Eagle Scout Badges

The badge design has changed over the years. There are currently eight major types. The first two types were issued on both tan khaki cloth and the uniform colors of the Sea Scouts - blue and white. Starting with the third design, considered to be the best looking Eagle badge, the badge had a finished edge for wear on any color of uniform.

• Type 1
• Type 2
• Type 3
• Type 4
• Type 5
• Type 6
• Type 7
• Type 8

• BSA Centennial
• Eagle Scout Centennial

Type 1: 1924-1932

This first cloth Eagle badge was made special for the BSA World Jamboree contingent to Denmark in 1924 and is the only one of the first type that has the "Good Turn" knot hanging from the "Be Prepared" scroll. This new patch was worn on the merit badge sash at the top. There are four background colors: coffee/tan, olive, white, and blue.

Type 2: 1933-1955

This patch had lettering added: "BE PREPARED" and "EAGLE SCOUT", "BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA" added. "BSA" was removed. The early patches were made with silk thread and about 1940 the thread was changed to cotton. The background material came in five colors: tan, olive, white, blue, and khaki.

Type 3: 1956-1972

With the new rolled edge, special backgrounds were no longer needed to serve the various scout programs.

Type 4: 1972-1974

The change in design corresponded to the change from 21 merit badges required for Eagle to 24 merit badges. Since the new design was not well received, it was short lived and changed quickly.

Type 5: 1975-1985

Apparently, due to the poor quality control, there are many variations of this design.

Type 6: 1985-1986

The 75th Anniversary of Scouting brought about a change back to a design similar to type 3 but with the border and eagle on the patch done in silver mylar and the motto in blue. The mylar eagle did not wear well so there was a another change after only 2 years.

Type 7: 1986-1989

Along with the eagle being changed to gray thread, the scroll was enlarged with a distinct sweeping curve and the letters "BE PREPARED" enlarged.

Type 8: 1989-Present

The removal of the silver mylar border is the only real change in this design.

Type 9: BSA Centennial (2010)

The year 2010 was added to the badge to denote the 100th anniversary of the BSA. I am proud to say that the 2010 rank designs used for both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts were designed by me. You can see my original drawings in

The 2010 rank designs used both in Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts were designed by Dr. Craig Murray. See below for a comparison.

• Murray Designs
  One can see that the Murray designs were accepted mostly as submitted -- the major difference is that National BSA reverted to the brown eagle on Boy Scout awards versus the bald eagle that was submitted.
• Official Designs

Type 10: Eagle Scout Centennial (2012)

In 1912, Arthur Rose Eldred became the first Eagle Scout. To celebrate that honor and because of the popularity of the Scouting rank badges for the 100th Anniversary, BSA created a special-edition patch for 2012.

Credits:

• Terry Grove. A Comprehensive Guide to the Eagle Scout Award, Twentieth Century Edition, Reliance Media, Inc. 2008.
• BSA Centennial Badges designed by Dr. Craig Murray
• Eagle Scout badges scanned from Ron Vinatieri's collection.