Let us consider the Scout Uniform. Baden-Powell said, "the uniform makes for brotherhood, since when universally adopted it covers up all differences of class and country." The uniform is one of the Eight Methods of Scouting: "The uniform makes the Scout troop visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community. Scouting is an action program, and wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Scout's commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. The uniform gives the Scout identity in a world brotherhood of youth who believe in the same ideals. The uniform is practical attire for Scout activities and provides a way for Scouts to wear the badges that show what they have accomplished." Uniforms are important parts of sports and occupations. If you are playing a sport and show up with a partial uniform, your coach may or may not let you take the field and compete. Occupations have uniforms as well. Beyond the dictated dress of the military, police, and fire fighters, other jobs have a standard of dress commensurate with professional expectations and safety requirements. Doctors and nurses wear lab coats and scrubs because they shield them from biohazards and are easily laundered. Construction workers wear hardhats and steel-toe boots to protect them from occupational hazards. Some white-collar jobs demand suits and ties to adhere to a sense of professionalism. As you don your Scout uniform for a meeting or event, I ask you to consider your commitment to looking professional and being safe. Is your uniform complete? Is it clean and relatively free of wrinkles, or does it look like it was balled up on the floor of your room since the previous meeting? Do you have the right footwear on to perform the planned activities, be it a hike or an end-of-meeting game? Does your appearance contribute to the reputation of the Troop or does it deter? Set high standards for yourself and do your best to meet them.
A Scout is Loyal.