Order of the Arrow

Order of the Arrow, also referred to as "OA" for short, is the national brotherhood of scouting organization.   The program was founded in 1915 and became an officially adopted program of the BSA in 1934.  The organizational structure of OA is broken down into Regions,  Sections, Lodges and Chapters.

OA is based on the organizations mission statement: To fulfill its purpose as an integral part of the Boy Scouts of America through positive youth leadership under the guidance of selected capable adults. It pulls scouts into the organization that best exemplify those that live by the Scout Oath and Law and promotes leadership through helping others. The native american words that best describes the virtues of the organization are Wimachtendienk, Wingolaucksik, Witahemui: Brotherhood, Cheerfulness, Service.  These are the three "W"s on every OA patch.

The OA is not a secret organization, however it is a right of passage for those scouts that earn the privilege to be part of it.   If voted in to become part of the OA by your fellow scouts, the candidates endure an induction before being sworn in as an "Ordeal" level OA member.   OA members are requested that what happens during a candidates induction into the program not be spoken of as it takes away from the experience for those that follow.  The induction is an experience that is different for every person with that experience possibly swayed by knowledge of the induction.  The induction is not hazardous nor is it done in a hazing manner - closely monitored by OA members to ensure the safety of its candidates.

After being nominated by your peers and undergoing the ordeal, you are always part of the Order of the Arrow - registered with BSA national.  However, to be identified as being part of the local lodge, you must pay your local dues, similar to displaying the uniform of a Scout, needing to be registered with a scouting unit.  See information on the Order of the Arrow uniform and rules of displaying OA representation below on this page.

After being part of OA, you have the opportunity to forward within the program to "Brotherhood" and final "Vigil" member status.

To be part of the organization, you need to have the following requirements met:

• Be a registered member of the Boy Scout of America.

• Have experienced 15 nights of camping while registered with a troop . The 15 nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of at least five consecutive nights of overnight camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America. Only five nights of the long-term camp may be credited toward the 15-night camping requirement; the balance of the camping (10 nights) must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps of, at most, three nights each. 

•  Youth must be under the age of 21 and hold the Scouts BSA First Class rank, or higher. 

  • • Adults (age 21 or older) who meet the camping requirements may be selected following nomination to and approval by the lodge adult selection committee. 

• Youth members shall be elected by the youth members of their unit and approved by the Scoutmaster.

Take your election into the OA from your peers as an honor.  Ponder these words "THOSE WHO CHOOSE YOU NEED YOU"

Order of the Arrow Uniform.

The primary identification of an Arrowman is the sash, Figure B below.   According to the "Order of the Arrow Handbook" (pages 57-58 ):

• Only currently registered members of the Boy Scouts of America and the Order may wear the insignia of the Order of the Arrow.

  • • If you are not current registered with the Order of the Arrow, you are "eligible" to wear the OA "dangle" or "universal arrow ribbon" as it's officially called... but you SHOULD WEAR the item. It -- not the various OA flaps -- denotes you as a member of the Order of the Arrow. Members of the Order are primarily identified by wearing the Order of the Arrow "Universal dangle" or "Universal Arrow ribbon" as shown in Figure A below. This emblem, a small silver arrow suspended from a red and white ribbon attached to a button loop, is worn suspended from the right pocket button by Arrowmen who are or are not current with their annual dues to a local Council's OA Lodge. Before the colorful OA flaps made their appearances in the late 50s and early 60s, the "OA Pocket Pin" as it is called officially was THE WAY that OA members were identified.

• The Order of the Arrow sash is worn with the official Scout field uniform or Scouting’s official adult professional dress wear (a blue blazer and gray slacks). The sash also may be worn by elangomats who are not in uniform at an Ordeal, youth wearing ceremonial attire, and in such other instances as approved by the Scout executive.

  • • When in uniform as a representative of the OA, the scout is not to wear a neckerchief that represents the unit (Troop, Crew, etc.). Standard OA uniform has no neckerchief, though chapter neckerchiefs (if applicable) or bolos can be worn.

    • Merit badge sashes are not to be worn at the same time as OA sashes.

• The sash is worn over the right shoulder so that the arrow is pointing over the right shoulder, as shown in Figure C. The sash is worn diagonally across the chest. It is not worn in any other manner.  

• The sash is worn at Order of the Arrow functions (work days, conclaves, banquets, "tap outs", etc.) and special Scouting activities, when members need to be identified as Arrowmen rendering special services (for instance when Arrowmen are serving as escorts or honor guard members). 

  • • The Chairman of the Order of the Arrow "... suggests a OA troop representative and OA troop adviser only wear their sash on the troop level while actually conducting official OA duties, like making announcements, during elections, at courts of honor when presenting the OA calendar to the parents, etc. "

OA is heavily structured in service to the community.  Only through helping others do you really understand what it is to be a Scout - usually obtaining a better understanding  of the points of the Scout Oath and Law in providing Cheerful Service.   For that reason, the OA is usually heavily involved with flag retirement ceremonies and ceremonial proceedings, gaining discipline, leadership and the understanding of what it means to give to yourself and your community.