Uniform Knots
How Are These Awards Worn?
The square knots illustrated on prevoius pages (and others which are presented by local Councils or by other national Scouting organizations) are worn only on the field uniform of the Cub, Scout, Explorer or Scouter earning/receiving the award.
�As a general rule, the knots are NOT worn when the medal, medallion or device is worn...the knots are designed for informal, everyday wear by the Scout or Scouter. �Using common sense, however, it is OK to wear both the knots and the medals if you only own one uniform, although this would be considered in poor taste. �
Also considered poor taste is the wearing of more than 15 square knots, even though the uniform shirt can accommodate up to 18 emblems. �This has NOT stopped many Scouters that have received more than this number in wearing the ones that they choose to.
There is NO wearing sequence for the square knots; each Scout or Scouter can decide to wear or not wear the knot(s), can wear a few or all of the ones he or she has received or earned, and in the order and manner on the uniform that they choose to do so. �However, in order to provide some form of uniformity, the BSA's Uniform and Insignia Committee has come up with a wearing arrangement for the knot emblems on the field uniform. �It is illustrated below:
Illustration of how to wear square knots
The knots are worn centered on the left side of the uniform, above the left pocket and in rows of three with the bottom edge of the knot emblem(s) touching the top edge of the pocket flap. Subsequent rows of knots are placed above the initial set, in rows of three and again, at the discretion of the wearer.
In the past, professional (career) Scouters did NOT wear volunteer training awards or other awards for anything other than achievement and training. �However, a recent message from the past Chief Scout Executive, Ben Love, to the professional cadre reversed that "unwritten policy" and encouraged professional members of Scouting to wear all of the square knots that they are entitled to wear. � A longstanding restriction in allowing exceptional professionals to receive the Silver Beaver and District/Division Award of Merit Awards as well as several other service awards was also lifted. �Now, if a professional is nominated for a BSA service or tenure award, in addition to the approval of the local Council's Scout Executive, the award must also be approved by the Director of Operations at the National Office, BSA.
Explorers wearing "Distinctive Dress Identity" (DDI) should wear the knot emblems on the tan or kelly green field uniforms in the same manner. �It will look very funny to wear emblems with a tan background on the kelly green uniform, but the BSA is no longer creating special versions of the most common knot awards with kelly green, blue or white backgrounds for the Explorer uniforms.