Years of Service Awards

Years of Service Awards are cloth patches that, after the first year of membership, display numerical figures on the patches that correspond to the number of years of service that a scout has completed.  The Service Square Knots are made with a red, yellow, green, or khaki cloth background to indicate Otter/Chipmunk, Timberwolf, Pathfinder, or Rover service, respectively.

All scouts, including adult leaders, may instead choose to wear a single Service Square Knot with a khaki background and a number representing their total overall number of years of service in Outdoor Service Guides.   Service Square Knots are worn above the right breast pocket or, with jerseys, in a similar position. On the rover or pathfinder uniforms they should be placed above the organization name strip. Otters and Timberwolves wear them just above their WFIS patch. 

Members

OSG members may wear a single Service Square Knot to indicate their length of service in the Section (Chipmunk/Otter,Timberwolf, Pathfinder, or Rover) in which they are currently serving.  It must have a background of the appropriate section-specific color and must be changed on the completion of each year’s service to reflect the newly updated number of years of service. Members may also wear badges that reflect years of service in previous years from other sections.

Otters and Chipmunks

Otters and Chipmunks will wear a knot on a red background with a number reflecting their total years of service as an otter/chipmunk. These red patches can also be used to reflect years as a chipmunk, or years as a chipmunk and otter combined. 

Timberwolve

Timberwolves will wear a knot on a yellow background with a number reflecting their total years of service as a timberwolf. They may continue to wear a red knot that reflects the total number of years they served as an otter. 

Pathfinders

Pathfinders will wear a knot on a green background with a number reflecting their total years of service as a pathfinder. They may continue to wear a red knot that reflects the total number of years they served as an otter and a yellow one with the number of years as a timberwolf. 

Rovers

Rovers will wear a knot on a khaki background with a number reflecting their total years of service as a Rover. The  Rover will continue to wear a square knot with red background showing the total of any Otter and a  knot with yellow background showing the total Timberwolf  years of service, and a green knot reflecting total years as a Pathfinder in addition to the  knot with a khaki background showing the total of any Rover years of service.

 Adult leaders

Adult leaders may wear the khaki service badge reflecting the total number of years served as a leader. This Service Knot must be changed each year to show the updated total number of years of service. 

All Members

Any member may choose to wear only the khaki badge reflecting their total years of service in OSG for all levels of service. 

Method of recognition

Service of more than one kind, performed at the same time, may only be counted for one Service Square Knot.  Service for members is measured from the date of investiture in each section; in the case of adult leaders wishing to wear khaki Service Square Knot, from the date of their earliest investment in any section.

Where a year’s service is composed of different kinds of section membership, not performed at the same time, but for different periods (such as spending part of a year in each of two sections), that service which is performed for the longest period shall be recognized as a complete year of service for the purpose of Service Square Knots.

The recognition of service for the purpose of Service Square Knots and the application of the above rules are generally not affected by any transfer between units.

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