PROFICIENCY BADGES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXX, Issue 20165, 20 July 1935, Page 11

PROFICIENCY BADGES

THE CORRECT WAY TO WEAR THEM A question often asked by Scouts who have not been long in the movement is “Is there any official way of wearing Scout Badges?” Some fellows wear their badges anywhere on their arms. This is not correct. They should be worn in parallel rows between the shoulder and the elbow, and a badge should never be worn below the elbow, because when the sleeve is rolled up it will be hidden. Another trouble arises about actually sewing them on. ’Most mothers like to wash their son’s shirt every now and again, and if there are umpteen badges to take off first, and sew on again afterwards, it’s h bit of a job. To solve tlfe problem the badges can be sewn on strips of khaki which in turn can be sewn on the arms of the shirt. When the time comes for the shirt to be cleaned the Scout takes off the strips with the badges on and the shirt itself is washed. Later the strips are sewn on again. Then we come to the question of proficiency badges which are a qualification for the King Scout badge. The question is often asked, “Supposing I haven’t got all the badges for the King Scout, but just one—say the Cyclist—do I wear that on the right arm until I have all the others, and then transfer it to the left to surround the King Scout badge, or do I put it straight on the left arm in readiness for the others?

The answer is that these special proficiency badges go straight on the left arm, and stay there until they are joined by the King Scout badge itself. The only badge which may be worn on both arms is the Ambulance badge, which is invariably worn as the top badge nearest the shoulder, whether gained first or later. “If I earn both the Second Class badge and the Frst Class badge, do I wear them both?” Is frequently asked.

No, you do not. The Second Class scroll is already on the First Clas3 badge, and the former is therefore unnecessary.

Troop name tabs should be worn on the right shoulder only.

Shoulder-knots should be six inches long, and it might be as well at this juncture to say a word about Leaders’ and Seconds’ stripes. Stripes should be of white “braid,” three Inches long, and half an Inch wide.

The Tenderfoot badge should be worn by “all” grades of Scouts In uniform. In metal it Is slipped through the buttonhole of the left breast pocket, in cloth it is worn on the centre.