Scout Sign, Salute, and Handshake

Scouts share many traditions, but three of the most recognizable are the Scout sign, salute, and handshake. Each gesture has a different purpose, yet all three express the ideals of Scouting.

Learning to use them correctly helps new Scouts participate confidently in troop meetings, ceremonies, and other Scouting events.

• The Scout Sign
• The Scout Salute
• The Scout Handshake
• Knowing Which Gesture to Use
• Learning Through Practice
• More Than a Tradition

To make the Scout sign, raise your right arm to shoulder height and bend your elbow at a right angle. Hold your index, middle, and ring fingers straight and together. Fold your little finger down, and place your thumb over its nail.

Each part of the sign has meaning. The three raised fingers represent the three parts of the Scout Oath: duty to God and country, duty to others, and duty to self. The thumb and little finger represent the bond that unites Scouts throughout the world.

Scouts make the sign when saying the Scout Oath or Scout Law. It is also a silent signal for attention. When a leader raises the Scout sign, everyone should become quiet, raise the sign, and listen. There is no need to shout, “Signs up!” The raised sign communicates the message by itself. The sign is a reminder to follow the Scout Oath and Law by respectfully becoming quiet and listening.

The Scout salute is a greeting and a sign of respect. Begin by forming the Scout sign with your right hand. Then bring that hand upward with the palm facing down. Touch the tip of your index finger to the brim of your hat. If you are not wearing a hat, touch the tip of your index finger to your right eyebrow.

Scouts use the salute to show respect for the flag of the United States. It may also be used to greet another Scout or Scout leader. The salute should be made carefully and respectfully—not hurriedly or as a joke.

The sign and salute look similar, but they serve different purposes. The sign is held beside the head and is used during the Scout Oath, Scout Law, or a call for attention. The salute brings the hand to the forehead and is used as a respectful greeting or during appropriate flag ceremonies.

The Scout handshake is similar to an ordinary handshake, with one important difference: Scouts use the left hand. When greeting another Scout, extend your left hand and shake normally.

This special greeting is a sign of friendship and shared membership in the worldwide Scouting movement. Scouting tradition also associates the left hand with courage, trust, and the heart. It is a unique greeting given with the left hand.

Because most people ordinarily shake with their right hands, the Scout handshake may feel unfamiliar at first. With practice, however, it becomes a natural and meaningful way to welcome or congratulate another Scout.

A simple way to remember the three gestures is:

• Use the Scout sign when reciting the Scout Oath or Scout Law and when signaling for quiet and attention.
• Use the Scout salute to show respect, especially during ceremonies involving the United States flag.
• Use the Scout handshake when greeting, welcoming, congratulating, or recognizing another Scout.

New Scouts sometimes confuse the sign and salute or instinctively offer their right hand for a handshake. These are normal mistakes. Patient instruction and regular practice during troop meetings will help everyone learn.

The best way to learn these traditions is to practice them in the situations where they are used. A troop might begin a meeting with the Scout sign and Scout Oath, include the salute during its opening flag ceremony, and use the handshake when welcoming a visitor or presenting recognition.

Experienced Scouts can help by demonstrating each gesture slowly and explaining its meaning. This is especially helpful for new Scouts and Arrow of Light Scouts preparing to join a troop. Scouting America includes demonstrating the Scout sign, salute, and handshake among its Arrow of Light Bobcat requirements and its Scouts BSA Tenderfoot Rank requirements, helping young people prepare for the traditions of Scouts BSA.

The Scout sign, salute, and handshake are simple actions, but they carry important meanings. The sign recalls the promises of the Scout Oath. The salute expresses respect. The handshake offers friendship and trust.

Using these gestures correctly is not simply a matter of memorizing where to place a hand. Each one reminds Scouts that they belong to something larger than themselves—a worldwide movement built on character, service, leadership, and fellowship. When Scouts understand the meaning behind the gestures, these traditions become outward signs of the values they strive to live every day.