Shoulderboards.

[CtahhR]

Here are a pair of late Soviet Army boards.

To those with limited experience the date is located on the "under" side on the bottom line.

This example was made in 1988 and never issued. They can still be picked up in unissued pairs for cents (last time I was purchasing about 5-10 cents a pair). The unissued pairs are kept together with a paper ring. Earlier examples were often held together as a pair by a stitch of cotton at the "neck end".