Can an infantry CSM wear blue cord and disks?

SFC Joseph Bosley — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 09:28:11 -0400

OK here’s a quick question for you infantry guys still serving. Last week I was at a high school graduation and there were several infantrymen there, all sitting together; a COL, CSM, SFC, 2 SSG’s, and a SGT. All of them were wearing a blue cord and disks. When I was still in only actual infantry, with 11 series MOS’s could wear the cord and disks. My question is can a CSM wear them now? I retired in ’09 and at that time a CSM was MOS 00 series thus didn’t qualify for wear the cord and disks. All of the units I served in none of my CSM’s wore them. Now I have to say that these were National Guard soldiers and I’m not up to speed on the National Guard regs. But is this allowed now?

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2015 10:19 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 10:19:52 -0400

Serving members need to be in an actual Infantry unit, not just a valid Infantry position to wear it. However, the first 06 in the chain of command can write an exception memorandum to authorize wear and establish uniform requirements. So, if that was a full bird, he can make that happen. That is my understanding.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jun 24 at 2015 10:41 AM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 10:41:44 -0400

Generally SFC Joseph Bosley You have to be Infantry as your PMOS/Branch and serving on an Infantry unit. As an example... when I went to OCS, guys that used to be Infantry, thought they got the cord for life... and had to be corrected... This is what the the current 670-1 says:

21–31. Distinctive items authorized for infantry personnel
a. Cord, shoulder.
(1) Description. See DA Pam 670-1.
(2) How worn. See DA Pam 670-1.
(3) Approval authority. The Commanding General, U.S. Army Infantry Center authorizes the award of the shoulder cord to infantrymen who have successfully completed the appropriate training. For ARNG Soldiers, commanders of divisions, separate brigades, infantry regiments, the infantry scout group, and state adjutants general for separate infantry battalions and companies are authorized to award the shoulder cord to ARNG Soldiers who have successfully completed the appropriate training.
(4) Authorized wearers.
(a) Officers and enlisted personnel of the infantry, who hold an infantry PMOS or specialty, and who have been awarded the combat Infantryman badge, the expert infantryman badge, or who have successfully completed the basic unit phase of an Army training program or an equivalent.
(b) Enlisted personnel who have completed one station unit training (OSUT), resulting in the award of an infantry PMOS.
(c) Infantry officers who have graduated from the resident infantry officer basic or advanced course.
(d) Infantry officers who have graduated from the Infantry Officer Candidate Course (during mobilization).
(e) Infantry officers and enlisted personnel in the Reserve Components, who hold an infantry PMOS or specialty.
(5) When worn.
(a) During the period of assignment to an infantry regiment, brigade, separate infantry battalion, infantry company (including the headquarters and headquarters company of an infantry division), infantry platoon, or infantry TDA unit. In addition, infantrymen assigned to infantry sections or squads within units other than infantry units may wear the cord when authorized by battalion or higher-level commanders.
(b) During the period assigned for duty as an Army recruiter or advisor, ROTC instructor, or member of the staff and faculty of the U.S. Military Academy, as long as the individual retains an infantry PMOS or specialty.
(c) During the period of assignment at brigade- or lower-level BT or advance individual training units, or in OSUT infantry units, as long as individual retains an infantry PMOS or specialty.
(d) Infantry OSUT and Infantry Officer Basic Course graduates may wear the cord en route to their initial follow-on infantry assignment.
(e) Soldiers en route from an assignment where wear of the shoulder cord was authorized are permitted to wear the shoulder cord if they are pending reassignment to another organization authorized wear of the cord, or when assigned to a separation point for discharge purposes.
c. Insignia disk, service cap.
(1) Description. See DA Pam 670-1.
(2) How worn. See DA Pam 670–1.
(3) Approval authority. Approval authority is as provided in paragraph 21–31a(3). The insignia is issued at no cost to enlisted personnel.
(4) Authorized wearers. Enlisted infantry personnel who otherwise meet the qualifications provided in paragraph 21–31b(4).
(5) When worn. Authority to wear is as provided in paragraph 21–31a(5)
http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r670_1.pdf

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Jun 24 at 2015 12:37 PM

COL Jon Thompson — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 12:37:00 -0400

I can't recall a CSM in an Infantry unit not wearing the blue cord but since I have been in the USAR, my last real Infantry unit was in the mid 1990s. I would think he was probably the CSM of an Infantry unit and thus, I can see this happening. I had a similar issue in my last reserve unit which was not an Infantry unit by any means and did not meet the definition of any allowed units in 670-1. The Infantry officers there wore the cord and after bringing up the issue, I did join them.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jun 24 at 2015 1:11 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 13:11:50 -0400

Some CSMs are not aware of MOS OOZ job Titles. Note the RP CSM members w/ other MOSs.

Response by CSM James Winslow made Jun 24 at 2015 2:36 PM

CSM James Winslow — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 14:36:25 -0400

Battalion and BDE level CSM's retain their PMOS when they put on the Wreath. It is the nominative positions that get the MOS 00Z awarded now. DA and HRC changed that a couple of years ago. Its in the Enlisted Personnel Management reg.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2015 3:26 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 15:26:38 -0400

SFC Bosley, COL Williams is correct, however, an exception is implied in later portions of the regulation allowing wear of older uniform versions that were correct at the time of retirement. For example, my late father in law, CSM Stanley R Marlette had 32+ years in the infantry, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, etc...and as the 3rd ID CSM who retired in 1972, could wear that uniform today if he were still alive. We buried him in it instead.

Response by CSM William Johnson made Jun 25 at 2015 1:10 PM

CSM William Johnson — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 13:10:40 -0400

I think the best answer was from CSM James Winslow: "Battalion and BDE level CSM's retain their PMOS when they put on the Wreath. It is the nominative positions that get the MOS 00Z awarded now. DA and HRC changed that a couple of years ago. Its in the Enlisted Personnel Management reg." If you are retired yes you wear your uniform the way it was when you retired, but you can wear the uniform as prescribed in AR 670-1.

Response by CSM David Porterfield made Sep 22 at 2017 12:39 PM

CSM David Porterfield — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 12:39:16 -0400

An Infantry Bn CSM who is actually Infantry as an 11Z6 still wears the cord and discs and cross rifles. The rules have changed back and forth a few times.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made May 15 at 2018 8:19 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Tue, 15 May 2018 20:19:15 -0400

If there MOS was 11Z, then yes they can

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2019 8:42 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 08:42:02 -0500

Must be 11 series qualified in an infantry unit to wear disc and cords. So say cam has two mos’s he’s an infantryman with a second mos of anything could be a cook but for this example I’ll say his second mos was intel analyst. As an intell analysts he could be assigned to an infantry unit as an intel analyst. If they take fire and he returns it he gets a cib not a cab even though he was an intel analyst because he qualifies under 11 series mos for cib and he was attached to an infantry unit. As such while in an infantry unit regardless of primary mos he wears the cord while in that unit. Had he been with the corps of engineers he would have got a cab and can’t wear the discs and cords. Hope that clarifies