Reason why the American flag is sometimes backwards on military uniforms
Britt Jones
Featured Image Credit: CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images
If you’ve ever looked at a uniform and wondered why the American flag is sometimes backwards, there’s a very special explanation.
Long has the US flag been used to show off the nation and its states, but you might not have seen this little detail unless you looked closely.
From police to military, sometimes you’ll realize that the flag isn’t as it should be - i.e: with the stars on the left.
But there’s a reason for this.
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When a confused Redditor asked the question, people were quick to offer an explanation.
The person wrote: “Anyone know why the American flags are backwards on their uniforms? It’s always bothered me and I truly don’t know why lol”.
At first glance, it might seem like there has been a dire mistake made at the manufacturing plant, but you’d be wrong.
According to the National Air and Space Museum, and commenters, it’s all about the US Flag Code. Now, if you don’t know what this is, it is a set of rules for the American flag, how to use it, and what to use it on.
The code relates to spacecraft, aircraft, and service members’ uniform insignia.
According to United States Army regulations: “The full-color US flag cloth replica is worn so that the star field faces forward, or to the flag’s own right.”
This means that the flag has to be positioned to look like it is flying forward, and not dragging behind.
If the flag is positioned on your left shoulder, the flag looks like it’s floating in a breeze on a flag pole, but if it’s on a right sleeve, it looks like its floating backwards.
To fix that, the stars are switched to the opposite side, to give it a new perspective.
As per Eagle Mountain, an American flag and flagpole store, throughout history, American paratroopers wore the backward flag patches to distinguish them from enemy troops as paratroopers often landed behind enemy lines.
Historically, the backward flag can be traced back to the Civil War.
During the war, troop had flag bearers who would carry the flag into battle, and as they marched forward, the American flag would be flying in the wind, often representing the courage and dedication of troops.
In 2003, the military integrated the backward American flag military patch into the uniforms so that every patch resembles the flying flag from all angles, on any arm.
A Redditor paraphrased this to the original poster, writing: “It's because the flag is in a forward/advancing position and the stars that represent the states have the highest position of honor.
“Imagine holding the flag on a pole and moving forward, the flag flows out behind you with the stars at the forefront and the stripes trailing after it. If it's reversed the flag is considered to be in retreat.”
Another simplified it: “Easy explanation: the stars are never supposed to retreat.”
It’s a pretty cool reason.