Square knot insignia

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Square knot insignia
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Square knot insignia are embroidered cloth patches that represent awards of the Scout associations throughout the world.

Contents

The Scout Association of the United Kingdom uses a "figure-eight" knot and many Scouting organizations of the Commonwealth countries follow suit. The World Organization of the Scout Movement uses military-style ribbons. The Boy Scouts of America a square knot made of colored ropes is depicted; the colors are generally dictated by the award the insignia is associated with. [1] [2]

History

In the earliest days of the Scouting Movement military veterans were urged into service as Scoutmasters. The first Scout uniforms therefore resembled military uniforms. It was common for these veterans to wear their military decorations on their modified Boy Scout uniform — a national uniform was not to be developed until the early 1920s. [2]

Military tradition dictated that the actual medal from a military award was only worn on ceremonial occasions — at other times, it was replaced with a thin ribbon bar with the same ribbon style as found attached to the medal. This carried over to Scouting, whose awards were medals, similar to the military, but were most often worn as ribbons.

The first country to switch over from military ribbons to a unique parallel was the United Kingdom, which introduced its knot emblems in 1922. [3]

Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America likewise moved away from allowing Scouters to wear military ribbons, but kept the style, introducing their own ribbons in place of medals in 1934. The BSA introduced its own square knot insignia in lieu of the military-style ribbons in 1947. The choice of the square knot as the common emblem was made by James E. West, who is said to have chosen it for its use as the knot associated with first aid, thereby reminding Scouts to continue to be of service to others. [2]

The first eight awards with square knot insignia in the BSA were the Eagle Scout Award, Quartermaster Award, Scouter's Training Award, Scouter's Key, Silver Beaver Award, Silver Antelope Award, Silver Buffalo Award, and Honor Medal.

Since the introduction of square knot insignia, over forty new awards have been added, then combined, and some retired. Currently, there are 32 nationally authorized square knot insignia representing various medals, medallions, certificates, plaques, and other awards.

There are a few cases of local Council-approved square knots and various popular unofficial or spoof knots.

In the BSA, square knot insignia are worn in rows of three across the top of the wearer's left pocket. Though there is no rule limiting the number of such insignia that may be worn, some suggest limiting to three rows of three. When fewer than three knots are worn in a particular row, knots are generally centered to the pocket, or the row below. [4]

Dates indicated in the chart below indicate the use of the square knot insignia for the particular award, and may not correspond to the history of the award itself. For example, the first Eagle Scout Award was presented in 1912, and there was a ribbon bar for it from 1934. It was among the first eight awards given square knot insignia in 1947, so that later date is indicated.

Achievement Awards

These awards are generally earned by the Scouts themselves.
These represent the highest youth rank or achievement in each respective program of the BSA.

Insignia Title Started Description
BSA Arrow of Light Knot.svg Arrow of Light (Cub Scouts)1979Highest rank of the Cub Scouting program (ages 5-11)
Eagle Scout Uniform Knot.svg Eagle Scout (Scouts BSA)1947Highest rank of the Scouting program (ages 11-18)
Eagle Scout NESA Uniform Knot.svg Eagle Scout with Life Membership in NESA 2008Indicates lifetime membership in the National Eagle Scout Association
BSA Quartermaster Knot.svg Quartermaster Award (Sea Scouts)1947Highest rank in the Sea Scouting program (ages 14-21)
BSA Venturing Silver Knot.svg Silver Award / Summit Award (Venturing)1999Highest rank in the Venturing program (ages 14-21)

Distinguished service

These awards are generally granted via nomination and review; they cannot be earned or applied for by Scouts or Scouters directly.

Insignia Title Started Description
KnotUnitLeader.jpg Unit Leader Award of Merit 2010Unit-level quality leader recognition award
KnotDistrict.jpg District Award of Merit 1971District-level distinguished service award
BSA Silver Beaver Knot.svg Silver Beaver Award 1947Council-level distinguished service award
BSA Silver Antelope Knot.svg Silver Antelope Award 1947Territory-level distinguished service award
BSA Silver Buffalo Knot.svg Silver Buffalo Award 1947National-level distinguished service award
KnotWorld.gif Silver World Award 1976International-level distinguished service award

Heroism

These awards are generally granted via nomination and review; they cannot be earned or applied for by Scouts or Scouters directly.

Insignia Title Started Description
BSA Medal of Merit Knot.svg Medal of Merit 1952Performed an act of service of a rare or exceptional character that reflects an uncommon degree of concern for the well-being of others.
BSA Heroism Knot.svg Heroism Award 1983Demonstrated heroism and skill in averting serious injury or saving or attempting to save life at minimum risk to self. Discontinued late 2012; reinstated February 2018
BSA Honor Medal Knot.svg Honor Medal 1947Demonstrated unusual heroism and skill or resourcefulness in saving or attempting to save life at considerable risk to self. Awarded with crossed palms for situations with extreme risk to self.

Leadership and training

These awards are generally earned by the Scouters themselves.

Insignia Title Started Description
BSA Cub Scout Den Leader Knot.svg Den Leader Training Award1989 
BSA Training Award Knot.svg Scouter's Training Award 1947 
BSA Scouter's Key Knot.svg Scouter's Key 1947 
BSA Commissioner Award of Excellence Knot.svg Commissioner Award of Excellence in Unit Service2011 
BSA Doctorate of Commissioner Science Knot.svg Doctorate of Commissioner Science2008 
BSA Philmont Training Knot.svg Philmont Training Center Masters Track Award2008 
BSA Professional Training Knot.svg Professional Training Award1980 

Specialized achievements

These awards are generally earned by the Scouts and Scouters themselves.
In one case (James E. West Fellowships) nomination by others is also possible.

Insignia Title Started Description
BSA Youth Religious Emblem Knot.svg Youth Religious Emblems [5] 1971 
William T. Hornaday Medal Uniform Knot.svg Distinguished Conservation Service Award2020Replaced William T. Hornaday Awards  
BSA James E West Knot.svg James E. West Fellowship1993 
BSA International Scouter Knot.svg International Scouter Award2002 
BSA New Unit Knot.svg William D. Boyce New-Unit Organizer Award2005 
BSA Alumni Award Knot.svg Alumni Award2011 

Specialized service recognition

These awards are generally granted via nomination and review; they cannot be earned or applied for by Scouts or Scouters directly.

Insignia Title Started Description
BSA Adult Religious Emblem Knot.svg Adult Religious Awards [6] 1973 
BSA OA Distinguished Service Knot.svg Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award 1976Distinguished service to OA
BSA Distinguished Commissioner Service Knot.svg Distinguished Commissioner Service Award1987Unit/district/council distinguished commissioner service
BSA Community Organization Knot.svg Community Organization Awards [7] 2002 
BSA Venturing Leadership Knot.svg Venturing Leadership Award 2004 
KnotService.jpg Scouting Service Award [8] 2017Incorporates - Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award, Scouting ... Vale la pena! Service Award, Asian American Spirit of Scouting Service Award, American Indian Scouting Association Grey Wolf Award, Special Needs Scouting Service Award

Discontinued

These awards have been completely discontinued or combined and represented by current award knots.

Insignia Title Started Ended Description
William T. Hornaday Medal Uniform Knot.svg William T. Hornaday Medals 19912020Superseded by Distinguished Conservation Service Award
KnotSkipper.png Skipper's Key19471949Superseded by Scouter's Key
KnotRanger1.png Exploring Ranger Award 19331951Superseded by "Ranger" bar
KnotAce.png Air Scout Ace Award19501954
KnotSilverI.png Exploring Silver Award19541958
KnotExplorer.jpg Exploring Awards Knot [9] 19541998
KnotSpurgeon.jpg William H. Spurgeon III Award [10] 19892007Recognition for individuals and organizations contributing significant leadership to the Exploring program [10]
BSA Scoutmaster Award of Merit Knot.svg Scoutmaster Award of Merit19872010Superseded by Unit Leader Award of Merit
BSA Scoutmaster Award of Merit Knot.svg Venturing Advisor / Varsity Coach Award of Merit19992010Superseded by Unit Leader Award of Merit
KnotPack.jpg Pack Trainer Award20062011Superseded by Scouter's Training Award [11]
BSA Cubmaster Knot.svg Cubmaster Award19892012Superseded by Scouter's Key
KnotCubScouter.gif Cub Scouter Award19892012Superseded by Scouter's Training Award
KnotCoach.jpg Den Leader Coach Award19892012Superseded by Den Leader Training Award
KnotWebelos.gif Webelos Den Leader Award19892012Superseded by Den Leader Training Award
KnotTiger.gif Tiger Cub Den Leader Award19922012Superseded by Den Leader Training Award
KnotMeany.jpg George Meany Award 19872011Incorporated in Community Organization Award
KnotSeabadge.jpg Sea Badge19892012Superseded by Seabadge Trident pin
BSA Asian American Scouting Service Knot.svg Asian American Spirit of Scouting Service Award 20032016Incorporated in Scouting Service Award
BSA Vale la Pena Knot.svg ¡Scouting...Vale la Pena! Service Award 20032016Incorporated in Scouting Service Award
BSA Whitney Young Knot.svg Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award 19892016Incorporated in Scouting Service Award
BSA Speaker's Bank Knot.svg Speakers Bank Award20072011Discontinued

The Scout Association (UK)

The British Scout Association introduced the idea of a cloth 'knot' insignia in 1922, modeled after the military use of ribbons to represent medals and other citations. Many of the Scouting organizations of the Commonwealth of Nations either copy the British system or simply use the British awards and insignia.

Gallantry

Insignia Title Started Description
KnotBronzeCross.jpg Bronze CrossYearDesc
KnotSilverCross.jpg Silver CrossYearDesc
KnotGiltCross.jpg Gilt CrossYearDesc
KnotCornwell.jpg Cornwell Scout Badge YearDesc

Meritorious Conduct

Insignia Title Started Description
KnotMedalMeritorious.jpg Medal for Meritorious ConductYearDesc
KnotCommendationMeritorious.jpg Chief Scout's Commendation for Meritorious ConductYearDesc

Service

Insignia Title Started Description
KnotSilverWolf.jpg Silver Wolf YearDesc
KnotSilverAcorn.jpg Silver AcornYearDesc
KnotAwardMerit.jpg Award for MeritYearDesc
KnotCommendationService.jpg Chief Scout's Commendation for Good ServiceYearDesc
KnotPersonalAward.jpg Chief Scout's Personal AwardYearDesc
KnotCommisionerCommendation.jpg Commissioner's Commendation AwardYearDesc
KnotLongService.jpg Length of Service DecorationYearDesc

World Organization of the Scout Movement

Insignia Title Started Description
Bronze Wolf Award Knot 2.png Bronze Wolf Award 1935The World Organization of the Scout Movement offers only one award to scouters, the Bronze Wolf Award and it is considered the highest honor that can be bestowed on an adult scout leader throughout the world. There is approximately one award given for every 2,000,000 scouts.

Further reading

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References

  1. "Guide to Awards and Insignia". Boy Scouts of America. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Square Knot Insignia used by the Boy Scouts of America". October 1, 1999. Archived from the original on May 14, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2007.
  3. Crowl, George (2005). Knot Awards of Non-US Scouting Associations (11 ed.). Jersey Village, TX. p. 5. Retrieved March 27, 2022.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. "In the Loop: A Guide to Square Knots and How to Wear Them". October 20, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  5. As of March 2018, there were 36 religions and denominations that sponsored religious emblems programs for youth, many with different emblems for different ages of youth. This knot represents any of those.
  6. "Adult Religious Awards". US Scouting Service Project. As of March 2018, there were 34 religions and churches or denominations which sponsored awards for adult service to scouting in that faith. This knot represents any of those 34 distinct awards, which are not offered by scouting, but by the church or religion itself.
  7. "Community Organization Awards". Boy Scouts of America. As of March 2018, there were 20 secular community orgaanizations which sponsored awards for adult service to scouting in that organization. This knot represents any of those 20 distinct awards, which are not offered by Scouting, but by the community organization itself.
  8. "Scouting Service Award Combines Five Awards into One Cool Square Knot". February 17, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2017. As of March 2018, there were 5 distinct awards represented by this knot, each focused on service to a particular, traditionally under-served demographic: African-American, Asian-American, Latino-American, Native American, and Special Needs youth.
  9. This knot has represented several different awards, many overlapping: Silver Award 1954-1986; Ranger 1978-1996; Ace 1978-1996; Explorer Achievement Award 1986-1995; Young American Award 1995-1996; Exploring G.O.L.D. Award 1995-1998.
  10. 1 2 "William H. Spurgeon Award" (PDF). Exploring. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  11. "Update on Training Awards for Adult Unit Leaders". jayhawkcouncil.org. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020.