Just more flair on the uniforms to make everyone feel special. You will also notice if you walk around campus that just about everyone has a cord of some sort. It's a little excessive if you ask me.

My senior year as a unit commander was the first year they had them. Wasn't about adding flare.

The Corps has really emphasized leadership further down the chain to the platoon, squad, and team level. The green tabs were a part of that, and it had a really positive result.

^I'll second the above. The addition of green tabs had an extremely positive result as it is a symbol of responsibility. When team leaders are failing in their duties, they can have their green tabs taken away. The Corps now has fully functioning chains of command in each unit rather than a Commander that does everything.

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My senior year as a unit commander was the first year they had them. Wasn't about adding flare.

The Corps has really emphasized leadership further down the chain to the platoon, squad, and team level. The green tabs were a part of that, and it had a really positive result.

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At first glance I would have agreed that it is just another piece of flair, but after following my old outfit around for the past two years photographing their adventures I can see the positive influence that some of the small changes like this has made.

After many years of no contact with my old outfit, starting a long term personal photography project with the current cadets, I have been extremely impressed with the positive changes made. Yes some of "old army" is gone, but some of it is gone for the better! What I have found is that the spirit of the Corps is strong, not to mention that the cadets, in my old outfit at least, are more fit and have better grades than we could of ever dreamed. The fish are still fish and still have the stress of being a fish, even if they aren't getting smoked in uniform in the mornings before class anymore.

Remember, old army first went to hell in 1877.

There's a distinct qualitative difference in both authority and responsibility between those merely in the chain and those actually in command. I appreciate the Corps' intent, but it's too bad that they did it at the expense of diluting a symbol that was once reserved to identify those few entrusted with unit command. I suspect that any improvement in leadership had little to do with the simple distribution of tabs.

As for citation cords, if the following list is accurate, then they have proliferated beyond any utility. How can an organization of only 2,500 rationalize 20+ different citation cords? When so many are cited, then cords lose their symbolic value as a motivator, reward and discriminator. How did ribbons or insignia of high rank cease to be sufficient recognition for almost all of the below?

a. The General George F. Moore Award for the outstanding company size unit (White cord).
b. The George P. F. Jouine Award for the outstanding academic achievement of a non-technical company sized unit (Maroon and white cord).
c. Buchanon Award for the outstanding academic achievement of a technical company sized unit (Red Cord).
d. The Major General Bruno A. Hochmuth Award for the outstanding military achievement of a company sized unit (Maroon-white braid cord).
e. The Robert M. Gates Public Service Award for the outstanding public service achievement of a company sized unit (Red-white-blue braid cord).
f. The Commandant's Award for the outstanding university activities achievement of a company sized unit (Maroon cord).
g. The J. J. Sanchez Award for the outstanding recruiting and retention achievement of a company sized unit. (Green and white cord).
h. Corps Commander Cord (Maroon and white cord).
i. Deputy Corps Commander and Major Unit Commander Cords (White-maroon braid cord).
j. Ross Volunteer Company (Gold and white cord).
k. Fish Drill Team (Maroon-white braid cord).
l. Simpson Honor Society (Blue and white cord).
m. Parsons Mounted Cavalry (Gold cord).
n. Singing Cadets/Women's Chorus/Century Singers (White cord).
o. Corps Center Guard (Maroon and grey cord).
p. Color Guard (Maroon cord).
q. Arnold Air Society (Gold and blue cord).
r. Cadet Leadership Committee (Red and White cord).
s. Eagle Post (Red, white and blue braided cord)
t. Darling Recruiting Company (Green and gold braid cord).
u. Current service cords.

I bolded the organizations that warranted cords while I was in the Corps, FWIW. Believe me, because cords were so scarce and valued, we worked overtime to earn the right to wear them and respected those that did. Don't get me wrong, I have high regard for where the Corps stands today in everything else that matters. JMO........ '74

Why in the world would the Corps Commander, DCC, and major unit commanders need CORDS? Isn't the rank obvious?

A-I and U are the only authorized cords out of that list. I also think the CC wears the same cord as MUCs not a different cord

So 7 out of 42 outfits have cords plus the special unit cords.

It's no where near everyone. And all but FDT are only a one year cord that has to be reearned or won.

I've watched with great interest the many and varied comments concerning both the green tabs and the cords worn by our cadets today. Hopefully I can shed a little bit of light on what exactly has occurred and why. But I will say that several people on this thread have been very eloquent - and accurate - with respect to the impact of both green tabs and cords in our Corps.

First, we decided to go with green tabs for all leaders - from ASLs to the Corps Commander - to instill some pride and recognition in those who truly lead others in our Corps. It was also an attempt to combat apathy among those cadets - especially white belts - who felt they had no leadership position and thus basically "quit" and did the bare minimum they could while in the Corps. In many cases we had cadets who felt they were "non-leaders" not going to formation, not going to PT, and in some cases, not going to Corps march-ins and football games. It was simply unacceptable to have cadets feeling that they no longer had to participate simply because they felt they were not "leaders." The mindset was, "the only one who wears the green tabs is the Commander, and if you're not the Commander, you're not really a leader in the Corps." It was a backward and irresponsible way to view leadership in the Corps, and we realized early on that we needed to fix it.

We instituted the green tabs for ALL cadets who lead other cadets basically from the Army's system of having leaders of soldiers wear green tabs. We instituted the system 3 years ago, and its been a huge success. Cadets take pride in wearing their green tabs, recognizing them as those who directly lead other cadets, and its proven very successful - along with the Platoon System for all units - in helping to combat the apathy that was rampant in the Corps when I first got here. Its not perfect, and we still have to fight apathy all the time, but its a huge step in the right direction, and our cadets have taken it and owned it. Commanders have the authority to remove green tabs from those cadets not meeting the standard, and that has proven very effective also. The bottom line is that now all cadets wearing green tabs know they are leaders, accept that responsibility, and fully understand that they must lead well or risk losing their position and their tabs. Its been far more successful than I ever anticipated.

When I got here as Commandant I too felt that the Corps had over-proliferated cords, and 2 years ago we cut back on over half of them. Charlie Brown is correct - most of the cords listed by 740A are no longer worn by cadets. Again, I'm not sure we'll ever have a perfect system of awards and decorations, but in my opinion, after 31 years of military service, if a cord, ribbon, badge, or even a coin can make a soldier or cadet perform better, or instill pride in them and what they and their fellow soldiers/cadets have achieved, then I'm ok with that.

I knew soldiers who would go to hell and back for you for a coin or just a pat on the back and a "you done good" in front of his buddies, and our cadets are no different. We've cut back a lot on cords and other decorations in the time I've been here, but I still firmly believe that a little positive recognition goes a LONG way when it comes to soldiers and cadets. And if it helps them perform better, helps instill pride in them, their unit, and their Corps, then I'm all for it. You can say its all about this generation feeling "entitled," but I wear a chest full of medals, ribbons and badges that I EARNED over 31 years of military service, and I'm PROUD to wear them, and I was proud to have received them. This generation is no different, and I'll gladly award them with a ribbon, a badge, a cord, or even a coin for a job well done if they've earned it, if it helps make them better cadets, and if it helps instill pride in them and their unit. You don't have to agree, but I would argue that it works in our military today, and it also works in our Corps today - for all the RIGHT reasons.

One last point: I couldn't agree more with Tomb Daddy about the unit at Carson. Not only a stupid decision by that Cdr, but I can't believe that a Division Cdr would allow that to happen. Its not about "look at me." Its about treating soldiers right, and rewarding them for a job well done. Seriously, something as small as an Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, or even a Good Conduct Medal is a problem for our Army?? Not in the Army I was in. I wonder how many of those officers at Carson wear their uniforms for promotion boards with no awards, ribbons, badges, or other decorations they've been awarded? And I wonder how our 7 MOH recipients would feel about that policy? Absolute idiocy, and I can't believe anyone would allow Army leaders to do that to our soldiers. Our soldiers - many of whom are combat vets with multiple deployments today - deserve better.

I hope this clears things up concerning the issue that started this thread. Again, you don't have to agree, but at least now you know the rationale behind the decision. I appreciate your love and passion for our Corps.

Thanks and Gig 'em!