backwards flags on Army uniforms

[nottabubba]

Anyone have a clue, or real reason for why the US flag on right uniform sleeve has the stars on the rightside of the flag instead of the left?

[donco6]

1. Where'd you see that? eom

[nottabubba]

4. just look at any pic of a soldier.....n/t

[donco6]

10. Learn something every day.

I've never noticed.

We had flag insignias on our Boy Scout uniforms (many, MANY moons ago), and they were not "backwards." Is this a new thing?

[AspenRose]

2. Randi Rhodes explained this (she was Air Force)

The field of blue stars always is placed nearest the heart.

[nottabubba]

5. thanks. n/t

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

3. Because the stars are supposed to be closest to your heart.

It still looks sstupid to me.

best

[ovidsen]

6. Yes

The stars on the flag on the sleeves, or on planes or ships are always on the forward (or windward) side.

That's how the flag is positioned on the tails of planes. Look at the plane from its right side, and the stars in the flag are on the right corner. On the left side, the flag on the tail is on the left.

[thefloyd]

7. Yes

Suppose to indicate the Army is Charging forward. The force of the wind from charging forward causes the flag to blow back and appear backwards

[bama65]

8. right nt

[GreenPartyVoter]

14. Welcome to DU

[oneighty]

9. A pet peeve of mine.

I have never seen an explanation in the United States Flag Code concerning that. It does say when displayed on a flat surface the star field is supposed to be in the upper left hand corner.

Another reason why I keep my 48 star flag stored properly and out of sight.

I expect it is a flag waving thing going back twenty years or so. I first remember seeing the flag worn on police uniforms and I do not recall why it was so.

180

[ktowntennesseedem]

11. Only fitting way to display the flag these days is upside down.

IMHO.:scared:

[Ice4Clark]

12. Here is the reason the flag faces the way it does

The flag may only be worn on the utility and organizational uniforms (such as the camouflage BDU). The flag may only be worn during joint-duty and multinational deployments. When the servicemember returns to home station, the flag must be removed. (A message went out in February 2004 changing this restriction, and making the U.S. Flag a mandatory uniform componant for all soldiers, effective October 1, 2005).

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. The flag is worn on the right shoulder, because, in the military, the "place of honor" is to a military member's right.

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 rule dates back to the Army's early history, when both mounted cavalry and infantry units would designate a standard bearer, who carried the Colors into battle. As he charged, his forward momentum caused the flag to stream back. Since the Stars and Stripes are mounted with the canton closest to the pole, that section stayed to the right, while the stripes flew to the left.

[Davis_X_Machina]

13. The fact that the flag....

...looks 'right' only with the stars in the NW corner is a tribute to the power of print, when you think about it. That's the way flags alwayslook in books, but only in books are they always oriented that way.