New Uniform Shirt Coming -- September 2009 (No Joke)

[Billiken]

On Saturday, Feb 21, Tico Perez, National Commissioner for the BSA, spoke (and taught) the Cleveland Council's Baden Powell Institure (Univ. of Scouting).

He announced that there will be some upcoming modifications to the current unform shirt (due out in September 2009).
The basics that I heard (second hand) are:

First: Apparently ladies are having trouble with the new bellows-style breast pockets.
The pockets gap or bag out because of women's breasts.

Second: The front left breast pocket has an inner sleeve for a pen.
The pocket chamber size is reduced and sewing on badges of rank is apparently very difficult.

Third: The "technology pocket" on the left sleeve may be discontinued.

[wagionvigil]

[Quailman]

Second: The front left breast pocket has an inner sleeve for a pen.
The pocket chamber size is reduced and sewing on badges of rank is apparently very difficult.

The first thing I did was to use a seam ripper to eliminate that seam - on my son's shirt so that I could sew his rank patch on, and on my shirt just so I could use the pocket.

[biglou]

Ok, This might be the million dollar question. What about the patch placement on the left sleeve? Is that going to go back to the old way with the TRAINED strip below the position patch or is the new patch placement with the TRAINED above the position patch going to stay? I did not think the bellows pockets were going to stick around. Just curious as to what other changes to the uniform they are going to make.

[lifescoutforlife]

Taking the pocket off the sleeve should make everyone happy.

[kwildman]

You would think that someone would have "field tested" these new uniforms before making these changes to begin with. There was also no button under the left pocket so if you wanted to wear your Powder Horn award you had to sew it in.

I think this is bad for any of the new scouts or webelos that bought these shirts because they will be discontinued before they outgrow them. Troops will now have potentially 3 different uniform shirts within them...doesnt really promote uniformity.

[wagionvigil]

But they will soon be a collectible

[smtroop168]

It doesn't matter since uniforms aren't required anyway.

[kwildman]

Waigon - collectible? Hold your breath or they will be switching every year to increase sales. We just had the kickoff to our 100th year celebration. They had kids dressed in the uniforms from every era until present. I can see it now... "and from 2008 to 2009 the uniform consisted of...."

It doesn't matter since uniforms aren't required anyway.

I am missing something here. Uniforms are required for all divisions of scouts. Venturing youth may determine what their uniform is but they are still expected to be "uniform".

[wagionvigil]

No uniforms are not required except for a National event such as a Jamboree. We have discussed this before. I think it should be stated that it is but sadly it is not.

[biglou]

Is the National Office going to be taking suggestions for the next version of the "Centennial Uniform"? I kinda like the idea of the pocket on the left sleeve, the only thing that I would suggest would be adding velcro to that spot for the position patch. It would make things easier for those sewing their patches on. I did not like the belows pockets on the chest. I did not think that would last long. I would like to see them bring back the wool/poly, the 100% cotton, and poly/cotton uniform options. I like the cotton for summer.

[alex gregory]

Do we get out money back?

[FrankJ]

Do we get out (sic) money back?

No.

[alex gregory]

Our troop is still in transition to the new "official" uniforms, and Cross-over is in a few weeks. We're basically at 10% unemployment, and now we are supposed to shell out $40 for a shirt that won't be around a year from now. Nice.

[smtroop168]

Our troop is still in transition to the new "official" uniforms, and Cross-over is in a few weeks. We're basically at 10% unemployment, and now we are supposed to shell out $40 for a shirt that won't be around a year from now. Nice.

The "new/old" shirt doesn't go away. Scouts will be able to wear it as they can the "real old" shirt for as long as they are servicable.

[joat]

... and now we are supposed to shell out $40 for a shirt ...

No one has to buy a shirt. If you don't have one, you may buy one. There's no need to buy extras. And the price isn't $40 anyway, shirts are $24.99.