Uniforms and Patches

My previous outposts were in "military" towns, so I went to local thrift stores. Always piles of appropriate-sized khaki shirts and pants for a dollar each. I didn't like paying through the nose for GPH uniforms that never seemed to match up color-wise.

Claymore wrote:If you are willing to go with short-sleeved shirts, you can go to ebay and do a search for U.S. Navy or Marine Khaki Shirts.  You can often find them in near-new condition for $2.00 to $4.00 each.

I think we are going to go with the short sleeved shirts and if they want, they can put a long sleeved shirt underneath for cold weather.

Of course with reduced prices, some boys could end up getting a long sleeved set up too.

Claymore wrote:If you are willing to go with short-sleeved shirts, you can go to ebay and do a search for U.S. Navy or Marine Khaki Shirts.  You can often find them in near-new condition for $2.00 to $4.00 each.

You can also find old Ranger shirts on Ebay for low prices & reconfigure the patches to the new set up.

That's how I have uniformed many of our Rangers in the last few years

We don't use the "New Setup".

Commanders and Patrol Leaders have their pins on their collars. I would still use the merit ribbons on the chest, if I could find the darned things.

Saw a good many on ebay today, but might not be enough to use for the whole outpost...

Claymore wrote: I would still use the merit ribbons on the chest, if I could find the darned things.

Why not try high school ROTC ribbons? They've got so many, you might be able to find the right colors.

The OLD merit ribbons had symbols and depictions showing what the ribbon represented, so I don't see how a generic ribbon would work.

Yes, they can sometimes be found on ebay, but not with the availability/reliability that it would take to support an Outpost (even a small one).


Nice thought, though!

Yeah, you're talking about the old, blue and white plastic ribbons. Much more preferable than anything that came later. But they looked too military. Can't have that, you know.

I love seeing the pictures of the original uniforms. The commanders and national staff looked like legit officers and the boys like troops! I'd love to see some of that return. And what boy wouldn't want to feel like a soldier?!?

I was a Commander in Milwaukee, when we had the OLD uniforms with the Merit Ribbons for the boys.

They wore their Khakis every meeting, unless they were going to do something rough or physical that week.

As soon as they got together for Opening Formation, they were checking out each others' chests to see who got another merit finished.

The two leaders in merits were my son (Commander's kid) and a boy who was Home-Schooled. His mother used the Ranger Handbook as part of her Curriculum.

It was about an even tie. Each boy would earn a merit about every two weeks. One week, my son would be in the lead, and the next week the other boy would catch up or get in the lead.

Good Incentive!

Claymore wrote: they were checking out each others' chests to see who got another merit finished. Good Incentive!

My older son was in a group of highly-motivated and highly-competitive TrailRangers. He and two others earned the GMA at the same time. I was the senior commander then, and the ceremony was pretty awesome. We had the whole Sunday evening service. Gold medals on the silver anniversary of the outpost. And one of the Buck men, of Buck Knives fame, presented engraved knives to them. Newspaper photographer, too.

Of note: California's regulations and taxes later drove the whole Buck Knives operation to Idaho.

As far as too military I think the new color merit ribbons from Marriott look more so than the old blue n white ribbons I wore. I loved seeing the merit on the ribbon though but using all cloth ribbons allows boys to wear merit ribbons plus other medal ribbons like Jr Ldr service, DR medals, RK GTA, Valor, courage, etc. to allow for a visual the vest with a merit and patch was offered. Before that an awards vest was just a mere suggestion without any guidlelines. Since we began using the word "Merit" most people would think scouts and expect a badge.

Yes I will agree. The stamped ribbons were cool 6 rows of 3 across made my chest puff out for sure.

I got to the point that I liked the colored ribbons with a numeral on it where we libraried the numbers. Changing them out as new ones were added. It saved the wear and tear on changing out brackets on the uniform. I liked these things for COA time and we also had every wed night all in full class b Dickies. and SA and BR in their uniforms. It was cool to see a average of 65 men and boys in uniform. We were a flag ship outpost at that time.

The awards vest is ok. I never put much work into one.

I have an COA uniform with do dads all over it. I then have a field uniform that has only the insignias on it as they get used and a do dad uniform would be a disaster being used on a weekely basis.. Yet we do a lot of hands on stuff so it depends on ones outpost and their activities for sure.

I used to have long sleeve old work shirts around for the folk to put on when we were painting or crafting something. I always seem to bump up against something and get paint on me.

Mark Jones

I wear a outpost tshirt and blue jeans most of the winter months. Summer months it's shorts and outpost tshirt.

I wear my field uniform on most outings and events. It's a tactical modern shirt and nylon hiker pants close to the same color.

I like the new shirts and hate the new pants.

Mark Jones

Got my old TrailBlazer handbook in today. Not only shows the advancement requirements for chevrons, but also shows all of the ribbon bar ribbons for merits. Very cool stuff. Wish they would bring that stuff back.

If you go to camporama 2016 check out the rr museum in the JB lodge you'll see old uniforms with chevrons. Blue ones too!

Last time I drove to JB's gravesite. It has impressive marble headstone.

I look forward to seeing that

Lookup Maple Park Cemetery

Check out pics here www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=20764196&PIpi=30914758

I just found my link to directions to the stone isn't working... I will fix that tonight.

Mark Jones

RRCmdrBennett wrote:Lookup Maple Park Cemetery

Check out pics here www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=20764196&PIpi=30914758

Went with old fashioned Dickies shirts for our outpost meeting uniforms and everyone seems to really like them. I honestly like the Dickies shirt a whole lot better than the utility shirt that RR peddles. The utility shirt just seems too flimsy and doesn't stay tucked in at all because of the type of fabric it is. I wore that shirt for three years and hated it every week! Plus having to role the sleeves in the summer months was a pain, especially if you want it to look half decent.

The Dickies shirt just feels more like a legit uniform to me. The only thing that isn't perfect about the new shirt for me is that in order for it to fit my broad shoulders, it's a little baggie as it goes towards my waist. Probably just going to have it tailored to fit properly.

We also went with a khaki belt instead of black, which looks really good with the navy blue slacks and khaki shirt... Kind of like Marines. Shhhh. Don't tell anyone. We might be accused of looking too military!

Phillip Gross wrote:Went with old fashioned Dickies shirts for our outpost meeting uniforms and everyone seems to really like them. I honestly like the Dickies shirt a whole lot better than the utility shirt that RR pedals.

Beats the snot out of that French Painter's Smock that D.M. was peddling.

Agreed. It might be fine for out in the woods, but not for an outpost meeting uniform shirt, IMO. Just looks sloppy. Of course for those who only wear t-shirts for outpost meetings it may seem like a step up, but I don't think so. And it didn't seem to hold up well to the riggers of young rangers. Just too flimsy.

Just realized that I need to get a new photo for the forum avatar. I'll try to get that soon!