "official occasions." I would understand that to include at least Courts of Honor and the like.

As a former Boy Scout Leader I remember having trouble getting boys into proper uniform pants at all. I know one of our local leaders who is regularly kilted when working with his Troop. Maybe some of our kilted BSA Leaders on the forum could share their experience.

Now that I'm not registered with the BSA I'm thinking that maybe I should get a McLaren tartan kilt in honor of my service with the BSA. Having completed Wood Badge, I am qualified to be an honorary member of the Clan MacLaren Society.

[MuffinMan]

While I do wear kilts on outings, I don't mix the uniform in town, after all you are supposed be an example and wearing the proper uniform is what we need to do. In Venture as you know there is no uniform police just the group's vote. There are alot of kilted ventures, its one of the perks.

MM

[Mark Keeney]

A key here is the definition of "official occasions." I would understand that to include at least Courts of Honor and the like.

As a former Boy Scout Leader I remember having trouble getting boys into proper uniform pants at all. I know one of our local leaders who is regularly kilted when working with his Troop. Maybe some of our kilted BSA Leaders on the forum could share their experience.

Official occasions = Troop meetings, any traveling, Courts of Honor, any outing that doesn't require special clothing (swimming).

Kilts are allowed in Scotland and Ireland. That may be the reason they were seen at a Jamboree.

The uniform is one of the methods of scouting. If boys are expected to wear them, they will. In the troop I was a leader, a boy had to wear a complete "Class A" uniform to get a Board of Review, even on a camp out.

Some troops choose not to follow the guidelines and only require the shirt and usually a neckerchief. And you will notice they are usually the ones who show up to the flagpole looking sloppy and they have absolutely no pride in their uniform.