Cord and Thong Challenge Awards

One of the highest achievable Challenge Awards for Scouts is that of the Cord or Thong. There are four types of Challenge Awards namely; the Airman's Cord, the Bosun's Cord, the Bushman's Thong, and the Service Cord. The achievement of any one of these indicates a well-roundedness of Scouting skills and interests. Below are the requirements for each.

It is mandatory to have achieved the First Class Advancement Level in order to qualify for a Challenge Award.

A Scout may wear multiple cords provided that they have met the necessary requirements for all of the cords.

Bushman's Thong

To qualify for this award, the Scout must have achieved the First Class Advancement Level and must hold fifteen Scout Interest Badges

• Including three compulsory Interest Badges: First Aid, Mapping, Survival,
• Including six further badges from the specified lists (three from each),
• Including six additional Interest Badges.

The Bushman's Thong is worn around the right shoulder under the shoulder strap. The free end is carried from the front of the armpit in a loose loop to the button of the right-hand breast pocket, to which it is fastened. The Bushman's Thong is made of leather and brown in colour.

Downloadable

• File:How to make a Bushman's Thong - Instructions - Greyscale.pdf

Bosun's Cord

To qualify for this award, the Scout must have achieved the First Class Advancement Level and must hold fifteen Scout Interest Badges

• Including three compulsory Interest Badges: First Aid, Helmsman, Boatman,
• Including six further badges from the specified lists (three from each),
• Including six additional Interest Badges.

The plaited Bosun's Cord is worn around the right shoulder under the shoulder strap and the tasselled end is carried from the front of the armpit in a loose loop and fastened to the shirt at the left-hand top edge of the right-hand breast pocket. The Bosun's Cord is dark-blue and white in colour.

Airman's Cord

To qualify for this award, the Scout must have achieved the First Class Advancement Level and must hold fifteen Scout Interest Badges

• Including three compulsory Interest Badges: First Aid, Air Navigator, Air Traffic Controller,
• Including six further badges from the specified lists (three from each),
• Including six additional Interest Badges.

The plaited Airman's Cord is worn around the right shoulder under the shoulder strap and the tasselled end is carried from the front of the armpit in a loose loop and fastened to the shirt at the left-hand top edge of the right-hand breast pocket. The Airman's Cord is light blue in colour.

Service Cord

To qualify for this award, the Scout must have achieved the First Class Advancement Level and must hold fifteen Interest Badges

• Including three compulsory Interest Badges: First Aid, Guide, Environmental Awareness,
• Including six further badges from the specified lists (three from each),
• Including six additional Interest Badges.

The Service Cord is worn by Scouts who have completed the necessary requirements around the right shoulder, under the shoulder strap. The free end is carried from the front of the armpit in a loose loop to the button of the right-hand breast pocket, to which it is fastened. The Service Cord is made of 3mm cordage and the two strands are both gold in colour.

Requirements Matrix

Bushman's Thong	Airman's cord	Bosun's cord	Service cord
Compulsory Interest badges
First Aid Mapping Survival	First Aid Air Navigator Air Traffic Controller	First Aid Helmsman Boatman	First Aid Guide Environmental Awareness
Complete 3 of the following Interest badges
Cook Hike Leader Patrol Leadership Pioneer Veldcraft Environmental Awareness	Advanced Navigation Air Glider Air Mechanic Air Meteorologist Air Spotter Model Aero Engineer	Boatswain Canoeist Charting Lifesaver Ships Quartermaster Voyager	Disaster Management Fire Fighter Food for Life - Gold Home Carer Public Health Safety Code
Complete 3 of the following Interest badges
Camp Quartermaster Disaster Management Fire Fighter Handyman Safety Code Speaker Water Biologist Weatherman Woodcraftsman	Astronomer Backwoodsman Disaster Management Handyman Hike Leader Patrol Leadership Pioneer Space Explorer Virtual Aviator	Astronomer Backwoodsman Boardsailing Cook Disaster Management Motorboatsman Patrol Leadership Pioneer Weatherman	Bird Study Cook Hike Leader Linguist Scribe Veldcraft Water Biologist Weatherman Woodcraftsman
Complete any additional 6 Interest badges to make up a total of 15 badges (Badges may be selected from the above list if desired, but the same badge may not be counted twice)

Multiple cords

• A minimum of eighteen (18) Scout Interest badges are required to obtain a second Challenge Award.
• A minimum of twenty-one (21) Scout Interest badges are required to obtain a third Challenge Award.
• A minimum of twenty-four (24) Scout Interest badges are required to obtain a fourth Challenge Award.

Application

1. After completion of the requirements for a Cord or Thong a Challenge Award Application form must be completed and sent to SCOUTS SA for approval.
2. The Scout, not the Troop Scouter, completes the Challenge Award Application form and signs the Declaration and Confirmation. It is preferable that this form is completed and signed electronically.
3. The Challenge Award Application is then ratified by the Troop Scouter, recommended by the District Commissioner and endorsed by the RTC Scout Programme.
4. The Scout is responsible for forwarding the Challenge Award Application form and making sure all endorsements are received up to Regional level, i.e. RTC Scout Programme.
5. The RTC Scout Programme checks that the application meets all the criteria of the Challenge Award(s), and endorses the application.
6. The Challenge Award Application is forwarded by the RTC Scout Programme to the Chair: National Scout Programme for information, and inclusion on the National Office register of Challenge Awards.

See also

• Scout Interest Badges
• Rover Cord