Shoulder cords are worn with usually worn with Service or Dress uniforms by members of the military, military-oriented organizations, law-enforcement and first-responder groups, and other organizations during special ceremonies or events.
Silver- and brass-tipped shoulder cords (fourragère style) of various colors are associated with Air Force or Navy Junior ROTC members serving in flight or unit staff positions. But regulations regarding designations of shoulder-cord colors vary widely between all organizations that authorize shoulder cords, and in some cases the exact parameters involving who may wear them and for what reasons is not clear.
U.S. Army uniform regulations, for instance, authorize the wear of only two types of shoulder cords (Infantry and Marksmanship), but it is accepted practice for local Commanders to prescribe the wear of branch-colored shoulder cords for any number of reasons (although in such cases unit funds are used to acquire the cords). Black is the branch color of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps.
Black shoulder cords are also specifically authorized for wear by members of the U.S. Navy Sea Cadet Corps (and junior organization Navy League Cadet Corps) by Color Guard Commanders and members of the Color Guard and Honor Guard. U.S. Army JROTC regulations suggest black shoulder corps should be worn by cadets for participation in “adventure-type activity” (but it does not delineate what that phrase encompasses).