First Ranger Award, 1944-1949

Our Country was made great by strong and fearless men - men pushing through forests, over mountains, across prairies and deserts; men canoeing and rafting the rivers, crossing lakes, portaging through the wilderness to other rivers, other lakes - opening up the country for those who followed.
Today there are new frontiers - different frontiers. Some of them, uncharted or unknown, you will discover for yourself. High adventure still awaits young men fired with the explorers' spirit. Explorer Scout Manual, 1946

Similar to what might be said for today's Venturing RANGER Award, these words helped inspire Explorer Scouts to earn the first Ranger Award between the years 1944-1949.

Explorer Scouts had been an approved program since 1933 but it was in 1944 that along with a new distinctive uniform color, a new advancement program was developed.

The new uniform would be a forest green uniform with brown on green unit numbers and community strips. A brown tie would be worn with the uniform. Prior to 1944, Explorers had worn the regular khaki scout uniform and had often been part of a troop. Even if they were not part of a Boy Scout Troop, they were referred to as an Explorer Troop. Now they would form units called Posts.

Ranks

The program was set up with four levels of outdoor advancement: Apprentice, Woodsman, Frontiersman, and Ranger.

First Ranger

The Ranger Award was earned by 2,782 Explorers between the years 1944-1951. The program actually ended in 1949 but there was a two year grace period for those continuing with their advancement on the Ranger award.

In 1950, the square knot was introduced which allowed recognition of the Ranger award concurrently with any recognition. This square knot was issued for only two years and is very rare.

Comparison of Ranger and Silver Awards

In 1950, a new Exploring program debuted and requirements for Ranger were folded into the new Silver Award. Exploring's advancement trail vanished in the 60s, as the program focused more on special interests and careers. However, when the BSA launched Venturing in 1998, a new advancement program was introduced, and Scouts could once again earn the Ranger Award.

Both the Venturing Ranger and Silver Awards of today came from designs, names, and concepts similar to the Explorer Ranger and Silver Awards of yesteryear. Below are all the badges and medals associated with these two sets of awards, past and present.

Comparison of Ranger Awards

Earlier Award	Today's Award
The Explorer Ranger Medal was issued between 1946 and 1951.	The Venturing Ranger Medal was first shown in 1998. However, it could not have been earned until 1999.
The Explorer Ranger Badge was used for normal uniform wear and was issued between 1944 and 1949. The badge was centered on the left pocket.	The Venturing Ranger Bar is intended for normal uniform wear. The First Ranger Bar was available between 1998 and 2001. In 2001, the bar was redesigned. The Ranger Bar is centered on the left pocket flap.
The Explorer Ranger Square Knot was issued between 1950 and 1951. The Ranger program had been officially discontinued in 1949 but Scouts could continue to work on the Ranger Award until 1951. The square knot could be worn by both youth and adults. After 1951, the square knot was only available in stock that remained. Beginning in 1954, if you earned the award but did not have the square knot, you wore Silver Award knot pictured below on the yesteryear side.	There is no square knot for this award today.

Comparison of Silver Awards

Earlier Award	Today's Award
This Explorer Silver Medal was issued between 1954 and 1965 and is referred to as the second type. The first type was issued from 1950 to 1953. The design is completely different. After 1958, Explorers discontinued their advancement program and only Air Explorers were able to earn this award which lasted through 1965.	The Venturing Silver Medal was first available in 1998. Both the Venturing Explorer and Silver awards require that a Bronze and Gold award be earned first.
The Explorer Silver Badge was used for normal uniform wear and was issued between 1954 and 1965. The badge was centered on the left pocket.	The is no equivalent badge. The Venturing Silver Square Knot is intended for normal uniform wear by youth, see below.
The Explorer Silver Square Knot was used for normal uniform wear by adults and was issued between 1954 and 1998. This square knot is used for holders of the Silver Award, the earlier Air Ace Award and Ranger Award, and the later Explorer Achievement Award and Exploring G.O.L.D. Award. Youth would wear the square knot for the Explorer Achievement Award and the Exploring G.O.L.D. Award.	The Venturing Silver Square Knot is intended for normal uniform wear by youth and adult. The Venturing Silver Square Knot was first available in 1999.

Credits:

• Explorer and Venturing badges are scanned images from the collection of Dr. Craig Murray