Girl Scout Troops On Foreign Soi

Girl Scout Troops On Foreign Soils, TOFS and Overseas

Almost as long as there has been Girl Scouting, there have been Americans living overseas eager to be a part of the program. At first, Lone Troops were active - the first being in China. The North Atlantic Girl Scout Council was organized in 1951 to help serve Girl Scouts in Europe and Africa. TOFS stood for Troops on Foreign Soils, a term that lasted until 1980 when it changed to USA Girl Scouts Overseas. West Pacific GSC serves Girl Scouts in Japan, Korea as well as other areas.

Katie Cox writes that USA Girl Scouts Overseas "is open to American girls living overseas and girls attending an American or International school. That means that we now serve more than just American girls. In some countries, we are beginning to pick up more and more 3rd country nationals
and even girls from the host country (depending on the relationship we have with the host country WAGGGS organization.) In Kuwait, for example, the older girl troop is definitely predominantly non-American. But, if we
didn't do that, we wouldn't have an older girl troop, as we wouldn't have enough girls to do it!
Some places still have only American girls in their program, some have mostly American girls, and others have quite a few girls who are non-Americans.
girls with American passports or attend an American school overseas - military and diplomatic dependents as well as simply Americans living overseas."

There are unique official insignias allowed to these members; the USAGSO pin (2 known versions) and the International Understanding pin.

In 1965, unable to attended the Senior Girl Scout Roundup, the North Atlantic GSC held their own Roundup at Verona, Italy. 117 Girl Scouts and Girl guides attended the 12 day event in the shadow of the Italian Alps

Girl Scouts

Sigonella, Sicily

Standard Overseas Pin for Girl Scouts of GSUSA living overseas,
usually military and diplomatic dependents. 1993

(gold tone pin with sticker)

Look-Alike Alert

Older version of Overseas pin

Aggie Donch: pin for the triennium theme in the mid-70's (after one of the National Conventions). She also noted that there was a similar patch available - she has one on her Senior's patch jacket.

1974-1976

image: Talli

another version - new?

TOFS Council ID strip

Troops On Foreign Soils

1957 Era ID Strip

TOFS Council ID strip 1980s version

Troops on Foreign Soils

1980 era Council id Strip.
Image donated by Alisa Lund

Lone Troops Overseas Council ID strip

1980 Era Council ID Strip

West Pacific Girl Scouts 2000

Traded with Tina S.

West Pacific Girl Scouts Korea

Traded with Tina S.

West Pacific Girl Scouts Mainland Japan

Traded with Tina S.

West Pacific Girl Scouts Okinawa

Traded with Tina S.

Japan USA Friendship Flag Pin

image donated by Jackie Peters

Kuwait

USA Girl Scout Overseas - Kuwait

Note from Katie:
I've attached a scan of our pin from here in Kuwait. The pin was created
last year (2000) based on the design of our patch, which was done in 1998.
The patch was originally a colored pencil drawing done by a USAGSO Kuwait
Cadette in the spring of 1998. It was turned into a patch by Design-It.
The pin was done by Lapel Inc.
Katie Cox
Chairman, Trainer, Cadette-Senior Leader
USA Girl Scouts Overseas - Kuwait

Troops on Foreign Soil Pin

Troops On Foreign Soils Pin (approx.. 1980)

Image donated by Alisa Lund
Junior Leader
Lone Troops Overseas
Hohenfels, Germany

West Pacific Girl Scout Council Pin (Korea). 1987

International Friendship Pin

International Friendship

Official GSUSA Earned Pin.
This pin can only be earned by American Girl Scouts overseas
who fulfill requirements meant to foster friendship with others.