[Rhino32]

How is it that the U.S. military is allowed to change the rules of flag display on the uniform (as with being worn on the right shoulder with the union field to the right). I understand that the unit or division (or other affiliation) is rationally worn on the left shoulder, but shouldn't the rules of flag display take president? I have been told by a military recruiter that it is to represent that we are constantly moving forward. I disagree. Does anyone else?

[Peter Ansoff]

Greetings, Rhino32!

How is it that the U.S. military is allowed to change the rules of flag display on the uniform (as with being worn on the right shoulder with the union field to the right).

First of all, the civilian "flag code" does not say anything about which shoulder a flag patch should be displayed on, or which way it should face. It says that the union should be on the viewer's left when a flag is displayed flat against a wall, but that is a completely different issue. Second, even if the flag code did address this question, it would not matter, because the flag code does not apply to the military. Section 5 of 4 USC 1 makes this clear:

The following codification of existing rules and customs pertaining to the display and use of the flag of the United States of America is established for the use of such civilians or civilian groups or organizations as may not be required to conform with regulations promulgated by one or more executive departments of the Government of the United States.

Each of the military services has its own regulations governing use of the flag on uniforms. The Army displays them on the right shoulder with the union facing forward. The Army Regulation (AR 670-1) says:

The full-color U.S. flag cloth replica is worn so that the star field faces forward . . .. When worn in this manner, the flag is facing to the observer’s right, and gives the effect of the flag flying in the breeze as the wearer moves forward. The appropriate replica for the right shoulder sleeve is identified as the reverse side flag.

Other services and agencies do it differently. NASA astronauts, for example, wear the flag patch on the left sleeves of their space suits.

The flag is also displayed with the union on the right on the right side of vehicles and aircraft, both civilian and military. The reasoning is the same; the flag is oriented so that the union is forward with respect to the direction of travel. Again, this is not a violation of the flag code even in a civilian context, because the code does not specify one way or the other.

Peter Ansoff