What? -- The World Crest Patch - Optional

[Billiken]

I discovered this week that the World Crest emblem is optional.

The Inisignia Guide uses the term "...may be worn above left breast pocket."

I mentioned to our SPL that it was missing from his uniform shirt.
One of my SAs told me that it's not mandatory.

Can anyone think of a reason why it's optional.
(IMHO, I think it should be mandatory.)

[scouter01]

for poeple who dn't know what it is *looks guilty*






hmmm. that is odd. i have mine on my uniform.

[Hubert]

I thought they came on the uniform already...hmm. Why would this not be required? It binds us as scouters and scouts...hmm.

[jr56]

I think the only thing that comes already on the uniform is the American Flag.
Since the entire uniform is "optional" from what other posters have stated, I would guess that the univeral emblom is optional also.

[Quailman]

I thought they came on the uniform already...

Another reason that scouts should sew thier own patches and not rely on someone else to do it for them. They'd know that only the American flag and the Boy Scouts of America come preattached.

[jr56]

Excellent point, I always do all of my own sewing.

[Quailman]

As do my boys, but when they first joined, I set them up. Though they sew on MB, rank and POR patches, they'd think the shirts came complete with council strips and unit numbers if they weren't so crooked.

[Hubert]

I thought they came on the uniform already...

Another reason that scouts should sew thier own patches and not rely on someone else to do it for them. They'd know that only the American flag and the Boy Scouts of America come preattached.

I do some now, but when I first joined, it was done for me, and I have this uniform for years now! So I have yet to get the chance to "make one from scratch"

[Quailman]

As do my boys, but when they first joined, I set them up. Though they sew on MB, rank and POR patches, they'd think the shirts came complete with council strips and unit numbers if they weren't so crooked.

In re-reading this, I feel I need to clarify something. It's the patches that I sewed on, and not my sons, that are crooked.

[spl08]

Maybe it's because scouting is unique to every nation in what it standardizes and in what it feels should be unique to their uniform to make it their own? Don't really know.