Blue Infantry Cord
Encyclopedia
The Infantry Blue Cord is a U.S. Army decoration worn over the right shoulder of all qualified U.S. Army infantryman. It is a fourragere
in light blue ("Infantry Blue") worn under the right shoulder and under the right epaulette of a U.S. Army infantryman's Class A
dress green or dress blue uniform jacket or Class B shirt. The cord is composed of a series of alternating left and right half knots that are tied around a leader cord to form a "Solomon bar".
The Infantry Blue Cord is presented to all qualified infantryman in the U.S. Army at the end of their Initial Entry Training. Officers commissioned into the infantry receive their Blue Cords at the end of the Infantry Officer Basic Course
(IOBC). Enlisted infantryman earn their Blue Cords after successfully completing all Infantry Training Brigade requirements required for achieving the infantry MOS by graduating from 16 weeks of Infantry One Station Unit Training (OSUT), or six weeks of Infantry Advanced Individual Training (AIT), all of which are conducted at the U.S. Army Infantry Center's Infantry Training Brigade at Fort Benning, Georgia. Commissioned officers earn their blue cord after graduating from the U.S. Army Infantry School's Infantry Officer Basic Course
(IOBC), also held at Fort Benning, Georgia.
The Infantry Blue Cord is meant to be worn only by qualified U.S. Army Infantrymen currently assigned to an infantry unit in the Active Army, Army National Guard
or Army Reserve
. Only those with an Infantry MOS Military Occupational Specialty
such as 11B, 11C, (NOT 11X as this is an "unassigned" position designated for recruits who are contracted into the CMF (Career Management Field) 11 - Infantry). Other 11 series MOS holders (as both their primary and duty MOS) who may wear the cord are Infantrymen assigned to an Infantry slot that is not in an Infantry unit (such as with Infantry assigned to a cavalry unit) if authorized, or Instructors, Drill Sergeants, or Recruiters.
Qualified Infantry soldiers who are not assigned to an Infantry unit, to include those who are an 11-series MOS holder transitioning to 18-series MOS, for example, (CMF 18 is the designation for Army Special Forces MOS) may not wear the Infantry Blue Cord or Disks; those assigned to an Infantry unit, may wear the Infantry Blue Cord and Disks until their transition to a non-Infantry unit is complete.
, Chief of Staff for the Army
, asked a group of advisors what could be done to enhance the morale of the fighting Infantryman. It was decided that they would receive special insignia, so that everyone would know that the soldier was an Infantryman who would be fighting on the front lines.
A light-blue cord was created to be worn over the right shoulder of both officers and enlisted men. Also, light-blue plastic disks were issued to be placed behind the metal "crossed rifles" Infantry branch of service insignia
disks. The new enhancements were first worn by the 3rd US Infantry Regiment ("The Old Guard").
The light-blue cord and disks became standard for all Infantrymen in 1952. Although some other service branches adopted colored plastic disks for their branch insignia (e.g., red for Artillery, yellow for Cavalry) the shoulder cord is unique to the Infantry.
Graduates of the Infantry Basic Officer Leaders Course must complete their two week-long final FTX with a tactical road march and a mock company attack. Prior to graduation and out-processing, students have their "Blue Cord" ceremony at Freedom Hall where their blue cords are pinned on them by their platoon trainer Captain and NCOs. The staff sergeant or sergeant first class who pins on the blue cord then renders a salute recognizing the lieutenant's entry into the ranks of the Infantry.
Fourragère
The fourragère is a military award, distinguishing military units as a whole, that is shaped as a braided cord. The award has been firstly adopted by France, followed by other nations such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal.- History :...
in light blue ("Infantry Blue") worn under the right shoulder and under the right epaulette of a U.S. Army infantryman's Class A
Class A
Class A may refer to:* Class A airfield, a standardised design for military airfields built throughout Britain from 1942* Class A airspace, an airspace class defined by the ICAO* class A amplifier, a category of electronic amplifier...
dress green or dress blue uniform jacket or Class B shirt. The cord is composed of a series of alternating left and right half knots that are tied around a leader cord to form a "Solomon bar".
The Infantry Blue Cord is presented to all qualified infantryman in the U.S. Army at the end of their Initial Entry Training. Officers commissioned into the infantry receive their Blue Cords at the end of the Infantry Officer Basic Course
Basic Officer Leaders Course
The Basic Officer Leaders Course is a two-phased training course designed to produce commissioned officers in the United States Army. It is a progressive model designed to produce American Army officers with leadership skills, small unit tactics and certain branch specific capabilities.- BOLC A...
(IOBC). Enlisted infantryman earn their Blue Cords after successfully completing all Infantry Training Brigade requirements required for achieving the infantry MOS by graduating from 16 weeks of Infantry One Station Unit Training (OSUT), or six weeks of Infantry Advanced Individual Training (AIT), all of which are conducted at the U.S. Army Infantry Center's Infantry Training Brigade at Fort Benning, Georgia. Commissioned officers earn their blue cord after graduating from the U.S. Army Infantry School's Infantry Officer Basic Course
Basic Officer Leaders Course
The Basic Officer Leaders Course is a two-phased training course designed to produce commissioned officers in the United States Army. It is a progressive model designed to produce American Army officers with leadership skills, small unit tactics and certain branch specific capabilities.- BOLC A...
(IOBC), also held at Fort Benning, Georgia.
The Infantry Blue Cord is meant to be worn only by qualified U.S. Army Infantrymen currently assigned to an infantry unit in the Active Army, Army National Guard
Army National Guard
Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...
or Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
. Only those with an Infantry MOS Military Occupational Specialty
Military Occupational Specialty
A United States military occupation code, or a Military Occupational Specialty code , is a nine character code used in the United States Army and United States Marines to identify a specific job. In the U.S. Air Force, a system of Air Force Specialty Codes is used...
such as 11B, 11C, (NOT 11X as this is an "unassigned" position designated for recruits who are contracted into the CMF (Career Management Field) 11 - Infantry). Other 11 series MOS holders (as both their primary and duty MOS) who may wear the cord are Infantrymen assigned to an Infantry slot that is not in an Infantry unit (such as with Infantry assigned to a cavalry unit) if authorized, or Instructors, Drill Sergeants, or Recruiters.
Qualified Infantry soldiers who are not assigned to an Infantry unit, to include those who are an 11-series MOS holder transitioning to 18-series MOS, for example, (CMF 18 is the designation for Army Special Forces MOS) may not wear the Infantry Blue Cord or Disks; those assigned to an Infantry unit, may wear the Infantry Blue Cord and Disks until their transition to a non-Infantry unit is complete.
Origins
During the Korean War General "Lightning Joe" CollinsJ. Lawton Collins
Joseph "Lightning Joe" Lawton Collins was a General in the United States Army. During World War II, he served in both the Pacific and European Theaters of Operations. His elder brother, James Lawton Collins, was also in the army as a Major General...
, Chief of Staff for the Army
Chief of Staff of the United States Army
The Chief of Staff of the Army is a statutory office held by a four-star general in the United States Army, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Army, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the Army; and is in...
, asked a group of advisors what could be done to enhance the morale of the fighting Infantryman. It was decided that they would receive special insignia, so that everyone would know that the soldier was an Infantryman who would be fighting on the front lines.
A light-blue cord was created to be worn over the right shoulder of both officers and enlisted men. Also, light-blue plastic disks were issued to be placed behind the metal "crossed rifles" Infantry branch of service insignia
United States Army branch insignia
Branch insignia of the United States Army refers to military emblems that may be worn on the uniform of the United States Army to denote membership in a particular area of expertise and series of functional areas...
disks. The new enhancements were first worn by the 3rd US Infantry Regiment ("The Old Guard").
The light-blue cord and disks became standard for all Infantrymen in 1952. Although some other service branches adopted colored plastic disks for their branch insignia (e.g., red for Artillery, yellow for Cavalry) the shoulder cord is unique to the Infantry.
Presentation
Today, enlisted graduates of Infantry One Station Unit Training receive their blue cord at the "Turning Blue" ceremony held the day before their Initial Entry Training/OSUT graduation, or graduation from Infantry AIT. Other branches attend a similar ceremony called "Turning Green", but do not receive a shoulder cord.Graduates of the Infantry Basic Officer Leaders Course must complete their two week-long final FTX with a tactical road march and a mock company attack. Prior to graduation and out-processing, students have their "Blue Cord" ceremony at Freedom Hall where their blue cords are pinned on them by their platoon trainer Captain and NCOs. The staff sergeant or sergeant first class who pins on the blue cord then renders a salute recognizing the lieutenant's entry into the ranks of the Infantry.
Sources
- AR 670-1, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia (28–30. Distinctive items authorized for infantry personnel).