National Honor Patrol Award

(Formerly called the Baden-Powell Patrol Award)
The BSA established the Baden-Powell Patrol Award at the insistence of Bill "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt. Hillcourt wanted a special award to recognize patrol team building and togetherness. In the past, Patrols were identified with special banners proclaiming them as "Honor Patrols" but that really did not mean much to the members other than yet another thing to carry around on their Patrol flag or display in their Patrol room. Hillcourt wanted something meaningful which could be added to the Patrol medallion, to remind members that they have earned it together as well as to provide a simple way for the award to be displayed on the field uniform. After much discussion within the Boy Scout Division, Hillcourt got his way and the Award, named for the founder of Scouting, was brought out in the start of the 1986 program year. In 1999, the name of the Award was changed to National Honor Patrol Award for some reason, not made clear.

The National Honor Patrol Award is an embroidered star worn beneath the patrol medallion, and will spotlight a patrol as a high-standard group. Help your patrol become a National Honor Patrol.

The Award is a small yellow star on a khaki green background. It is designed to be worn in one place: around the Patrol medallion. The location - top, bottom, side - does not matter as long as it is attached to go around the Patrol emblem. In uniforming, you should have your patrol medallion touching the US Flag at the top, with room at the bottom for the star. In home units, the Quality Unit Award then goes below the star. Once earned, as long as the person is a member of that patrol, it is worn continuously. When a member changes Patrols, he removes the Patrol medallion and the Star(s).

The National Honor Patrol Award is given to patrols whose members make an extra effort to have the best patrol possible. Your patrol can earn the award by doing the following over a period of three months.