Interpreter Strips
Description: Strip which displays or which has in text form the language in which a Cub Scout, Boy/Varsity Scout, Explorer, or Scouter is familiar with. "Familiar with" is defined by several BSA publications as being able to demonstrate speaking the (sign) language for a five-minute or more period of time; being able to translate into American English that (sign) language for a five-minute or more period; being able to read and write in that language or in the case of American or Enhanced Sign Language, being able to spell words and basic phrases.
Specificially, here are the requirements from an older version of the BSA's Boy Scouts Requirements booklet; the requirements have not changed:
- Carrying on a five-minute conversation in the language
- Translating a two-minute speech or address
- Writing a letter in the language (does not apply to sign languages)
- Translating 200 words from the written word
The requirements are verified by the unit leader, after recieving sufficient evidence of the Scout/Explorers/Scouters' ability to read/write/speak/understand the language. The unit leader or representative should note the personal achievement on the BSA Advancement Report for youth or on the BSA Training Report for adults and submit to the local Council for posting. The unit leader, representative, or in the case of adults, the adult involved may purchase or order the strip and wear it on the uniform in the place shown below:
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The strip is worn on the right side of the Cub, Scout, Explorer or Scouter field uniform above the "Boy Scouts of America" strip. In the case of Explorers wearing a "Distinctive Dress Identity" (DDI), it is worn as prescribed by the Post or Ship bylaws with adults wearing the strip on field or Sea Exploring uniforms as shown above.
How Do We Earn It?
Most Cub Scouts, Boy/Varsity Scouts and Explorers earn an interpreter's strip in one of three ways: Their parents speak a language in addition to or other than American English; they learn how to speak a language or how to use American or Enhanced Sign Language in school or through Scouting or other agency; or they have lived overseas in a country for several years and had to learn the language on their own.Most adults earn an interpreter's strip by working or living overseas as part of business.
In most local Councils, there is no formal application which is to be completed. In some local Councils, a special Interpreter Strip application is made available for filing within the unit's records at the local Council.
Here are a collection of strips, provided by Don De Young (Thanks, Don!):
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| Interpreter Strips | More Interpreter Strips |
Here are some other strips from my personal collection. From top to bottom, these strips represent:
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Sign Language Korean Hebrew Japanese Interpretation French Southern Drawl (note that Southern Drawl, while it may be a different language, is not considered an official BSA Interpreter Strip....however, it may be worn with approval by a Council Scout Executive) Spainish German Bengali Japanese |
"What's the difference between the red strips and the tan strips...are the red ones for Explorers and the tan ones for Scouts?"
Nope. The background of the strip has NOTHING to do with which program members get to wear it. The strips were originally all red, as shown below. In 1990, the BSA decided to once again try to blend the color of the various patches in with the shirt so that from a distance, it looks like it was "pre-sewn" into the shirt. EITHER VERSION may be worn, although the red ones do stand out a bit more against the tan khaki shirts. However, the older red interpreter strips are getting a little hard to find.
"How do you get a strip for a language that's not common, like Russian or Croatian"??
The BSA's Supply Division maintains strips on 40 languages, I'm told. If your local Council does not have a particular language, they can request two from the BSA's Supply Division at the National Office, local Councils that have significant numbers of youth representing that ethnic group, or from the Direct Service Council, which maintains in their office suite within the National Office some 40 or so interpreter strips from languages around the world.
If the language is not available, the Supply Division will authorize a local Council to order it as long as the Scout or Scouter is willing to pay for the strips. The strips run currently about $1 per strip.
In 1990, the BSA changed the background and text color of the strips from the red and white strips to a khahi-tan and red strip to better blend into the Boy/Varsity Scout and Scouter field uniform. Either strip may be used and worn, as long as it is worn in the same location shown above. Additionally, there is no prohibition on wearing more than one (however good uniforming suggests that Scouts and Scouters keep the number of strips worn to no more than three on a uniform shirt). (Note: I will add to this page the khaki-tan strips with red lettering as I get the newer strips.)
Because the Boy Scouts of America is located within the United States, there is no "American English" strip; I have seen ONE "British English" and one "Queens' English" (with the word "English") strip before...if you have one, I would love to trade you for it.
There are other languages with Interpreter Strips...if you have one, and don't mind sharing it with me and everyone around the world, please post me and tell me about it. I'll add it here and credit you with the submission.
The Interpreter strip is an important communications award for Scouts, Scouters and Explorers. For many, it represents a closer tie with their family and heritage. For some, it gives an additional form of service at the community, local Council, and National levels, for many interpreters are requested by community service agencies, by local Councils and by the BSA to work at special events, encampments and programs. It is not a "gimme" award but something that each person wearing the strip should be proud of.
Of course, when the Scout or Scouter feels that they can no longer understand or speak that language satisfactory, they should remove the strip and save it as a personal memory item. It does nobody any good at all when a person speaking German comes to you and you cannot understand them clearly enough to understand that they need emergency help or that they require assistance in some other way! This is why even though I have earned a Sign Language strip in the middle 80s, I do not wear it on my field uniforms because I feel that I am not strong enough as an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter.
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