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So, recently i was talking with a colleague of mine about shoulder cords for the dress uniform. He informed me that every branch (not just infantry) has a cord. Additionally, he actually received one from his supply section (he's MI). I'll upload pics as soon as i get back stateside.
He did do extensive research on the subject through AR 670-1, DA PAM 670-1, and a extensive search on the internet.
Limited vauge results of showing soldiers from Post WWII through the Vietnam era wearing different shoulder cords but no definitive answer if it's actually authorized.
AR 670-1 21–31 only states Infantry personnel wearing their branch cord, but is it actually authorized for other branches to wear theirs as well? Nowhere in the regulation does it state that other branches are not authorized to wear their own at all. The title only specifically pertains to infantry personnel and not other branches.
The forum below is the only source of information that I could find to verify his story.
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/10777-shoulder-cords/page-8
He did do extensive research on the subject through AR 670-1, DA PAM 670-1, and a extensive search on the internet.
Limited vauge results of showing soldiers from Post WWII through the Vietnam era wearing different shoulder cords but no definitive answer if it's actually authorized.
AR 670-1 21–31 only states Infantry personnel wearing their branch cord, but is it actually authorized for other branches to wear theirs as well? Nowhere in the regulation does it state that other branches are not authorized to wear their own at all. The title only specifically pertains to infantry personnel and not other branches.
The forum below is the only source of information that I could find to verify his story.
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/10777-shoulder-cords/page-8
Posted in these groups: 
Uniforms
Uniforms
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 17
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I have two (2) MI shoulder cords (see attached). Found in a PX junk box. No longer available. I also have the Army Security Agency beret which goes along with the MI shoulder cord since we wore the MI brass too.
(Click to enlarge)
(Click to enlarge)
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Old thread, but what the hell. Per AR 670-1, the Infantry cord is the only one authorized. However, the wear of branch cords is at the commander's discretion. It is much like the Cavalry stetson. It is not actually authorized by big army, yet it is allowed. In my old unit, we wore our branch cord under the left arm, and our branch colored cord on our stetsons.
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SPC Mark Brown
Back in the 60s it seems like different colors were at least worn in some units. When I was at Ft Gordon those of us in a signal company wore the orange. But, once I was in Korea only a very few wore the red of artillery but then we never wore class A, either Green or Khaki.
We also wore the neck scarfs under our utility shirts, again either red or orange. I still have all that stuff in my footlocker. I also have my class As and boy oh boy are they ever small. I did not know that wool and cotton could shrink that much over the years, it has been almost 50 years, wow, did I say 50?!
We also wore the neck scarfs under our utility shirts, again either red or orange. I still have all that stuff in my footlocker. I also have my class As and boy oh boy are they ever small. I did not know that wool and cotton could shrink that much over the years, it has been almost 50 years, wow, did I say 50?!
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Hopefully your friend is confused with a temporary wear of a Fourragère vice a branch cord.
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The closest I've seen to branch cords being in modern use is when I was assigned to a Cavalry Squadron where we wore cords on our stetsons (cavalry hat) that were colored in accordance with our branch. I was a lone maroon cord in a sea of yellow.
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Prior to my commission I served with the Iowa National Guard Honor Guard and during some services we were required to wear our branch chords on our uniforms. Now the guidance I received and from what I found in AR-670-1 was that your Commander can authorize the wear of branch chords; for wear during a military ball, function, or funeral.
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