Military Wiki
Advertisement
Jointcolors

The U.S. Joint Service Color Guard on parade at Fort Myer, Virginia in October 2001. This joint color guard shows the organizational colors of each branch (left to right):National, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The several branches of the United States Armed Forces are represented by flags, among other emblems and insignia. Within each branch, various flags fly on various occasions, and on various ships, bases, camps, and military academies.

In general, the order of precedence when displaying military flags together is the U.S. National Colors, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Coast Guard.[1][2] However, in any period, such as in wartime, where the U.S. Coast Guard is operating as part of the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard flag would precede the U.S. Air Force flag.[3][4]

Flags[]

Military Flag of the United States

Flag of the United States of America War flag

USA - Flag of the US Army with Fringe

Flag of the United States Army

File:USMC - Flag of the USMC with Fringe.png

Flag of the United States Marine Corps

File:USN - Flag of the USN with Fringe.png

Flag of the United States Navy

File:USAF - Flag with Fringe.png

Flag of the United States Air Force

USCG - Flag with Fringe

Flag of the United States Coast Guard

Maritime flags[]

Many maritime flags have been used in the United States.

All naval vessels belonging to the United States fly the Ensign of the United States, which is identical to the flag of the United States (though originally was a design similar to the Grand Union Flag). All documented U.S. vessels, and all U.S. vessels in international or foreign waters, are required to display this ensign between 08:00 and sunset. Conversely, vessels of the U.S. Coast Guard display a unique ensign as a demonstration of its authority to stop, board, search, and conduct arrests and seizures aboard vessels subject to United States jurisdiction. Historically, the ensign displayed has changed as the flag of the United States has changed. Similarly, vessels of the Continental Navy flew many varied ensigns due to a vague standard set by the Continental Congress, the arrangement of stars and pattern of stripes being left to the commander's interpretations.[5]

Vessels of the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration display the Jack of the United States from the jackstaff.[6] Originally the First Navy Jack was displayed, a design containing the thirteen red and white stripes; while some maintain that it was superimposed by an uncoiled rattlesnake and the motto "Dont tread on me" [sic], reminiscent of the Gadsden flag. It was later changed to a blue canton with white stars, the "union", and updated as each state entered the Union. However, all warships were directed to fly the First Navy Jack, including the disputed rattlesnake and motto, for the duration of the War on Terror in 2002.[7]

A Commissioning or Masthead pennant is flown from the masthead and represents the commission of the captain of the ship (and thus of the ship itself). Additionally, a Church pennant may be flown during religious services. This pennant, white with a blue cross (or blue tablets and Star of David for Jewish services), is the only flags authorized to be flown above the national ensign, and only when at sea. In addition, hospital ships display the Red Cross.

Ships and units ashore may also fly burgees displaying unit citations. Flags can also be used for signaling.

National ensign, 1960–present
National ensign, 1960–present National flag and ensign
"First Navy Ensign" (naval ensign, 1776–1777)
"First Navy Ensign"
(naval ensign, 1776–1777) Design used in the past, but now abandoned
Coast Guard Ensign
Coast Guard Ensign War ensign
"First Navy Jack" (naval jack, 2002–present)
"First Navy Jack"
(naval jack, 2002–present)
"Union Jack" (naval jack, 1960–2002; government jack, 1960–present)
"Union Jack"
(naval jack, 1960–2002;
government jack, 1960–present)
Naval jack, 1776–1777 (probable)
Naval jack, 1776–1777 (probable)
Commissioning pennant
Commissioning pennant
Church pennants
Church pennants
Church pennants
Red Cross (hospital ships)
Red Cross (hospital ships)

Personal flags[]

Officers with certain offices or billets, as well as all generals and admirals, have a personal flag assigned to represent their authority and/or command;[8] thus why they are often referred to as "flag officers". Ashore, they are usually displayed within the owner's office or raised on a secondary flagstaff near the unit colors; while they are flown aboard ship according to rank. The appearance consists of a number of stars equal to the officer's rank insignia, the colors determined by service: red with white stars for the Army and Marine Corps, blue with white stars for Naval commanders and Air Force. Certain staff and non-line officers have unique colors: white with blue stars for non-command Navy admirals,[9] while Army chaplains and medical generals use ecclesiastical purple and maroon backgrounds, respectively.[10]

Unique flags are given to the President[11] (due to his position as Commander-in-Chief[12]), , Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense, Under Secretaries of Defense, and Assistant Secretaries of Defense,[13] each of the Secretaries of the Military Departments (Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Navy, Secretary of the Air Force), Under Secretaries of the Military Departments (Under Secretary of the Army, Under Secretary of the Navy, Under Secretary of the Air Force), and Assistant Secretaries of the Military Departments (Assistant Secretary of the Army, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force), the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the chief of the Military Services (Chief of Staff of the Army, Commandant of the Marine Corps, Chief of Naval Operations, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and Commandant of the Coast Guard). An admiral, acting commodore, or Convoy Commodore aboard a ship each may fly a flag from their flagship.

In addition, the Navy will display the flag of the Secretary of State]] when he or she is embarked as the representative of the United States. Other diplomatic personnel are also afforded a [[:File:ConsularFlag-USNSpec.svg|consular flag when embarked. The Coast Guard, being part of the , will utilize the Secretary's flag much like the Navy will utilize the SecDef's.

Flag of the President of the United States of America

Flag of the President of the United States

US Vice President Flag

Flag of the Vice President

USSecDefflag

Flag of the Secretary of Defense

Flag of the United States Deputy Secretary of Defense

Flag of the Deputy Secretary of Defense

Flag US Secretary of the Army

Flag of the Secretary of the Army

US-SecretaryOfTheNavy-Flag

Flag of the Secretary of the Navy

Flag of the Secretary of the Air Force

Flag of the Secretary of the Air Force

Flag of Assistant Secretary of War

Flag of the Under Secretary of the Army

US-UnderSecretaryOfTheNavy-Flag

Flag of the Under Secretary of the Navy

Flag of the Under Secretary of the Air Force

Flag of the Under Secretary of the Air Force

Flag of the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff

Flag of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

VJCSflag

Flag of the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Flag US Army Chief of Staff

Flag of the Chief of Staff of the Army

FlagCMC

Flag of the Commandant of the Marine Corps

US-ChiefOfNavalOperations-Flag

Flag of the
Chief of Naval Operations

CoSUSAF

Flag of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force

USCG COMDT W

Flag of the Commandant of the Coast Guard

Flag US Army Vice-Chief of Staff

Flag of the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army

US Marine Corps General Flag

Flag of the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps

US-ViceChiefOfNavalOperations-Flag

Flag of the Vice Chief of Naval Operations

Flag of the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force

Flag of the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force

USCG VCOMDT W

Flag of the Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard

SEACflag

Flag of the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

SMAFlag-

Flag of the Sergeant Major of the Army

Others[]

Many other flags are traditionally associated with the military.

American Revolution[]

Not having made an official design until 1777, a numerous distinct flags were carried into battle by American forces. Even after, the vague wording of the Flag Resolution of 1777 led to many designs.

Others[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. Duncan Jr., Charles W. (October 31, 1977). "DoD Directive 1005.8". Deputy Secretary of Defense. Department of Defense. http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/dodandmilitaryejournals/www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/html2/d10058x.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-07. 
  2. Terrel, Captain. "United States Military Order of Precedence". veteransinfo.net. http://www.veteransinfo.net/Main%20page/flags_seals_order_of.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-07. 
  3. Wyatt, Rick (2008-04-26). "Order When Displayed". Flags of the World. http://flagspot.net/flags/us%5Emil.html. Retrieved 2009-04-07. 
  4. Frequently Asked Questions Page
  5. American Naval Flags of the Revolutionary War
  6. Wyatt, Rick (2004-07-10). "Naval Jack (U.S.)". Flags of the World. http://flagspot.net/flags/us%5Envj.html. Retrieved 2009-04-07. 
  7. Civitillo, Susan (2002-09-09). "All U.S. Navy Ships to Begin Flying First Navy Jack on Patriot Day". United States Navy. http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=3463. Retrieved 2009-04-07. 
  8. Wyatt, Rick (2004-07-10). "Military Rank Flags (U.S.)". Flags of the World. http://flagspot.net/flags/us%5Eranks.html. Retrieved 2009-04-07. 
  9. Gregg, Thomas M. (July 28, 2010). "United States Navy: Current Position & Rank Flags". Archive of the Colors. War Flags. http://tmg110.tripod.com/usn1.htm. Retrieved 19 September 2010. 
  10. Gregg, Thomas M. (July 28, 2010). "United States Army: General Officers' Rank Flags". Archive of the Colors. War Flags. http://tmg110.tripod.com/usarmyr.htm. Retrieved 19 September 2010. 
  11. Wyatt, Rick (2006-01-21). "President (U.S.)". Flags of the World. http://flagspot.net/flags/us-pres.html. Retrieved 2009-04-07. 
  12. History of the President's Flag Seaflags
  13. US DOD Positional Colors

External links[]

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Flags of the United States Armed Forces and the edit history here.
Advertisement