Infantry Center & School, US Army Maneuver Center of Excellence
Infantry Center & School, US Army Maneuver Center of Excellence
Posted on Dec 23, 2013
Are you in favor of losing your infantry "Blue Cord" once you change branches?
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When I was a young infantryman, just thinking that I would lose my blue cord once I commissioned in a different branch almost made me give up on the idea.<div><br></div><div>I felt like, the MOS 11b is still in my record I earned It... </div><div><br></div><div>Other than the common answer: "it is no longer your primary MOS", what you think is the logic of not being able to use a skill identifier like the "Blue Cord" on your Dress Blues once you change MOS?<br></div>
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 85
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<p>Sir, </p><p>I will leave it to my CIB and EIB to prove that I was Infantry. The Blue Cord should remain for those actively serving in the Infantry</p>
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SFC (Join to see)
The question that many Soldiers have, to include myself-- is why if a Soldier who attends/graduates Infantry Basic Training and Advance Individual Training is no longer authorized to wear the awarded Blue Cord once they transition/reclassify into a non-infantry MOS?
Example:
I enlisted in the Army and served my first 4-years as an infantryman. Thereafter, I went to Engineer Dive School and successfully reclassified as an OOB/12D "Diver". IAW AR 670-1 I am no longer authorized to wear the Infantry Blue Cord for which I was officially Awarded (I have the awarded document in my OMPF).
Discussion points:
1. Infantry Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training is a lot more rigorous that the non-infantry schools. The Blue Cord in my opinion is earned for the extra effort and the prestige of becoming an infantryman.
2. Reasons why Infantryman reclassify into other non-infantry MOS vary:
a. Medical
b. Career/Professional Progression
c. Other
Once an Infantryman, Always an Infantryman! Regardless of reclassification (primary Vs. secondary MOS), Soldiers that earned the award should be authorized to wear the Infantry Blue Cord because they worked and served hard for it; it distinguishes them from those that have not served as an infantryman.
Since reclassifying, myself and others like me are very proud to have served and earned the right to be called an infantryman. Not all infantryman were able to earn the Expert Infantry Badge (EIB) nor have the opportunity to receive the Combat Infantry Badge (CIB). For example, I was not afforded the opportunity to earn the EIB for the almost four years I served as an infantryman...As a young Soldier I was constantly denied that opportunity because staff duty, guard duty, and police calls were more important. Sadly, I had to take personal leave prior to departing for dive school in order to earn my EIB for which I succeeded the first time. I'm not saying that is always the case, but I'm sure there are other Soldiers that have and are experiencing something similar. Regarding medical reasons, the infantry MOS is not easy--it takes a toll on a person physically.
It's understandable that those active Infantry MOS Soldiers want to hold on to that prestige for themselves...but if they realistically considered those reasons and circumstances that others go through as possible dilemmas that may effect/affect them in the future, then they would be wanting the same.
It would make more sense and serve the Army better by authorizing the wear of the Infantry Blue Cord by those that earned it. How would this serve the Army better? Simple, other non-infantry MOS personnel tend to look down at infantry Soldiers. One example is the stigma about non-infantry MOS personnel-- that Infantry Soldiers aren't intelligent enough to have qualified for other MOS fields! I know, because I have almost 21 years of service where I have stood up defending infantryman. By allowing others like me to wear the Blue Cord, it promotes positive attitudes, and provides examples of Soldiers that excelled and wanted more for themselves, especially with the junior Soldiers and potential recruits.
Personally, I would love to retire wearing the Infantry Blue Cord that I sacrificed to earn and the time spent away from home. The life of an infantryman is not easy--it is one that truly deserves recognition...and this is one way to guarantee it.
Example:
I enlisted in the Army and served my first 4-years as an infantryman. Thereafter, I went to Engineer Dive School and successfully reclassified as an OOB/12D "Diver". IAW AR 670-1 I am no longer authorized to wear the Infantry Blue Cord for which I was officially Awarded (I have the awarded document in my OMPF).
Discussion points:
1. Infantry Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training is a lot more rigorous that the non-infantry schools. The Blue Cord in my opinion is earned for the extra effort and the prestige of becoming an infantryman.
2. Reasons why Infantryman reclassify into other non-infantry MOS vary:
a. Medical
b. Career/Professional Progression
c. Other
Once an Infantryman, Always an Infantryman! Regardless of reclassification (primary Vs. secondary MOS), Soldiers that earned the award should be authorized to wear the Infantry Blue Cord because they worked and served hard for it; it distinguishes them from those that have not served as an infantryman.
Since reclassifying, myself and others like me are very proud to have served and earned the right to be called an infantryman. Not all infantryman were able to earn the Expert Infantry Badge (EIB) nor have the opportunity to receive the Combat Infantry Badge (CIB). For example, I was not afforded the opportunity to earn the EIB for the almost four years I served as an infantryman...As a young Soldier I was constantly denied that opportunity because staff duty, guard duty, and police calls were more important. Sadly, I had to take personal leave prior to departing for dive school in order to earn my EIB for which I succeeded the first time. I'm not saying that is always the case, but I'm sure there are other Soldiers that have and are experiencing something similar. Regarding medical reasons, the infantry MOS is not easy--it takes a toll on a person physically.
It's understandable that those active Infantry MOS Soldiers want to hold on to that prestige for themselves...but if they realistically considered those reasons and circumstances that others go through as possible dilemmas that may effect/affect them in the future, then they would be wanting the same.
It would make more sense and serve the Army better by authorizing the wear of the Infantry Blue Cord by those that earned it. How would this serve the Army better? Simple, other non-infantry MOS personnel tend to look down at infantry Soldiers. One example is the stigma about non-infantry MOS personnel-- that Infantry Soldiers aren't intelligent enough to have qualified for other MOS fields! I know, because I have almost 21 years of service where I have stood up defending infantryman. By allowing others like me to wear the Blue Cord, it promotes positive attitudes, and provides examples of Soldiers that excelled and wanted more for themselves, especially with the junior Soldiers and potential recruits.
Personally, I would love to retire wearing the Infantry Blue Cord that I sacrificed to earn and the time spent away from home. The life of an infantryman is not easy--it is one that truly deserves recognition...and this is one way to guarantee it.
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SGT Dropzone Whiplash
Well that's someone to think about ,as an example . You leave jump statutes ,and you can't wear your jump wings anymore . Ranger tab,SF,Sapper ,etc etc resolution ?? lol get the cord tattooed ,somewhere on your body ! Now there's an idea
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Easy answer wear your EIB/CIB. I am in favor of losing it once you leave the Infantry. The intent of the Blue Cord is to show that your are a serving Infantryman not that you were one.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
I'm proud of my blue chord, but if I switched over to another MOS people wouldn't really need to see it to figure out I was in the Infantry.
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SPC Brian Stearns
so the blue cord isnt a personal award? i always thought the blue cord was a personal award and the blue discs were only worn if serving with an infantry unit.
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The blue cord is for Infantrymen. If you change branches, you are not an Infantryman. Pretty simple. Remember, the blue cord is a distinguishing device, it is not an award. It was not something you earned (I'm sure you feel otherwise), but simply something you wore to denote your MOS. The Army made an administrative decision to allow you to wear it while in that capacity. They needed grunts, so they created uniform bling as a recruiting incentive. Maybe one day another MOS will need people so badly they'll create a cord for them. But even then, it'll just be an arbitrary MOS handout.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
SPC Allen Heredia Sure. By passing your MOS school, just like literally every other Soldier in the Army... High Five for making it past MOS training!
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1LT William Clardy
You might want to lower the Harsh and Bitter settings on your keyboard, SFC Michael Hasbun.
What you so blithely dismiss as just a bit of bling intended for recruiting is a surprisingly effective motivational device that aids the folks who form the pointy end of the stick a sense of common identity -- something which has a direct bearing on those units' combat effectiveness. Military customs and traditions are full of cues that we are soldiers, and we are expected to live like soldiers. Pragmatists who fail to recognize the subtle significanceof those cues unknowingly undermine soldiers' self-discipline.
What you so blithely dismiss as just a bit of bling intended for recruiting is a surprisingly effective motivational device that aids the folks who form the pointy end of the stick a sense of common identity -- something which has a direct bearing on those units' combat effectiveness. Military customs and traditions are full of cues that we are soldiers, and we are expected to live like soldiers. Pragmatists who fail to recognize the subtle significanceof those cues unknowingly undermine soldiers' self-discipline.
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SFC Francisco Rosario
I have to disagree, when i graduated from Harmony Church, OSUT at Ft. Benning. We were told by our leaders that we did in fact earn that blue cord. Yes it denotes that one is an Infantryman, but it is still earned. They dont just give it away, you still need to pass the training.
I however agree, once you reclass, you should not be able to wear it because of obvious reasons. But never the less, you initially earn the right to wear it. Just my opinion.
I however agree, once you reclass, you should not be able to wear it because of obvious reasons. But never the less, you initially earn the right to wear it. Just my opinion.
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