(1) Sizes
Shoulder straps are made in large and small sizes.
(a) Male (large)
The large shoulder strap is 1–5/8 inches wide and 4 inches long.
(b) Female (small)
The small shoulder strap is 1–5/8 inches wide and 3–1/2 inches long.
(2) Design
For general officers, the background is blue-black velvet.
For all other officers, the background is a rayon-grosgrain ribbon of the first-named color of the officer’s basic branch.
The strap has an 11/32-inch gold-colored border, surrounded on the inside and outside by a single strand in gold jaceron.
If the officer’s branch has two colors, the second branch color is used as a 1/8-inch inside border in lieu of gold jaceron.
Insignia and borders are rayon-embroidered or bullion and jaceron (see fig 21–61).
(3) Insignia
Grade insignia for officers is embroidered on the shoulder straps in the following designs:
(a) General officers
The insignia is the appropriate number of silver-colored stars, each 5/8 inch in diameter.
All stars are worn with one point facing the neck.
Stars on the shoulder straps are placed point to point.
(b) Colonel
The insignia is a silver-colored spread eagle, 5/8 inch in height, with 1–1/4 inches between the tips of the wings.
Shoulder straps are made in pairs.
On each strap, the eagle is centered with the head facing forward.
(c) Lieutenant colonel
The insignia is a silver-colored oak leaf, 5/8 inch long and 5/8 inch wide, positioned on each end of the shoulder strap.
(d) Major
The insignia is a gold-colored oak leaf, 5/8 inch long and 5/8 inch wide, positioned on each end of the shoulder strap.
(e) Captain
The insignia is two silver-colored bars, each 1/4 inch wide and 5/8 inch long, parallel to the ends of the strap, 3/16 inch apart and 3/16 inch from the inside border, positioned at each end of the shoulder strap.
(f) First lieutenant
The insignia is one silver-colored bar, 1/4 inch wide and 5/8 inch long, parallel to the ends of the strap and 3/16 inch from the inside border, positioned at each end of the shoulder strap.
(g) Second lieutenant
The insignia is one gold-colored bar, 1/4 inch wide and 5/8 inch long, parallel to the ends of the strap and 3/16 inch from the inside border, positioned at each end of the shoulder strap.
(h) Chief warrant officer 5
The insignia is a silver-colored bar, 1/4 inch wide and 3/4 inch long, with one black line in the center of the insignia.
(i) Chief warrant officer 4
The insignia is a silver-colored bar, 1/4 inch wide and 3/4 inch long, with four black squares centered on the bar, positioned parallel to and at each end of the shoulder strap.
(j) Chief warrant officer 3
The insignia is a silver-colored bar, 1/4 inch wide and 3/4 inch long, with three black squares centered on the bar, positioned parallel to and at each end of the shoulder strap.
(k) Chief warrant officer 2
The insignia is a silver-colored bar, 1/4 inch wide and 3/4 inch long, with two black squares centered on the bar, positioned parallel to and at each end of the shoulder strap.
(l) Warrant officer 1
The insignia is a silver-colored bar, 1/4 inch wide and 3/4 inch long, with one black square centered on the bar, positioned parallel to and at each end of the shoulder strap.
(4) How worn
On each shoulder, the shoulder strap is sewn, snapped, or hooked to the coat of the ASU, centered lengthwise on the outside shoulder seam.
