[Peter Ansoff]

My son is in Karate, on his uniform the facility wants me to put on a left sleeve flag patch on his right arm, so the stars are at the back. . . .I was told that the stars are to always face forward. When I told the instructor this, I was told a couple of things, that #1, these are not field uniforms. . . Is that true? I thought that the Department of Defense changed that several years ago and that even dress uniforms were to be displayed with the blue leading.

Well, let's see if we can sort this out. First of all, the Army's governing document on this subject is Army Regulation 670-1, "Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia." Paragraph 28-18a of this regulation says:

"All soldiers throughout the Force, regardless of deployment status, will wear the full-color U.S. flag cloth replica on utility and organizational uniforms."

This was changed a few years ago; previously, only deployed troops wore the U.S. flag patch. The regulation does not say anything about wearing the flag patch on service uniforms, which would indicate that (officially, at least) you are not supposed to wear it on a service uniform.

Paragraph 28-18c of the regulation says:

"(1) When approved for wear, the full-color U.S. flag cloth replica is sewn 1⁄2 inch below the right shoulder seam of the temperate, hot-weather, enhanced hot-weather, and desert BDU; the BDU field jacket; and the cold-weather uniform. [. . .]

(2) The full-color U.S. flag cloth replica is worn so that the star field faces forward, or to the flag’s own right. 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."

So: according to US Army regs, the flag patch is always displayed on the right sleeve with the blue union forward.

However, US Army regs apply only to the US Army. The guidelines for civilian use of the U.S. flag are in the Flag Code, which does not say anything, one way or the other, about the direction of the union on a flag patch. The bottom line is that your son's Karate organization can make whatever rule it wants. They can choose to follow the Army's rules, but they don't have to. It's technically not "wrong" either way.

I hope this clarifies things!

Peter Ansoff

[Libby]

Thanks for you help.

[Rizz]

Just curious, but wouldn't a karate uniform and any other athletic uniform fall under this section of the flag code:

"Sec 8(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart."

.... and therfore should never be worn at a patch unless it is on a military or government service uniform?

Edit: Actually, I just saw your opinion (well, Peter's anyway) that a flag patch does not constitute "part of the flag", and that a patrotic organization could mean just about anything (although I am not sure if I would lump sports teams into that personally).

[Peter Ansoff]

Greetings, Rizz -- welcome!

. . .a patrotic organization could mean just about anything (although I am not sure if I would lump sports teams into that personally).

You're right -- there is some fuzziness here. I guess it depends on whether you define a "patriotic organization" as a group whose primary purpose is to promote patriotism, or just as a group that wants to exhibit patriotism.

In any case, it seems to be common nowdays for sports teams and other organizations to wear flag patches. This is a case where "existing use and customs" have changed since the flag code was adopted, and the code has not kept up. Other examples are flying unilluminated flags at night (now rather common, since flags are made of synthetics and don't wear out quickly), and carrying flags horizontally in parades and pageants.

Peter A.