Uniforms

Every scout needs two uniforms. One is the traditional Class A uniform, and the other is the so-called Class B uniform, which is actually just the Pack t-shirt.

Scouts wear a uniform to promote camaraderie and to show off their personal achievements. The uniform also teaches the value of being neat in appearance and encourages good behavior.

Unfortunately, for parents new to Scouting, the uniforms (especially the Class A uniform) can be a challenge to figure out and acquire. This page will help you navigate the challenge!

‘Class A’ Uniform

This is the formal uniform that is worn at all pack meetings, some den meetings (ask your den leader), and at various times during campouts and overnights.

In Pack 421, the following official Class A uniform components are required:

• uniform shirt with required patches (all grades)

• webbed belt with buckle (grades K-3rd only)

• neckerchief & neckerchief slide OR cap (grades K-4th only)

The best place to buy Class A uniforms is in person at the Steve Matthews Scout Store, located at 12500 North IH 35, near the intersection of Parmer Lane & I-35. Tell the clerk your scout’s grade level and they will help you get the right items for that grade level. The clerk might ask about certain patches needed for the uniform, such as your scout’s pack number and den number. Scroll down to the Patches section below for this information.

NOTE: Our pack does not require the official uniform shorts, pants, skirt, or socks. Many scouts like how these items look and will want wear them anyway. Feel free to buy them (the Scout Shop often offers promotions when buying with a shirt), but in Pack 421 it is acceptable for Cub Scouts to wear any suitable bottoms with the Class A uniform shirt and belt.

NOTE: Scouts in grades K-4th should wear a neckerchief OR a cap OR both! These colorful items are important because they allow us to see at a glance which den the scout belongs to. As of Fall 2024, there is no neckerchief or cap for 5th grade (the plaid neckerchief and cap are now intended for 4th grade only).

NOTE: Fourth grade is a transition year from the blue shirt to the tan one. If you have a 4th grader with a blue Class A uniform shirt that still fits, he/she should continue to wear it throughout the 4th grade year; however, if you find yourself needing to buy a new uniform shirt for your 4th grader, then buy the tan one because it can also be used in 5th grade and beyond. All 4th graders should wear a Webelos plaid neckerchief or cap, no matter which color shirt they have.

‘Class B’ Uniform

The Class B “uniform” is just the Pack 421 t-shirt with the snow yeti design on it. It should be worn at all Scouting activities whenever the Class A uniform is not required. The t-shirt can be purchased in-person at the first few pack meetings or from our Pack’s online store. Online t-shirt purchases can normally be picked up at the next pack meeting, but contact our treasurer to confirm.

PUT YOUR SCOUT’S NAME ON EVERYTHING!

Pack closet: The cost of uniform pieces can add up. Our pack keeps a limited supply of hand-me-down pieces available on a first-come basis. Look for the pack closet at the first few pack meetings each year, or reach out to a pack leader for more information.

Sizing (buy large!): When buying a uniform shirt new, it is best to buy a slightly larger size so that your scout can continue to grow in it for a couple of years. This is especially true for scouts entering K/1st grade and 5th grade because the uniform shirt that a scout starts wearing in those years can be carried forward several years if the scout does not outgrow it.

Avoid buying Class A online: It is possible to buy Class A uniform components online from the national BSA Scout Shop website, but this is not recommended. It can be tricky to find the right items for your scout’s grade level. When you buy from the local Scout Shop a clerk will help you, and it is possible for your scout to try on the items in a fitting room. But, perhaps the best reason to buy from the local Scout Shop, is that the uniform shirts already come with several required patches sewn on for you, including one (the council shoulder patch) that is not usually available online (so you’d end up having to go to the local Scout Shop anyway).

Uniform Patches

Required patches for K-5th grade uniform:

• Unit number patches (white on red): 4, 2, and 1

• Den number patch (for the blue 1st-4th grade shirt only, these den numbers are for grade levels as of the 2024-25 year):
  ▪ 1st grade = “Den 9”
  ▪ 2nd grade = “Den 8”
  ▪ 3rd grade = “Den 7”
  ▪ 4th grade = “Den 6”
  ▪ 5th grade = n/a (den number not worn on tan shirt)

• Council shoulder patch for the “Capitol Area Council” (this patch is already sewn on when the uniform shirt is bought from the local Scout Shop)

• World Crest patch with optional ring (this patch is already sewn on when the uniform shirt is bought from the local Scout Shop)

• American flag (this patch is already sewn on regardless of where a uniform shirt is purchased)

In addition, required for 4th & 5th grade uniform:

• Adventure Colors pin (this is a metal pin with three colored ribbons, scroll to end of page to see a picture of the Adventure Colors pin)

Sewing on patches 🧵

Click here to see correct placement for all patches (pdf)

The best way to attach patches to the uniform shirt is the old-fashioned way: sewing them on by hand with a needle, thread, and thimble—or with a sewing machine. Using “invisible” thread (available from JoAnn or Michaels) and a wide stitch pitch (5-7 stitches per inch) works best.

If sewing is not your thing, you can have the local Scout Shop sew on badges for a small fee. Be sure to ask how long it will take because they send it out and sometimes it takes a week or two to get the completed shirt back.

Iron-on adhesives such as Badge Magic (and similar products) are sold in the Scout Shop and online as an easy way to attach patches without sewing. Many parents use this method, but like all shortcuts it comes with a tradeoff: After a while, the patches can start to lift at the edges and then additional work is then required to keep the shirt looking good. Also, if an ironed-on patch has to be removed (e.g., when the scout transitions from 5th grade to a Middle School-level BSA troop), the adhesive may leave a stain or permanent residue on the shirt where the patch used to be.

⚠️ Beware: Most patches come with a plastic backing that is meant to provide structural rigidity. This backing should not be mistaken as a built-in way to attach the patch to a shirt. If you try to melt the included plastic backing using an iron, the patch might start to stick after a really long burn, but it will fall off in the next wash.

Adventure Loops & Pins