Scarlet and white are the colors of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. While none of the pertinent Army uniform regulations mention scarlet and white shoulder cords for personnel serving in the Engineers branch, local Army commanders have the authority to prescribe the wear of shoulder cords in branch colors for ceremonial purposes or special occasions, similar to the way in which they may authorize the wear of branch-colored scarves. When commanders prescribe the wear of such items, it is up to them to either provide the items or provide the funds to reimburse Soldiers for their acquisition.
But the wear of scarlet and white shoulder cords is not necessarily limited to the Army. Shoulder cords are commonly worn on the uniforms of military or military-related organizations, as well as those of law enforcement and first responders, as part of a ceremonial uniform or in recognition of a special achievement or honor. Regulations prescribing specific cord colors or color combinations vary greatly among these organizations, with local commanders often being given authority to customize cord colors according to their preferences, so scarlet and white shoulder cords could be worn by members of any number of organizations, including ROTC/JROTC units of the Army, Air Force, and Navy, the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet / League Cadet Corps, Civil Air Patrol, and police and fire departments.