Square knot insignia
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Square knot insignia are embroidered cloth patches that represent awards of the Boy Scouts of America and Scout associations throughout the world. The insignia depicts a square knot made of colored ropes; the colors of the ropes and the background are generally taken from the represented medal or the program level. Confusingly, newer insignia may not use an actual square knot but are still referred to as such; the Silver World Award insignia is a blue globe with stars on a background of read and white stripes. Some may not have an accompanying medal; medals for the Cub Scout awards were discontinued in 2001 and the District Award of Merit has a plaque but not a medal.
[edit] History
In the earliest days of the American Boy Scouting movement, many military veterans found themselves pressed into service as Scoutmasters or Commissioners. The first uniforms of the BSA resembled and in many cases were hand-me-down military uniforms. Some Scoutmasters chose to wear their military decorations on their modified Boy Scout uniform -- a national uniform would not be developed until the early 20s and distributed nationally by the first part of the 1930s.
In the military, a small section of the award's ribbon, was cut and attached to the uniform through a thin bar. These small representations would be worn in rows by Soldiers, Sailors and Marines entitled to or honored with the particular decoration. A military member would wear the ribbon during "non-formal occasions" and replace it with the actual medal or medallion during field days or formal balls or other recognition events. The BSA created special ribbons for wear to symbolize Boy Scout participation, service, tenure and exceptional merit. There were also ribbons created for the BSA's Eagle Scout Medal and Honor Medal (for saving life) and created its own "hierarchy" or wearing sequence for those ribbons on the uniform. In the middle 40s, however, many in the BSA complained about uniforms which resembled military uniforms and sought a new solution -- its own "ribbons".
[edit] Not just any knot...
The new ribbons -- eight of them initially -- represented the various national awards available at that time: the Silver Beaver Award; the Eagle Scout Award; the Scouters' Key Award; the Scouters' Training Award; later to be joined by the Quartermaster Award; the Silver Buffalo Award; the Honor Medal; and the Merit Medal. Later in the decade, a ninth one to represent the Silver Antelope Award was created. The "ribbons" took the form of a woven square knot woven on the standard Boy Scout khaki background (see illustrations). The color of the knot was taken from the color(s) of the corresponding ribbon of the award -- for instance, the Eagle Scout Medal features a red, white and blue ribbon; the Eagle Scout square knot is a red, white and blue; the Scouters' Training Award had a plain green ribbon; the knot emblem likewise displays a plain green square knot. (Since the early 50s, a narrow white band appeared on the Training Award ribbon; the knot emblem has not been changed to reflect the ribbon change and remains to this day totally dark green.)
The actual reason why the square knot- and not a sheet bend or bowline - was chosen is rooted in the history of the BSA. The first Chief Scout Executive, James West, decided to end the long tradition of allowing BSA Scoutmasters and Commissioners to wear military medal ribbons and other military-looking ribbons to represent Scouting awards. It is rumored that he chose the square knot as the emblem to represent the Eagle, Scouters' Key and Scouters' Training Award, and the Silver Beaver (the first awards for Scouters to wear) because the square knot would remind Scouters to continue to be of service to others. The square knot, of course, is the knot associated with first aid. So, with different combinations of rope colors, and later with different background colors, the square knot became Scouting's "informal ribbons" representing national, regional, local Council, and eventually unit awards.
There isn't any written confirmation of the above, but this description and reasoning has been published in previous editions of _Scouting_ (the BSA's official magazine for volunteers and other adults).
In 1941, the BSA issued notice to the field that all ribbons would be removed and replaced with the new "square knot insignia" representing the award. There was an exception to allow military veterans and active personnel to continue to wear a ribbon representing their highest military decoration with the Boy Scout "square knots".
[edit] More knots, please...
By 1952, two more square knot emblems were developed and sent to the field: the Skippers' Key Award for completion of training and service by Sea Scout Skippers was introduced in 1947 and discontinued by the end of 1948, and another for the new Silver Award medal for Explorers, now referred to as "Silver Award Type I," that was to replace the Air Scout Ace and Explorer Scout Ranger recognitions in a newly merged Exploring program. (Sea Scouting and Sea Exploring have maintained the Quartermaster Award continuously since it was created.)
Within the next three years, additional knot emblems were created to represent holders of the Air Scout Ace and Explorer Scout Ranger Awards within the Senior Scouting program that ended around 1950. In 1954, a second version of the Silver Award was created and all previous Exploring Award holders had the option of continuing to wear their existing knot emblem or wear the new Silver Award emblem (referred to now as the "Silver Award Type II"). Over the years, this same square knot emblem has come to represent a total of seven older-youth awards through the Boy Scouts of America. Today the emblem may be worn (with a small device if the holder has such an item) either of the first two versions of the Silver Award, the Air Scout Ace Award, the Explorer Scout Ranger Award, the Explorer Achievement Award, the Exploring Growth Opportunity in Leadership Development (G.O.L.D.) Award, or a local Council or National Young American Award.
In 1962, an overhand knot ("half of a square knot") emblem was designed for those holders of a District or Division Award of Merit. The justification in the design is that a local Council consists of two or more Districts; in order to tie a square knot, one must perform two "ties" -- left over right and then right over left. It is one of a few "knot emblems" which does NOT feature a literal "square knot." Others are Sea Badge, a knot-sized emblem that instead of a knot shows an embroidered trident, and the Silver World Award, which shows a globe against a background of red and white horizontal stripes. In addition, there are notable awards that do not have corresponding knots at all: women who were recognized with the Silver fawn Award wear the same knot as Silver Beaver recipients, and two awards, the Venturing Ranger Award and the Youth Leadership in America Award use the top bar of the medal instead of a knot emblem. There are no knots approved for the Varsity Scout Denali Award, the Venturing Quest Award, or the Venturing TRUST Award, but the Venturing Silver Award has its own distinctive knot design, referred to as the "Silver Award Type III."
In 1972, a square knot emblem was developed for adults who have earned the Arrow of Light or the WEBELOS Award, Cub Scouting's highest rank as a youth member. In 1973, square knot insignia was made available to youth and adult members who have earned or were recognized with a religious emblem or medal. In the early 80s, the BSA discontinued training awards for Cub Scouting leaders and created six "service awards" for Cub Scouting leaders holding various positions -- including one which would could be received by parents involved in their son's Cub Scouting program for two years or more. Each of the awards were presented with a certificate, and a distinctive ribbon from which hung a heavy Cub Scout medallion. The weight of the medallions was a turn off to many Cub Scouters, and the BSA in the middle 90s decided that they would no longer issue the medallions but continue to present the knot emblem and certificate to those Cub Scouters who met the requirements.
[edit] No More Military Medals
The largest change to the existing 26 square knot emblems came in 1976. That year, the BSA's National Executive Board decided that military awards and medals had no place on the BSA's uniform -- even if the medal or award was for Scouting service. The BSA changed their uniform policies to restrict the wearing of military medals or awards; or ribbons or devices on the uniform -with one exception: Explorers would continue to be able to wear military-style ribbons designed by the Supply Division to meet the needs of Law Enforcement, Aviation and outdoor Exploring programs.
The other large change was that the previous "wearing sequence" would be removed. Scouts and Scouters (adult volunteer and professionals) would be able to wear the square knot insignia in any order the wearer chose. They did not have to wear the Eagle knot "in a higher position" or "on top of" training award knot emblems, for instance.
In the middle 80s, the BSA created the first of two Professional Training Awards and in 1991, created a special black and white square knot emblem for wear by professional members who have completed the requirements for their training award. A device to be attached to the knot emblem would further recognize those few professional members who have completed additional requirements and attained a high degree of service at the local Council level. That same year, the then-Chief Scout Executive lifted a longtime "unwritten policy" and encouraged professionals to wear all of the various knot emblems -- with a special emphasis on those which volunteers can earn and receive -- on their field uniforms. This small decision helped ease the growing rift between professional members -- who had uniforms which resembled models from the BSA's supply catalogs (with very little insignia on them) -- from the volunteer counterparts, who had uniforms which resembled in some cases third-world generals or admirals.
In 1994, recognizing a growing problem in some areas whereby key volunteers were donating large sums of monies in order to be recognized with a Scouting decoration, the BSA created the James West Fellowship Awards. Initially, in order to become a James West Fellow, one must donate at least $1000 in addition to any Friends of Scouting or Sustaining Membership Enrollment donation to a local Council. In exchange, the volunteer would receive a special lapel pin, a certificate and a restricted James West Fellowship square knot emblem. The award program took off, and soon the BSA had to create additional devices for the West Fellowship award emblem which recognizes the donation of $5000 and $10,000. In addition to the uniform items, West Fellows are given special passes to local Council and national Scouting events and are frequently asked to chair finance and endowment programs at the local or regional levels.
The same year that the West Fellowship Award was announced, an enterprising firm created a spoof of the West Fellowship called the "Big Money Knots." For $1, $5, and $10 each, Scouters who could not afford the larger amounts could wear a special bronze, gold or silver Mylar-threaded knot emblem (unofficially, of course) on their uniform shirts. Several local Councils purchased and resold the "Big Money Knots", making money for their local Councils until the BSA told them to stop.
[edit] Today
There are some 40 square knot emblems which have been officially created by the Boy Scouts of America's Supply Division to represent international, national, regional and local Council awards; to recognize personal achievement and leadership; to honor those who save the lives of others or who performed other meritorious acts of service to or for others; for training and tenure as a volunteer or professional; and for supporting the Boy Scouting programs in the United States and Scouting programs around the world.
The Exploring Division went away in the late 90s replaced by the Venturing Division and the Learning for Life Corporation. The current Venturers may wear BSA insignia; the former Explorers now called "Exploring participants" within the Learning For Life/Exploring program do not wear BSA uniforms nor insignia. The ribbons and bars for Law Enforcement Exploring moved with the rest of the program to Learning for Life. In the meantime, six ribbons representing the five Bronze Awards and the Gold Award in Venturing were created. These ribbons are worn above any "square knot insignia" on the field uniform and are removed when the Venturer earns the Silver Award, which has its own square knot emblem.
[edit] I have to earn my ( )Knot...
It is important to note that the square knot emblem is NOT the actual award but REPRESENTS the patch, medal, medallion, certificate, plaque or trophy item which is earned or presented to the youth member, volunteer or professional. It is also important to note that there currently exists only ONE version of the official square knot insignia, which is the insignia designed for wear with the current Boy Scout field uniform (a khaki-tan colored shirt). There are firms which have attempted to create versions for the Venturing green shirt and the white Sea Scouting shirt, but there is a clear difference between the ones designed by the BSA and those "unofficial versions").
There are some 15 or so other "unofficial knot emblems" which were designed by former or present volunteers to denote achievements which the BSA states are already recognized through the wearing of a special pin, device or patch. An example of this is a "knot emblem" to represent the BSA Lifeguard Award, a patch which is worn on the swim trunks of the holder.
More information on how the square knot is worn and what each of the various cloth knots represent may be found at a number of websites. The BSA's official website does not have a complete listing and refers people either to the U.S. Scouting Service Project, Inc.'s website or to the "Badge and Uniform Site" which has a listing of both official and unofficial knot emblems.
(some information used from the U.S. Scouting Service Project, Inc. and their family of websites with permission from webmasters)
[edit] Knots of the Boy Scouts of America
[edit] Wearing Knots
Knots are worn in rows of three across the top of the wearer's left pocket.
When less than 3 knots are worn in a particular row, knots are generally centered to the pocket, or the row below them.
- Two Knot Example:
- Single Knot Example:
[edit] Knots earnable by youth in the BSA
[edit] Boy Scouting
[edit] Eagle Scout
[edit] Cub Scouting
[edit] Arrow of Light
[edit] Exploring/Venturing/Sea Scouting
[edit] Explorer Silver Award (1954-1958)
[edit] Explorer Achievement Award (1977-1995)
[edit] Exploring G.O.L.D. Award (1995-1998)
All use the same knot:
[edit] Explorer Silver Award (1949-1954)
[edit] Air Scout Ace Award (1940-1950)
[edit] Explorer Ranger Award (1933-1951)
[edit] Venturing Silver Award (1998-present)
[edit] Venturing Leadership Award ( - )
[edit] Sea Scout or Sea Explorer Quartermaster Award
[edit] Any program
[edit] Youth Religious Emblem
[edit] Awards presented to the youth of the BSA
[edit] Any program
[edit] Heroism Award
[edit] Honor Medal
[edit] Medal of Merit
[edit] Order of the Arrow
[edit] OA Distinguished Service Award
[edit] Awards presented to the adults of the BSA
[edit] Any program
[edit] Silver Beaver Award
[edit] Silver Antelope Award
[edit] Silver Buffalo Award
[edit] District Award of Merit
[edit] Adult Religious Emblem
[edit] Awards earnable by adults in the BSA
[edit] Any program
[edit] Scouter's Key
[edit] Scouter's Training Award
[edit] James E. West Award
[edit] George Meaney AFL-CIO Award
[edit] William Hornaday Award
[edit] Whitney Young Service Award
[edit] William D. Boyce Award
[edit] Vale La Pena Award
[edit] Asian American Award
[edit] International Scouter Award
[edit] Silver World Award
[edit] Distinguished Commisoner Service Award
[edit] Community Service Award
[edit] Boy Scout Leader
[edit] Award of Merit
- Scoutmaster Award of Merit
- Varsity Scout Coach Award of Merit
- Venturing Advisor Award of Merit
[edit] Cub Scout Leader
[edit] Cubmaster Award
[edit] Cub Scouter Award
[edit] Webelos Den Leader Award
[edit] Cub Scout Den Leader Award
[edit] Pack Trainer Award
[edit] Tiger Cub Den Leader Award
[edit] Exploring/Venture/Sea Scout Leader
[edit] William H. Spurgeon III Award
[edit] Sea Badge
[edit] Professional Scouter
[edit] Professional Training Award
[edit] Other nations
 Malaysia Senior Troop Leader |
[edit] External links
- U.S. Scouting Service Project, Inc.'s website A page from their advancement area has most of the knot emblems listed.
- Square knots and How to Wear them These pages explain, with full color scans of the actual knot emblems, how to wear them and how they are earned or received.
