Q. Dear Ray,
I am a troop committee member as well as a OA Vigil Honor member. I recently was designated as the OA troop representative adviser for my troop. The requirements for this position state that the scouter may be either an assistant unit leader or committee member.
I see that there is an OA adviser patch for assistant Scoutmasters. Is there a patch for OA adviser on the troop committee? I have not been able to find any information about this. Thank you for your assistance.
Yours In brotherhood,
Walter
A. Dear Walter,
There is no patch for an OA adviser who is a member of the troop committee. If the Scoutmaster appoints you to the position, he does so making you part of the program delivery, so it would be appropriate to wear the assistant Scoutmaster patch while you serve in that critical role.
Many assistant Scoutmasters are also registered as troop committee members, so this is not unusual at all.
My suggestion is to operate in both roles, but wear the assistant Scoutmaster patch for OA, because the youth you are advising will be wearing his OA troop representative patch and you can quietly support him by showing your commitment to his success by wearing a similar insignia.
Thank you for your question.
Ray