The purpose is to invest a new member as a Scout in the Worldwide Brotherhood of Scouting.

The investiture is probably the most important ceremony in your young members’ Scouting experience , for it is in this ceremony they make the Scout Promise to the Troop Scouter. In turn, the Troop Scouter pledges to help the Scouts do their best to keep the Promise, setting up a personal bond between them. For this reason, only the Troop Scouter invests Scouts.

Investiture is a special occasion for Scouts. Encourage them to invite family members to the ceremony if they wish.

Recruits who are not being invested remain with their patrols and stand fast during the ceremony. Bring the troop to the alert in the horseshoe formation. Scouts who will be invested stand with their patrols next to their patrol leader.

The Troop Scouter stands in the centre of the open end of the horseshoe with his Scout Counsellors in line abreast, one pace behind. A patrol leader or another Scout stands off to one side with the troop flag, ready to bring it in. (If the flag is dedicated, it must have an escort.)

Troop Scouter: “Colour Party, present the colour.”

At this command, the troop salutes and the colour bearer marches on with the flag at “carry” to take up a position one pace to the left of the Troop Scouter facing the troop. The flag bearer may either keep the colours at “carry” or return them to “order.”

As soon as the colour bearer is in position, the Troop Scouter returns to alert, and the troop follows suit.

The patrol leader now brings the recruit into the horseshoe and stops one pace in front of the Troop Scouter.

Patrol Leader: “Scouter I present (recruit’s full name), who wishes to be invested as a Scout.”

Troop Scouter: “Thank you patrol leader.”

The patrol leader takes one step back.

Troop Scouter: “(Recruit’s given name), do you know the Scout Promise and Law?”

Recruit: “Yes sir.”

Troop Scouter: “Can I trust you, on your honour, to do your best to live up to the Scout

Promise?”

Recruit: “Yes sir.”

Troop Scouter: “Troop, Scout Sign!” (Only invested Scouts make the sign. The recruits, having been briefed beforehand by their patrol leaders, stand fast.)

At this command, every invested member of the troop, except the colour bearer, makes the Scout Sign. The colour bearer turns right and, keeping the flag gathered, lowers the troop colours between the recruit and the Troop Scouter. The Troop Scouter and recruit grasp the colours with their left hands and make the Scout Sign with their right.

Troop Scouter: “(recruits name), say after me…” (The recruit repeats line for line after the Troop Scouter.)

On my honour

I promise that I will do my best

To do my duty to God and the Queen,

To help other people at all times,

And to carry out the spirit

Of the Scout Law.

As soon as the recruit has completed the Promise, the Scout and Troop Scouter release the colours. The bearer raises the flag and returns to the former position. At the same time, the troop returns to the alert.

The Troop Scouter shakes hands with the recruit using the Scout left handshake and says: “Scout (full Name), you are now a Scout in the worldwide brotherhood of Scouts. I trust you , as a Scout, to keep this Promise.”

The Troop Scouter places the Scout epaulettes on the shirt, saying something appropriate, such as : “This is the sign that you are a Scout and have made your Promise.” If desired, the Troop Scouter may present the “Be Prepared” lapel pin to wear on the Scout’s everyday clothes.

A Scouter presents the group neckerchief, placing it around the neck and saying something like:”With this neckerchief, I make you a member of the (number and name) Group.”

The patrol leader now steps forward and pins on the patrol emblem saying something like this:”(New Scout’s given name), with this emblem I welcome you into the (patrol name) Patrol.”

They shake hands using the Scout left handshake, and the patrol leader falls in beside the new Scout on the right.

Troop Scouter: “Scout (full name), about turn!”

(The patrol leader turns about at the same time.) “Salute the troop. Troop, to our new Brother Scout, salute!”

The patrol leader then escorts the new Scout back to the patrol. In some troops, the treadition at this point is for each member of the patrol to give the new Scout a left handshake of welcome.

Troop Scouter: “Troop alert! Colour party dismiss>“ (The colour party turns left and marches off. The troop salutes.)

When the colours are gone, someone appointed previously leads the troop in a troop yell, or three cheers for the new Scout.

Troop Scouter: “Troop , at ease.”

It’s a good idea if the next instruction tells the patrols to break away and carry on with a patrol activity. You can give the new Scout the provincial emblem or any other uniform insignia after the ceremony.