Scouting America Adds Military Service Merit Badge
The new badge, rolled out on Veterans Day, follows Defense Department criticism that led the group to drop a Citizenship in Society badge.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Military
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Scouting America introduced a Military Service and Veterans merit badge on Veterans Day 2026. The group also eliminated its Citizenship in Society merit badge after the Defense Department criticized its diversity programs.
Why it matters
The change follows a Defense Department dispute over Scouting America's diversity programs, which Secretary Pete Hegseth said violated an executive order. The group's membership has fallen by 29% over six years, and Eagle Scouts make up a notable share of students at the nation's service academies.
Scouting America reported about 908,000 members in 2025, including 175,000 girls, a 29% drop over six years. At least 17% of students at the U.S. Naval Academy, West Point and the U.S. Air Force Academy have scouting experience, though the source does not say how many will pursue the new badge.
The players
Scouting America
Scouting America is the youth organization formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America, which renamed itself in 2024 and later filed for bankruptcy protection over sexual abuse claims.
Pete Hegseth
Pete Hegseth is the U.S. Secretary of Defense who publicly criticized Scouting America's diversity programs as violating an executive order.
The details
The badge has 10 requirements, many with multiple assignments, and was crafted with input from military personnel and veterans. Scouts earn it by learning about founder Robert Baden-Powell's military service and studying a U.S. military conflict, and by interviewing a service member or veteran.
Timeline
2024: Boy Scouts of America renamed itself Scouting America.
February 2026: Hegseth posted a video criticizing the group's changes.
November 11, 2026: The Military Service and Veterans merit badge was rolled out.
Political Context
The Defense Department argued that Scouting America's diversity programs violated a federal executive order, prompting the group to change its programming. The response reflects a pattern in which federal agencies use executive orders to press private youth and civic organizations on diversity policy.
Scouts who want the new badge will need to interview a service member or veteran and research a military branch's history. The change may affect which programs local troops prioritize, and families considering scouting can compare the updated requirements.
The takeaway
The new badge gives scouts a structured way to engage with military service, while the policy dispute shows how federal pressure can reshape private youth programs. Families weighing scouting should review the updated requirements to see how they fit their goals.
Further reading
For more on related defense policy, explore Military coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Air Force Times.
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