Insignia Guide: Medals and Embroidered Knots
Wearing medals and embroidered knots
Only five medals may be worn at a time pinned in a single row immediately above the seam of the left pocket. Knots are worn above the left pocket in rows of three. The order of wearing of medals and knots is at the discretion of the wearer. It is suggested that the medal or knot deemed most important by the wearer be worn on his or her own right. Embroidered knots are representative of pin-on medals or around-the-neck awards and are designed for the convenience of the wearer. In the case of the District Award of Merit and Professional Training Award, the knot is the only wearable insignia. The knots are listed here in alphabetical order.
The loop of the embroidered square knot that comes in front of the standing part is always to the wearer's right. In knots where both strands are the same color and therefore difficult to distinguish which strand comes in front, use the above drawing to determine wearer's right. Knots are worn with the distinguishing color (not white) toward the wearer's right.
- Arrow of Light Award, cloth, red and green knot, green to right, No. 05018, Scouter only, above left pocket.
- Asian American Spirit of Scouting Service Award, green and white knot on purple, No. 11-505; may be worn by any Scouter presented with the award, above leff pocket.
- William D. Boyce New-Unit Organizer Award, cloth, gray knot, gold, green, and red embroidery, No. 14269, Scouter, above left pocket.
- Community Organization Award, cloth, goldknot, purple twill, restricted. Available from the Relationships Division. Scouter, above left pocket.
- Cubmaster Award, cloth, blue knot on yellow, No. 05022, Cub Scouter, above left pocket.
- Cub Scout Den Leader Award, cloth, gold knot on blue, No. 05016, Cub Scouter, above left pocket.
- Cub Scouter Award, cloth, blue and gold knot on dark blue, No. 05017, Cub Scouter, above left pocket.
- Distinguished Commissioner Service Award, cloth, silver knot on red, No. 05019, Scouter, above left pocket. The primary award is a plaque (unit plaque, No. 17608; district plaque, No. 17609; and council plaque, No. 17610) with a metallic medallion: silver for council commissioner and assistant, No. 00747; gold for district commissioners and assistants and roundtable commissioners, No. 00748; and bronze for unit commissioners, No. 00749.
- District Award of Merit, cloth, silver overhand knot on dark blue, ends down, No. 05013, district Scouter, above left pocket.
- Eagle Scout Award, cloth, red, white, and blue knot on tan, No. 05011, Scouter, above left pocket.
- Explorer Achievement Award, cloth, silver knot, red, white, blue embroidery, No. 05526. This was awarded through the Exploring Division prior to becoming a part of Learning for Life. Individuals who earned the Ranger, Air Scout Ace, First Silver, Second Silver, Explorer Achievement Award, Young American Award, Exploring Gold Award, or G.O.L.D. (Growth Opportunity in Leadership Development) Award may wear this knot. All awards must have been earned prior to August 1998. Current Scouter, above left pocket.
- George Meany Award, cloth, blue knot on red and white, restricted, Scouter, above left pocket. Available only from the Relationships Division.
- Heroism Award, cloth, red on white twill, No. 05020, member of the Boy Scouts of America who has received this award or its predecessor, the Certificate for Heroism, above left pocket.
- Honor Medal, cloth, red knot on tan, No. 05010, member of the Boy Scouts of America, for saving life, above left pocket.
- Hornaday Award, cloth, blue, green, and white knot on tan, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, Venturer, or Scouter, above left pocket. Available only from the Boy Scout Division.
- International Scouter's Award. Embroidered white and purple square knot, purple worn to the right above the left pocket. Available to Scouters on a restricted basis from International Division at the national office.
- Medal of Merit, cloth, gold and blue on tan, blue to right, No. 05025, member of the Boy Scouts of America for meritorious service, above left pocket.
- Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award, cloth, white knot on red, No. 05528, Scout or Scouter, above left pocket.
- Pack Trainer Award, cloth, royal blue and bright yellow on yellow background, Cub Scouter, above left pocket.
- Professional Training Award, cloth, black knot on white, Scouter, above left pocket. Available only from the Professional Development Division.
- Quartermaster Award, cloth, navy blue knot on white, No. 05009, Sea Scout or leader, above left pocket.
- Religious emblem square knot*, cloth, silver knot on purple, No. 05007, may be worn by youth or adult members who earned the knot as a youth member, above left pocket. Cloth, purple knot on silver, No. 05014, may be worn by adult members presented with the recognition, above left pocket. Adults may wear both knots if they satisfy qualifying criteria.
- Scouter's Key**, cloth, green and white knot on tan, green to right, No. 05006, Scouter, above left pocket.
- Scouter's Training Award**, cloth, green knot on tan, No. 05008, Scouter, above left pocket.
- ¡Scouting ... Vale la Pena! Service Award, gray and gold knot on red, No. 11-515; may be worn by any adult volunteer or Scouter presented with the award, above left pocket.
- Scoutmaster Award of Merit, cloth, white knot on tan, No. 05001, Scouter, above left pocket.
- Seabadge, cloth, blue Neptune's trident on silver, No. 05527, Sea Scouting leader, above left pocket.
- Silver Antelope Award, cloth, gold and white knot on tan, gold to right, No. 05012A, regional Scouter, above left pocket.
- Silver Beaver Award, cloth, blue and white knot on tan, blue to right, No. 05003, council Scouter, above left pocket.
- Silver Buffalo Award, cloth, red and white knot on tan, red to right, No. 05004, national Scouter, above left pocket.
- Silver World Award, cloth, red and white stripes, world, two stars are worn to the wearer's right, No. 05019, international Scouter, above left pocket. Available only from the office of the Chief Scout Executive.
- Tiger Cub Den Leader Award, cloth, orange and black knot on gold, No. 17688, Cub Scouter, above left pocket.
- William H. Spurgeon III Award, cloth, gold knot, forest green twill, No. 05021. This was awarded through the previous Exploring Division. Although the award is still in the inventory, it may be worn only by Scouters who earned the award prior to August 1998. Current Scouter, above left pocket.
- Venturing Advisor Award of Merit, cloth knot, white on tan, No. 05001, above left pocket with Venturing device, No 00940; certificate, No. 25-014.
- Venturing Silver Award, cloth, silver knot on green and white, green background to the wearer's right, No. 05027, above left pocket.
- Webelos Den Leader Award, cloth, gold knot on yellow, No. 05064, Cub Scouter, above left pocket.
- James E. West Fellowship Award, square knot, lapel pin, available from the Supply Group. Cloth, green and gold knot on tan, above left pocket, No. 05026, Scout or Scouter, lapel pin, No. 00129.
- Whitney M. Young Jr. Award, cloth, black and white knot on tan, No. 05027A, Scouter, above left pocket. Available only from Scoutreach Division.
* The miniature device worn with the youth religious emblem square knot indicates emblem(s) earned as a youth. Wear Cub Scout device, No. 00926, first-level emblem (God and Me, Maccabee, etc.) earned as a Tiger Cub or Cub Scout; Webelos Scout device, No. 00932, for second-level emblem (God and Family, Parvuli Dei, Faith in God, Light of the World, Aleph, etc.) earned as a Webelos Scout; Boy Scout device, No. 00927, emblem earned as a Boy Scout; and/or Venturing device, No. 00930, emblem earned as a Venturer or older Boy Scout or Varsity Scout. Only one knot is worn, but any combination of devices may be worn on the same knot.
** The Scouter's Training Award and Scouter's Key may be earned in several program phases. More than one knot of the same kind is not to be worn. Rather, the miniature devices--No. 00926, Cub Scouting; (if earned prior to December 31, 1988) No. 00927, Boy Scouting; No. 00928, Varsity Scouting; No. 00931, Sea Scouting; No. 00871, commissioner; No. 00872, District Committee Member; and/or No. 00930, Venturing--are worn on the knot to designate the phase(s) of the program in which the award or key was earned.
Insignia Guide
