Worn as part of the Service or Dress uniforms of numerous military, paramilitary, military-orented, law-enforcement, and first-responder organizations, shoulder cords are issued in a variety of colors and styles depending on the issuing or authorizing body.
Silver- and brass-tipped shoulder cords are worn by staff members of Junior ROTC groups affiliated with the Air Force and Navy; Army regulations do not mention metal tips, but refer simply to shoulder cords.
Gold shoulder cords are specifically mentioned in the regulations of several national organizations.
Army JROTC: Cadet Command Regulation 145-2 states that gold shoulder cords are to be worn by members of honor organizations, e.g. national and local honor societies. The same regulation authorizes individual JROTC battalions to design their own shoulder cords provided the design is approved by U.S. Army Cadet Command.
U.S. Navy Sea Cadet / Navy League Corps: Refers to shoulder cords as aiguillettes and authorizes blue, white, black, red, yellow, and gold cords without specifying designations or requirements.
Civil Air Patrol: Gold shoulder cords are worn by primary members of the National Cadet Advisory Council.