What makes your branch unique? As I am about to complete Infantry BOLC, and get my cord again, I find the unique awards that are given to the Infantry only raise the Espirit de Corps. We are the only branch with a cord and branch backgrounds for enlisted. I know there are some other branches that have their items such as Cav and Engineers. What other branches have any unique customs or accessories?

What makes your branch unique?

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CPT Mike M.

Posted >1 y ago

Spurs and Stetsons can be worn by anyone in a Cav unit so they don't count but Armor's still got:

Tanker boots!!!

Order of Saint George

Tanker boots!!!

A branch color that actually goes with the uniform for Blues/ASUs

TANKER BOOTS!!!

We get to ride in the most bad ass land vehicle man has created - the tank!

AND DON'T FORGET TANKER BOOTS!!!!!

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CPT (Join to see)

>1 y

Just so you know my daughter has some tanker boots, she is 5. They are really cute on her. 

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SPC Christopher Morehouse

>1 y

I've never seen anyone drive a bradly in Spurs and a Stetson either. Doesn't make it not part of the cavalry. Let the tankers have their bondage boots

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CPT Mike M.

>1 y

SFC Callan, it's only natural, other than the FA guys, nothing says giant phallic symbol like a 120mm smoothbore cannon!
2LT Martin, hadn't heard that one, but I figure it'd be almost as easy, and maybe more to get a strap caught up on something, especially since they wrap all the way around and wouldn't only provide a catch hazard on the front.
2LT Rosa, good for her, by the time she grows up women will be fully integrated into the Armor corps, I'm sure.

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1SG(P) (Join to see)

>1 y

I suspect that's a bit of overcompensation.

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SPC Christopher Morehouse

Posted >1 y ago

Infantry aren't the only ones with cords.  Combat engineers can be authorized to wear the candy cane cord.  I had mine when I was in the honor guard.  And although I was an 11B for 18 months, I never had a blue cord.  It would have clashed with the DCUs I guess.  <br><br>Fun fact, engineers got the color red from the cores lineage from artillery, and the white comes from the cores lineage from the Infantry (White was the infantry's color until the mid 1800's). <br><br>So if you shoot an infantryman out of a cannon, you get a sapper.  <br>

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SPC Christopher Morehouse

>1 y

You're right. The are relics from Army history, just like the Cavs Stetson, but apparently you can get special authorization for them. I kept a copy in my class A and a copy in my Blues just for that reason (because it did come up a few times).

Here’s an example of a memo from Hood of a 3rd Cav Col authorizing his whole unit to wear the yellow cav cord, as it is a "Military Tradition" and "not explicitly regulated" by 670-1. it also, obviously, authorized the Stetson and spurs for company commanders.

http://www.hood.army.mil/3d_cr/files/pdfs/PolicyLetters/Stetson_Policy.pdf

Now is the special authorization legit according to the regs? I dunno, I was only a lowly enlisted, which is why I carried around a piece of paper with my commanders signature on it.

I think the other branch cords fell off the Army regs officially in the early 1900's but don't quote me on that.

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SFC Michael Hasbun

>1 y

All the unoffocial stuff like stetsons, spurs, non infantry cords etc... can be authorized by commanders for special events, but are not officially authorized for the uniform by the Army. It's the same with things like Audie Murphy medals, Samuel Sharpe awards etc... They can be worn on the dress uniform for special events, but are not actual uniform items and are ONLY authorized for those particular kinds of events.

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CPT (Join to see)

>1 y

Thanks SSG Hashun for clearing that up. At some bases and when on honor guards soldiers may be authorized to wear a cord. There is a cord for pretty much every branch out there. All they do is make it the color of the branch. But this is not an official cord. <div><br></div><div>Also, earlier it was pointed out that an infantry that doesn't wear a cord. If you are 11 series but are not in an infantry position or unit you are not authorized to wear that cord anymore. Example of this is a reclass while in training. You are no longer infantry. Or if they reflag a unit from infantry to Cav. Overnight the whole unit will lose the cord. </div>

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SFC Michael Hasbun

>1 y

You're welcome.

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CPT Aaron Kletzing

Posted >1 y ago

What makes the Field Artillery unique is that we are the one and only King of Battle. This is not to be confused with some 'other' branches who are actually (for example) the Queen of Battle, and seem to get that fact wrong time and time again.

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1SG(P) (Join to see)

>1 y

Sir, I think it's more like "King of We're-going-to-have-a-hard-time-justifying-our-existence-in-the-Contemporary Operational Environment."

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MAJ Samuel Weber

>1 y

Does anyone realize that the whole King and Queen of battle refers to Chess, and last time I checked the queen is the best piece in a chess match???

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CPT (Join to see)

>1 y

We just let them think the king of the hill of battle is important. They are a proud people and don't waste time playing such games as chess. I believe they are more like a checkers type if I would to make an assessment.

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SFC William Swartz Jr

>1 y

Just remember that Armor, THE Combat Arm of Decision, keeps the King on his throne and the Queen from getting raped!!

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CW2 (Join to see)

Edited >1 y ago

Posted >1 y ago

Edit: Not sure it was obvious my response was playful ribbing. Damn internet.

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CPT (Join to see)

>1 y

Did you pass it laying on your back.

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Cpl Robert Wallace

Posted >1 y ago

I think what makes my branch unique is Marines do 2 full weeks of PMI. 1 grass week and 1 live fire KD with qual on the last day. We train out to the point target range of the issue weapon system. In the fleet we re-qualified bi-annually and marksmanship was central to the Marine culture. All enlisted ranks above E2 with the exception of a couple senior Staff ranks have crossed rifles in the rank emblem. We are the smallest service with the longest boot camp partly as a result of the focus on marksmanship.

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CPT (Join to see)

>1 y

And that is how you develop the warrior spirit. I don't think we do that enough in the army.

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Cpl Robert Wallace

>1 y

The ACOG troubles me though.

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1LT (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

My branch has the proud distinction of requiring a GT score of 100 or better for all of its instructors, being the only branch in the Army to do so IAW Army regulations.

Not that it does any good, but it is special.

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CPT (Join to see)

10 y

I never knew that.

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MAJ Samuel Weber

Posted >1 y ago

The AMEDD branch has the Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB). Only medical Soldiers (68 series) and AMEDD Branch officers and Warrants can compete. It was created for the combat medic because we were serving with the infantry but could qualify for the EIB. It is a mark of pride and only 25% and sometimes less pass the testing and get to wear this coveted badge. If awarded in Combat it is referred to as the CMB.

Also, Medical Service Corps officers and Warrants wear the only Silver Branch insignia in the AMEDD branch. All others wear gold.

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CPT (Join to see)

>1 y

I never knew that there were different colors for the branch insignia for med. I can say I now have learned something new.

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MAJ Samuel Weber

>1 y

Only MSC is silver. Medical Corps is just gold, Nurses are gold with an N on it, Dental Corps is gold with a D on it, etc.

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MAJ Samuel Weber

>1 y

But our branch colors are all the same. Burgundy with white piping. That is the AMEDD Branch color.

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SSgt (Join to see)

Edited >1 y ago

Posted >1 y ago

In Weather we have Meteorologist Pins and the Air Force Weather Agency (formerly Air Weather Service). I am very proud of being a Master Meteorologist. We are a tight knit group and athletically competitive. We are also these associated with Combat Weather. I prefer the actual forecasting Terminal Area Forecasters (TAFs) and the associated Atmospheric Physics. Being a good weather observer only has enhanced my awareness of microanalysis and terrain effects.

In the long run, I question TAFs now being done in the USA for places like Germany. Automated Weather Stations may be good in some cases but in place observers who are doing their job bring more texture to surface observations.

This information is vital to Air and Ground Operations. I was also a marksman with the M-16 and 38. I remember riding with my Mom and Dad and I came on the radio with Weather for a local radio station in Tampa. They were beaming as they had others in the car. They would even record my weather forecasts on Q-105 and show their friends in the retirement community.

There was a Marine Colonel who liked my dad and he was the most devoted to my father as he was dying. My family don't like him, but to me, I will never forget him. He honored Dad with the rivalry thing, NCO and Officer and I knew my dad loved when he came in. He would also say hi to me as SSgt Olson. The brotherhood in the military and the ability to get a good job that matters is the coolest thing.

The Meteorology has benefited National Racing Programs and I am a star there. I get into all the tracks for me. The Air Force made this all possible, my dream job and that I was able to be a good forecaster. The badge and the patch are a source and great pride and humility. Our washout rate was over 50%, and we had Marines, Air Force and Navy in our classes.

Some of the best and brightest NCOs went to the classes and our instructors knew forecasters that could handle the pressure and do a great job.

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