quote:

Originally posted by runfuret:
Just thought I'd share this little bit of information. A lot of guys these days don't know the history of that blue cord we are all so proud of.


An aiguillette is an ornamental braided cord most often worn on uniforms but may also be observed on other costumes such as academic dress, where it will denote an honor. It is French in origin and goes back to the use of horses in battle. A general's aide-de-camp carried a loop of cord to tie up the general's horse during dismount. As a practical approach, the aides would loop the cord around the epaulette flap on the shoulder of their tunic.


Infantry Blue Cord

General Washington selected the color blue to distinguish his tough and resolute infantry in the Continental Army from other types of soldiers. General LaFayette chose a light blue color to outfit his American Infantry Corps. For the next 120 years, the official Infantry color alternated between blue and white until 1904 when the Army officially adopted what we now know as "Infantry Blue."

In 1951, the Army leadership sought to encourage and recognize foot soldiers who were bravely fighting intense battles in Korea. They soon adopted the Infantry Blue Cord. This cord would only be worn by fully qualified Infantrymen and would announce for all to see that these men would be on the front line when our nation was at war.

Today, enlisted graduates of Infantry Basic Training receive their blue cord at the end of their final FTX. Graduates of the Infantry Officer Basic Course complete their weeklong final FTX and after road marching back to building 76 have their blue cords pinned on them by their platoon trainer NCOs. The SSG or SFC who pins on the blue cord then renders an honorary salute in symbolic recognition of their welcoming the Lieutenant into the ranks of the Infantry

quote:

Originally posted by GeneSchubeck:
I crossed to the Army Guard form the Marines. I went to the abbreviated 2 week prior service infantry MOS course at Ft. Knox. When I completed the course, and was waiting for my taxi, in my class A's, with my new blue cord and discs on, I was approached by one of the retarded course instructors who said "SGT. Schubeck, you cain't wear that cord and discs unless you got orders.". I told him, Yes, I could. He told me , No, you cain't. I reached down to my bag, pulled out the 670-1 I had, and showed him. He told me it was wrong. I told him that if he wanted the cord off of me, he wa going to have to take it off himself. And, that if he had the balls, he did not have permission to touch me, and I would whip his ***. He walked away.

BTW, this is the same, lame school where one of the "instructors" told us that "if you get lost in the woods, tie a whistle to your arrow, shoot it in the air, and "they" will hear you and rescue you"....I asked, where do I draw my bow and arrow from, supply or the armory, and just who the hell is "they"...?