Why is the American flag inverted on the military uniforms?

Question

What I mean with this is, why is the blue part with the stars on the right side rather than in the left side? What's the reason for it?

I think I've seen the same on planes.

Answer 1

It is to represent the Flag being taken through the battlefield by the Standard bearer.

In the past where it was one mans job to carry the flag and advance with the columns of men onto the battlefield. The flag would be attached with the stars nearest to the "pole". This gives the rest of the men the impression that the flag is leading into the battle. Now the flags are double-sided (obviously) so which ever way you see it, it looks the same. The Americans did not want the flag as it would normally be seen as this gives the impression that the standard bearer is retreating, (never a good thing, always better to be advancing).

It has since stuck and all patches on uniforms now follow the same design. In theory every American soldier is a standard bearer as they now all carry the flag of their country. You may have also seen the flags of the Americans and the British but not in red, blue and white. Instead they are in hues of green and grey. This is because the usual colours would stand out like a bull-dogs balls and would be seen very easily to the trained eye of the enemy. Therefore making them match the surrounding means better camouflage.

Answer 2

Actually it is right on the uniform. I think the stars represent the united States. The United States is behind the soldier giving support to the soldier. Unfortunately some people in this country want to give harsh criticism to our troops abroad for what they are doing. The most classic example would be the Viet Nam war and the three most successful critics of that War was the Communists, Hanoi Jane Fonda, and John Kerry. The sheeple was behind the critics, not the soldiers.

I think you are confusing inverted with reflected. Reflected means opposite view and inverted mean upside down. When the Flag is inverted, it means the country is in distress or is under attack from without and or within. I sometimes think there should be more Flags flying inverted. Not because we are under attack from without, but within.

Answer 3

The flag, even if it's painted or a patch, is placed on the uniform or vehicle so that it represents the way an actual flag would be waving if the vehicle or person were in motion. Flags are attached to their poles by the short edge closest to the blue field, and so the blue field will always be the forward leading edge of a flag as it is moving. It also helps determine orientation at a distance.

The flags are backwards. Flags are two sided, so both sides end up being represnted on a uniform or vehicle.

Answer 4

The flag is worn backward to give the impression of the standard advancing.

It is a tradition from the days of the horse cavalry.

Added later:
gyro.. is correct when he says a flag flown upside down is a signal of distress but I think he misunderstands what many of us mean when we say backward.

There are regulations for displaying a flag in general and there are Uniform Regulations which include regulations for displaying a flag patch on our military uniforms when we are deployed in a multi-national force.

Regulations for displaying a flag when it can only be viewed from one side (such as when it is hung on a wall or worn on a patch) require the blue field of the flag to display in the upper left corner. This is the regulation whether the flag is hung with the strips running horizontal or vertical.

The flag is displayed backward on our military uniforms in regard to the more general regulations for displaying a flag.

A lot of people around my office printed pictures of flags on paper and hung them on the wall after 9/11. Some of them turned the flags to hang with the stripes displayed vertically which was actually displaying the flag incorrectly because the blue field was on the top right. Technically, this is a form of desecration the same as allowing the flag to touch the ground or burning it. I threw a lot of s**t on any one that I saw doing this and some of them corrected the display, some didn't. I know each one of those people was showing support for their country by displaying the flag. Even though technically some were disrespecting our country by flying it backward.

Answer 5

Well even though Sunshine, the source a few above me, is close it does not mean we are going to war. I am in the Army and it is like most of the other people say. The flag is to appear as though we are carrying it and moving forward. If you were to look at a person carrying a flag, say in a parade or ceremoy where they were walking, the flag would fly to the rear with the stripes in the front. This is how the patch is intended to be seen.

It makes sense if you think about it

Answer 6

The shoulder patches are greatest. they are made that way because in conflict, the blue field will be considered because the route of attack. In previous wars,the flag led a thanks to the strive against and marked the line of conflict or the most ahead position of a defense force's advance. once you seem at a flag from a million aspect and then seem at it from the different aspect,it's going to be the opposite also. #a million palin fan: The troops do help us of a,otherwise they does no longer be scuffling with everywhere.

Answer 7

because the army is always moving forward never retreating so if you look at a flag while you are walking with it would match the one on my uniform

Answer 8

It means the soldier is still alive and advancing forward. Once the soldier stops (dies) a still flag is placed over his coffin.

Answer 9

The blue field always face forward, hence the saying- these colors never run.

Answer 10

If it's on the right side as you view it, it's on the left side as the soldier views it. It's placed there for the soldier to view.