How to Wear Army
Insignias on the
Army Uniform -
The Flag
Have you wondered why the American Flag patches are displayed
on the U.S. Army uniform? Does it look like someone got in
a hurry and put it on the right shoulder sleeve backwards?
Well, here is the official scoop.
Army Regulation
670-1, "Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia,"
updated most recently September 5, 2003, addresses explicitly
the proper and lawful placement of the U.S. flag patch on
the Army uniform.
Wear of full-color U.S. flag cloth replica
a. General. All soldiers throughout the Force, regardless
of deployment status, will wear the full-color U.S. flag
cloth replica on utility and organizational uniforms.
240 AR 670–1 • 3 February 2005
b. Description. The colors of the U.S. flag cloth replica
are red, white, and blue. The size is approximately 2
inches
by 3 inches.
c. How worn.
(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. If the SSI–FWTS is worn on the right shoulder
of the utility uniform, the full-color U.S. flag cloth
replica is placed 1/8 inch below the right shoulder sleeve
insignia (see fig 28–136). The SSI–FWTS is not authorized
for wear on organizational uniforms, unless indicated
above.
(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.
In Plain English: The regulation states
that when authorized for application to the proper uniform
the American flag patch is to be worn, right or left shoulder,
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'."
