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This is all the official verbiage you will find about how to wear the Scout neckerchief – anything else you have heard is urban legend.
From the BSA Insignia Guide :
The Neckerchief
Boy Scout neckerchiefs are optional. The troop decides by vote, and all members abide by the decision. If the neckerchief is not worn, then the shirt is worn with open collar. Boy Scout and Boy Scout leader neckerchiefs may be worn in a variety of plain colors and contrasting borders. Those available through Supply Group include the embroidered universal Scouting emblem if perma-press, or printed if not. Troops choose their own official neckerchief.
Local councils may prescribe the specific official neckerchief to be worn by Boy Scouts and Scouters on a council or district basis.
The neckerchief is worn only with the official uniform and never with T-shirts or civilian clothing. All members of a troop wear the same color.
Special neckerchiefs, the same size as the official ones, may be authorized by local councils. Such neckerchiefs may include identification of the chartered organization. The standard designed neckerchief may be personalized with troop number, city, and state. By troop approval an Eagle may wear an Eagle neckerchief.
Neckerchief slides. Several official slides are available from the Supply Group. Boy-made handicraft slides also may be worn.
How to Wear the Neckerchief
| a. Fold long edge over several flat folds to about six inches from tip of neckerchief. A tight fold prevents gathering around the neck and is more efficient than rolling or twirling. |
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| b. The unit has a choice of wearing the neckerchief over the collar or under the collar. |  |
| c. Draw neckerchief slide over ends and adjust to fit snugly. |  |
| d. By vote of troop, ends may be left hanging loose or may be tied in a slipknot. |  |
I was a Boy Scout, summer camp staffer (TMR) and later an adult leader in the 1960s and 1970s in NYC, and we always tucked our shirt collars in before we put on our neckerchiefs. Apparently this isn’t the case anymore?
My Troop still tucks in our collars, it is (and always has been) an option.
I find it odd about wearing the neckershief under the collar. When I was a Scout, if we had a collared shirt, the collar was to be tucked in. Even when I took my Wood Badge course, we and the staff did the same.
I don’t have a problem either way, as I never thought it was a big deal. Although it was a bit uncomfortable with the collar tucked in. However, that was no always the case.
As some may know, while Scouting in Germany was founded fairly early on (1911), German Scouting was not formally recognized by WOSM until after WWII. One of the main reasons was the adoption of the “Entschluss” after WWI.
A national meeting of German Scout Leaders produced the infamous Naumburger “Entschluss” which proclaimed that German scouting would cease all communications with the international scouting community until:
1. All foreign military forces stationed in any German territory, or territory still claimed by Germany, were removed; and,
2. Germany was held blameless for causing the First World War and allegations of German war crimes be withdrawn by the Entente Powers, and all other countries which held these positions.
To publicly demonstrate that German scouts were no longer members of the international scouting community, the Entschluss called upon all German scouts to wear their scarves (neckerchiefs) under their uniform shirt collars, which was a contravention of international scouting rules. They asserted that they would continue to intentionally violate this international rule until the demands stated in the Entschluss were met.
Apparently, the wearing of a Scout neckerchief had much more importance in the past than it does today. Who knew?
David