Please help ID this

[burmafrd]

A friend asked me to help identify this but so far I have come up empty

 

[major bill]

German style marksmanship award. Not Civil War and post WWII. I would need to look up the correct name for it, but it can be found on a Web search.

 

[UCVRelics]

Welcome From The Heart Of Dixie. @major bill is spot on.

 

[zburkett]

Possibly Imperial German?

 

[major bill]

Possibly Imperial German?

I don't think so. These are fairly modern.

 

[Seduzal]

Welcome to CWT from the Smoky Mountain side of North Carolina.

 

[major bill]

This is one of the few foreign marksmanship or foreign proficiency awards allowed to be worn on US military uniforms. The correct US term is German Armed Forces Badge for Weapons Proficiency or Schützenschnur in German.

Enlisted American service men and women, but not officers, can wear these. The German military awards these for proficiency in weapons and one must qualify on a pistol, rifle, and heavy machinegun. They are not easy to win. I think US soldiers started wearing them around 1957 and as far as I know can still wear them. They were popular during the Vietnam War but not too common today.

I believe the one shown here is the current style and possibly the same as has been worn since 1957 or so. They are referred to as "cords" and you should do an online search for marksmanship cords worn by US soldiers or some such search.

 

[JohnW.]

I would say that it is definitely Imperial Germany....Der Kaiser's era.

 

[major bill]

These come in three classes, bronze, silver, and gold. The OP seems to be the silver or 2nd class award and is difficult to earn. US soldiers must sew a button on the jacket to properly wear this award.

It is difficult for me to be sure it is the silver award due to the quality of the image. Here is the silver award on a German uniform.

 

[major bill]

Try this as it is not a bad view on this item.

http://www.miluniform.com/german-proficiency-badge-marksmanship-schutzenschnur.aspx

 

[major bill]

A quick test for our uniform geeks:

Explain the difference between these similar looking but different items worn on US Army uniform and why they are called such, in a way must of our forum members can understand without having to read the explanation over and over.

Aiguillettes, fourrageres, cord,s and lanyards.

1. What makes the French fourragere and Belgian fourragere fourrageres?
2. What is the Netherlands Orange Lanyard and why is it not a fourragere?
3. What is a US Arny dress aiguillette and a service aiguellette and why is it not a cord, lanyard, or fourragere?
4. Is the German Armed Forces Badge for Weapons Proficiency or Schützenschnur a cord or a lanyard and why?
5. Explain the Vietnamese Fourragese and when it can be worn?
6. What is a US Army Infantry Shoulder Cord and why is it not called a lanyard?

If you can explain the above in a way most forum members can understand, you get the "gold star" for the night.

 

[DixieRifles]

I don't think so. These are fairly modern.

I agree.

 

[major bill]

I agree.

Hard to earn but seen off and of in the 1960-1980s. Less so after the 1990s but as far as I know they are still authorized today ( I have not had to inspect military uniforms since the 1990s and would have to research my most recent AR 670-1 and the latest AR 670-1 I can find on my shelf is from 1 September 1992. Heavens I must have or more recent AR 670-1 than 1992.

If you still call them AR 670-5 you are a Vietnam era kind of forum member and are way out of date.

 

[major bill]

Uniform geeks can also get a "gold star" for listing the 25 different appurtenances worn by the US military (the bronze Arabic numerals have different numbers but only count as one), three are only worn on foreign ribbons. Can you name all 25 appurtenances? Only ex sergeant majors can probably do this.

 

[DixieRifles]

Can you name all 25 appurtenances?

You are referring to US --- not German?

Im not sure what all devices were considered appurtenances. Even the oak leaf and V for valor devices?

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy

 

[major bill]

The US military wears 25 things like bronze oak leaf devices on their medals. Three are only worn on foreign medals. For example I have a dozen devices but only 7 different devices on the medals I am authorized to wear. (There many be more than 25 devices, but I only know that many of them)

 

[Patrick H]

I am pretty confident in Major Bill's explanation of the award. Until you hear something more persuasive, allow me to welcome you from Missouri.

 

[major bill]

Just thought of a new medal device so make it 26 devices.

 

[mofederal]

Hello and welcome to the talk forum from Southeast Missouri on the muddy banks of the Mississippi River.