Shoulder pads, such as lanyards, aiguillettes, and fourragères, are military decorations worn on the shoulder to recognize proficiency, distinguish branches of service, and reward individuals for distinguished service. They come in different colors and are worn by high-ranking members of the military and individuals who have received special awards. The origins of the shoulder pad are unclear, but they have been used for centuries. In the United States, soldiers wear “unauthorized” epaulettes to distinguish their branch of service.
A lanyard is a military decoration that is worn on the shoulder. It can wrap around the shoulder under the armpit, rest on the shoulder of the uniform, or attach to a point on the front of the uniform, depending on the design. There are several different types of shoulder boards used by militaries around the world, ranging from the blue infantry lanyard worn by American foot soldiers to the Schützenschnur, an honor awarded by the German military in recognition of marksmanship. A number of regulations govern the use of shoulder pads.
The origins of the shoulder pad are unclear, but militaries around the world have used them to recognize proficiency, distinguish branches of service, and reward individuals for distinguished service, and have been doing so for centuries. There are also several decorative devices referred to as “shoulder straps”, including the basic lanyard, the aiguillettes and the fourragère. As a general rule, all are made from woven or knotted materials that come in different colors.
Aiguillettes, usually of gold or silver, are worn by high-ranking members of the military and by individuals who have received special awards. They are attached to the shoulder and worn across the chest and are distinguished by the presence of small spikes which may include decorative devices such as the seal of a branch of service. They may be worn on the left or right shoulder, depending on nation, branch of service, rank and purpose.
The fourragère is a special type of shoulder lanyard issued by the French Army, followed by a handful of other armies. Members of military units that have been recognized with the fourragère may wear this decoration while serving in the unit, and persons who belonged to the unit when it was recognized may wear it on the outside of the shoulder and retain the right to wear it around the waist . This award was occasionally presented to foreign units and is still worn in the ceremonial dress of those units.
When an epaulette is awarded, it is usually pinned or attached in a ceremony recognizing the achievement that merited the award of an epaulette. Members of the military can also order shoulder pads for additional uniforms. In the United States there is a thriving trade in so-called “unauthorized” epaulettes worn by soldiers who wear them to distinguish their branch of service. People may not technically be entitled to an epaulette under military regulations, but rope use is commonly accepted and tolerated.
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