Posted on Nov 22, 2013
CPT Company Commander
40.8K
48
36
1
1
0
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.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>What other branches have any unique customs or accessories?</div>
Avatar feed
Responses: 8
CPT Mike M.
8
8
0

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!!!!!

(8)
Comment
(0)
CPT Company Commander
CPT (Join to see)
11 y
Just so you know my daughter has some tanker boots, she is 5. They are really cute on her.&nbsp;
(1)
Reply
(0)
SPC Christopher Morehouse
SPC Christopher Morehouse
11 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
(1)
Reply
(0)
CPT Mike M.
CPT Mike M.
11 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.
(0)
Reply
(0)
1SG(P) First Sergeant
1SG(P) (Join to see)
11 y
I suspect that's a bit of overcompensation.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SPC Christopher Morehouse
4
4
0
Infantry aren't the only ones with cords.&nbsp; Combat engineers can be authorized to wear the candy cane cord.&nbsp; I had mine when I was in the honor guard.&nbsp; And although I was an 11B for 18 months, I never had a blue cord.&nbsp; It would have clashed with the DCUs I guess.&nbsp; <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.&nbsp; <br>
(4)
Comment
(0)
SPC Christopher Morehouse
SPC Christopher Morehouse
11 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.
(0)
Reply
(0)
SFC Michael Hasbun
SFC Michael Hasbun
11 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.
(2)
Reply
(0)
CPT Company Commander
CPT (Join to see)
11 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.&nbsp;<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.&nbsp;</div>
(1)
Reply
(0)
SFC Michael Hasbun
SFC Michael Hasbun
11 y
You're welcome.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
CPT Aaron Kletzing
3
3
0
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.
(3)
Comment
(0)
1SG(P) First Sergeant
1SG(P) (Join to see)
11 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."
(2)
Reply
(0)
MAJ Samuel Weber
MAJ Samuel Weber
11 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???
(3)
Reply
(0)
CPT Company Commander
CPT (Join to see)
11 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.
(0)
Reply
(0)
SFC William Swartz Jr
SFC William Swartz Jr
11 y
Just remember that Armor, THE Combat Arm of Decision, keeps the King on his throne and the Queen from getting raped!!
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close