Joint color guard showing the organizational colors of each branch: L-R:National, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, & 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 National Colors, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.^[1][2] However, in any period where the Coast Guard is operating as part of the Navy, the Coast Guard Flag would precede the Air Force Flag.^[3][4]

Flag of the United States	Flag of the United States Army	Flag of the United States Marine Corps
Flag of the United States Navy	Flag of the United States Air Force	Flag of the United States Coast Guard

[edit] 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 Terrorism 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	"First Navy Ensign" (naval ensign, 1776–1777)	Coast Guard Ensign
"First Navy Jack" (naval jack, 2002–present)	"Union Jack" (naval jack, 1960–2002; government jack, 1960–present)	Naval jack, 1776–1777 (probable)
Commissioning pennant	Church pennant	Red Cross (hospital ships)

[edit] 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, white with blue stars for Naval staff officers.^[9]

Unique flags are given to the President^[10] (due to his position as Commander-in-Chief^[11]), Vice President, Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense, and undersecretaries,^[12] each service department secretary, undersecretary, and assistant secretaries (Army, Navy, and Air Force), the Chairman and Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the chief of each service branch (Army Chief of Staff & Sergeant Major of the Army, Commandant of the Marine Corps, Chief of Naval Operations, Air Force Chief of Staff, and Commandant of the Coast Guard).

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. The Coast Guard, being part of the Department of Homeland Security, will utilize the Secretary's flag much like the Navy will utilize the SecDef's.

Flag of the President of the United States

Standard of the Vice President

Standard of the Secretary of Defense

Flag of the Secretary of the Army

Flag of the Secretary of the Navy

Flag of the Secretary of the Air Force

Flag of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Flag of the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Flag of the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman

Flag of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army

Flag of the Sergeant Major of the Army

Flag of the Commandant of the Marine Corps

Flag of the Chief of Naval Operations

Flag of the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force

Flag of the Commandant of the Coast Guard

[edit] Others

Many other flags are traditionally associated with the military.

[edit] American Revolution

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

• The most commonly carried pre-1777 flags was the Grand Union Flag, resembling closely the flag of the British East India Company.
• The Gadsden flag was created from a political cartoon, it was first seen carried into battle by Continental Marines.
• Legend holds that the Betsy Ross flag was the first version of the current American flag, and is depicted in artwork featuring General George Washington.
• The Francis Hopkinson version is also claimed to be the first flag carried into battle by American troops.
• The Serapis flag was flown from the Serapis due to the loss of the traditional ensign during its capture.
• The Cowpens flag was depicted as being carried by the 3rd Maryland Regiment at the Battle of Cowpens (while proven that the unit was not at Cowpens, the name and pattern remained popular).
• The Bennington flag is commonly held to have been carried by American troops at the Battle of Bennington.
• The Guilford Courthouse flag was carried by the North Carolina militia at the Battle of Guilford Court House.
• Several versions of the Flag of New England were carried by New England militias, especially noted at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
• The Pine Tree Flag found some limited use as a jack by early Naval vessels and boats.
• The Bedford Flag was one of the first battle standards of the American military.
• The Brandywine flag was carried by the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment at the Battle of Brandywine.
• The 2nd Canadian Regiment, not being American, carried their own flag into battle when fighting for the Continental Army.
• The Commander-in-Chief's Guard carried a unique banner while they protected General Washington.
• The Flag of the Green Mountain Boys was the battle color of the Green Mountain Boys and the Vermont Republic prior to its admission to the Union.

[edit] Others

• The Star Spangled Banner Flag or Great Garrison Flag was flown over Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812, inspiring Francis Scott Key to write "The Star Spangled Banner," to become the national anthem.
• A flag proclaiming "Come and take it" was fashioned by Texans at the battle of Battle of Gonzales.
• The brief existence of the Confederate States of America yielded the creation of several flags used by the Confederate Army and Navy.
• The Fort Sumter Flag gained significance for its unique canton and its lowering at the Battle of Fort Sumter.
• Old Glory gained fame in the story of Captain William Driver keeping it safe from Confederate capture and eventually became the nickname for the Flag of the United States itself.
• The POW/MIA flag became a symbol of concern about military personnel taken as prisoners of war and missing in action.
• Recipients of the Medal of Honor also receive a flag based upon the design of the ribbon.
• The United States Air National Guard uses a unique flag in addition to the Air Force flag.

[edit] See also

• Guidon (United States)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• The Institute of Heraldry, U.S. Army
• Military Flags (U.S.) at Flags of the World