Is it time for the army to stop wearing the United States flag on our uniforms?

SFC Cornelius Walsh — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 13:55:34 -0400

In October of 2005, it became mandatory for soldiers to wear the reversed-field full-color US Flag replica on utility uniforms. This was a reminder to the American people and the Army that " we are a nation at war at home and abroad." As we've now theoretically transitioned from a "Nation at war" to a "Nation preparing for war," is it time to return to the time where the flag was only worn by our deployed Forces?

Response by 1SG Chris Brown made Sep 30 at 2014 2:53 PM

1SG Chris Brown — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 14:53:34 -0400

I don't think it should be a deployment-only thing. And I don't see the need to modify the uniform back and forth based on which mode of warfighting we're in. I remember when we first had to put them on in BDUs and thought back then that it was kind of dumb. Maybe it's grown on me now, though, as I do think it stands out and makes our uniform present just a little nicer. Of course, I'm on the downhill glide to retirement in 2 years, so I only have a small concern for it. If it went away tomorrow, whatever. But my preference personally....keep it.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2014 9:41 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 09:41:57 -0500

I think the subdued one should definitely be canned, per the flag code our flag is red white and blue.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Mar 5 at 2015 5:29 PM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 17:29:18 -0500

I thought it was to ID US GIs, what with so many different uniforms. In WWII, paratroops wore an American flag, properly attached to the uniform, not backwards, BTW, because they wore a different uniform than regular GIs.

The ones I've seen have been subdued.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2015 9:26 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 May 2015 21:26:31 -0400

Why is this a question? NO!!

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2015 10:03 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 May 2015 22:03:10 -0400

A little history and background on the flag as worn on the utility uniform. One of the first units to wear the flag as a permanent part of the uniform (BDUs) was the Southern European Task Force (SETAF) in Vicenza, Italy (as far back as at least the 80s, maybe even longer). They wore the flag because they were part of a NATO rapid reaction element called Allied Mobile Forces (AMF). When conducting NATO operations, service members wore the flag of their nation to help identify them to other NATO partners. The full colored flag was actually worn on the left shoulder under the unit patch and was often covered in 100mph tape to camouflage it in the field unless dealing with civilians or foreign soldiers.Since the unit was part of the rapid reaction force, it was decided that the flag would be permanently sewed on. These flags were often made in China and they had varying numbers of stripes and stars and were inconsistently sized.

Prior to that, the flag was only worn while on deployment, inconsistently. US paratroopers wore it during WWII on D Day and didn't see a lot of use until the 1991 Gulf War and was in heavy use by the time Bosnia and Kosovo kicked off.

European armies have regularly worn their flags for decades (albeit much smaller than the size we use) and with the preference to use a multicam pattern or similar offbrand increasing, there is a need for US Soldiers to continue wearing the flag, especially since I don't see the US military doing a whole lot of unilateral operations anymore.

Response by SFC Stephen King made May 25 at 2015 10:11 PM

SFC Stephen King — Mon, 25 May 2015 22:11:11 -0400

No. I'm curious as to how this is even a discussion we should sew it on permanently. Regardless of the uniform we are wearing. I have and will always wear it proudly.