The Founder's Award (also known as Founder's Badge) is the highest award attainable in the Senior Section Programme of the Boys' Brigade in Malaysia Those who attain this award are called a Founder's Man. In countries that are members of the Commonwealth Realm, the equivalent award is the Queen's Badge, and accordingly the members attaining the award are known as Queen's Man. First introduced in 1962, the Founder's Award remains an extremely exclusive award for Malaysian Boys' Brigade members, with less than 250 members in the whole country achieving the Award from its inception until today. The title of Founder's Man is held for life, but the Badge itself may only be worn while serving as a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), a Staff-Sergeant, or a Primer.
The Badge is cast from unpolished copper, giving it a bronze appearance, and is relatively heavy compared to other badges. The border of the Badge bears the words "Founder's Badge, The Boys' Brigade" and the BB Emblem on top. In the centre of the badge, there is the image of the Boys' Brigade Founder, Sir William Alexander Smith
Requirements include earning at least the rank of Lance-Corporal, 5 years of service in the Senior Section and/or Primer Section of the Boys' Brigade, attained the President's Award, and nomination from the Officer's Council. (These are the requirements for the award in Malaysia - the requirements vary from country to country, most notably in Singapore where the most prestigious BB award is the President's Award rather than the Founder's Badge although the Founder's Badge is one of their awards) The winners of the Founder's Award represent the ideal Brigade Boy, who has embraced the BB Method of Discipline and Religion as twin pillars, as well as exhibited a wholesome development in the four aspects of the BB, which are Social, Spiritual, Educational and Physical.
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“Rational free spirits are the light brigade who go on ahead and reconnoitre the ground which the heavy brigade of the orthodox will eventually occupy.”
—G.C. (Georg Christoph)