# My usual deployment offer: Send me your flags! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 10, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011 "2005-09-10T19:16:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011/1 "2005-09-10T19:16:21Z")
Well guys, gals, here’s the scoop: Every overseas deployment I go on, I offer Dopers to send me their national flag [sub]whatever they may be[/sub] so I can try to get them on combat sorties to be flown. I leave in four weeks for the Middle East again, and this year is no different except that I’m going to open the offer beforehand, so I can collect what I can, and bring 'em with. This is by no means a closed deal once I leave, but I’d like to try it this way this year. I’ve had pretty good success in the past, being that I was tapped for a job that kept me at one single base last year. This year, I have a reasonable belief that I’ll be “spoked out” from our “hub” and will be traveling around. So, if for some reason I can’t get them on actual sorties, I can at least guarantee that they’ll be traveling to different countries (some of which may or may not end in “-stan”. Also, I wanted to receive them early because I can’t guarantee the availability of flags at these “spoke” locations. Years past, I didn’t mind spending a few bucks to buy a new flag from our BX/PX and mailing it out. _This_ year, because I’ll be in places that have a runway, a source of water, and not much else, I may not be able to. Plus, if you are like me and have a banner that has been with you on **every** deployment or know someone that has, this’ll be another “notch in the bedpost”, and you can get it to me early. I did this for one guy who medically separated last year—he never made it to the desert, but wanted a flag he could claim as his own that made it there. Some may actually be so cool as to serve at a reenlistment—I’ll do what I can. Bottom line: If you want a flag to be flown on a combat sortie or serve on a combat engineer’s (the fightin’ 819th RED HORSE)construction site—both of which will be accompanied by a certificate for authenticity–drop me an e-mail [sub]it’s in my profile[/sub]. Tripler Thus is my SDMB legacy: Sardonic siglines, and desert flag flyin’. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011/2 "2005-09-12T02:57:26Z")
My one, obligatory bump. Tripler (See above) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011/3 "2005-09-12T10:24:27Z")
I’d send you my flag, but you seem like a nice guy and I’d hate to see you get killed on your first 30 seconds out in the field. (Although the rest of your unit may appreciate the fact the you’re drawing all the fire, so maybe…) ---
**Author:** ![d1a1s1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@d1a1s1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d1a1s1)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011/4 "2005-09-12T11:31:15Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I’d send you my flag, but you seem like a nice guy and I’d hate to see you get killed on your first 30 seconds out in the field. > > (Although the rest of your unit may appreciate the fact the you’re drawing all the fire, so maybe…) What kind of messed up crap is that to say?! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011/5 "2005-09-12T11:37:24Z")
Read Alessan’s location. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011/6 "2005-09-12T11:39:01Z")
> [@d1a1s1](#): > > What kind of messed up crap is that to say?! It’s gallows humor, dude. **Alessan** is Israeli, and an American flying an Israeli flag is like a dream come true for some of the psychos over there. ---
**Author:** ![d1a1s1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@d1a1s1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d1a1s1)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011/7 "2005-09-12T11:40:07Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > Read Alessan’s location. Thats no excuse! I want “Alessan” to explain. ---
**Author:** ![d1a1s1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@d1a1s1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d1a1s1)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011/8 "2005-09-12T11:41:53Z")
Ohhhhh…I get it. Wow…Im an idiot. Im going to go away now. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011/9 "2005-09-12T11:42:02Z")
> [@d1a1s1](#): > > Thats no excuse! I want “Alessan” to explain. Somehow, I think any explanation will be inadequate. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011/10 "2005-09-12T12:15:42Z")
No worries, I dig the comment from **Alessan**. I just don’t think he understands that I’m invincible, and by drawing fire, I’d just expose the enemy to call in an airstrike to bomb the f\*ck outta them. No, really, I am bulletproof. Just ask my buddies on a Friday or Saturday night. Tripler Yeah, “genius is such a heavy burden. . . Let’s lighten that burden and get stupid tonight!” ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011/11 "2005-09-12T13:17:08Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > No, really, I am bulletproof. Just ask my buddies on a Friday or Saturday night. > > !" Are you invinsible, too? ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011/12 "2005-09-13T04:15:31Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Are you invinsible, too? It depends on the enemy situation. I would hope to God I’m invisible in all aspects. But, we’ll just have to wait and see how my hunting instincts have served me. Tripler Pop always said, “Be a deer hunter.” ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011/13 "2005-09-13T04:23:29Z")
Are you talking about normal sized (i.e. flagpole sized) flags? Or the little ones that people wave about? ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011/14 "2005-09-13T04:32:02Z")
Just curious if someone would mind explaining this a little more. I gather there’s a tradition of taking flags on missions, but it’s not one I’ve heard about. I guess this is vague, but whats the story? ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011/15 "2005-09-13T12:15:28Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > Are you talking about normal sized (i.e. flagpole sized) flags? Or the little ones that people wave about? Whichever you like. There’s a practical limit on what you can stuff inside a fighter jet, so I will say the “typical” size is 3’ x 5’. I won’t turn down anything larger (within reason), and I won’t turn down anything smaller. If size presents particular problems, I’ll dodge those problems and look for loopholes. **Omnicient** , it’s just a tradition, not a widespread one, but just a tradition. I’ve known some folks that like knowing their particular banner was carried on a strike flight, some like knowing theirs was used to reenlist someone in the middle of a battle zone (you are required to have a flag present). It’s mostly a patriotic thing: my flag has been _“over there”_. I have one particular flag my Congressional Representative sent me, that I swore I would take on every deployment, partly for the memories, but mostly for the “heck of it”. I keep her ‘history’ in a binder saying where my flag has been, and what she did. Tripler Make sense? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011/16 "2005-09-13T16:22:06Z")
I have a Bennington Battle Flag I’d like you to take. How should I get it to you? I’ll check back here for your answer in the next few days. What kind of fighter do you fly? F-14? F-15? F-15? F/A-18? F-114? Something else? I dig warplanes, although I’m no pilot and have never been in the military. Thanks for the offer, and keep yourself safe! ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011/17 "2005-09-13T20:39:29Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > **Omnicient** , it’s just a tradition, not a widespread one, but just a tradition. I’ve known some folks that like knowing their particular banner was carried on a strike flight, some like knowing theirs was used to reenlist someone in the middle of a battle zone (you are required to have a flag present). It’s mostly a patriotic thing: my flag has been _“over there”_. > > I have one particular flag my Congressional Representative sent me, that I swore I would take on every deployment, partly for the memories, but mostly for the “heck of it”. I keep her ‘history’ in a binder saying where my flag has been, and what she did. > > Tripler > Make sense? Gotcha, that’s pretty much what I assumed, but I thought there might be something more storied involved that I didn’t know about. One question: > [@](#): > > some like knowing theirs was used to reenlist someone in the middle of a battle zone (you are required to have a flag present). what exactly does it mean to reenlist someone in a battle zone, and why is a flag manditory? I understand it’s a military formality, but whats the rationale, be it antiquated or not. Gracias. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011/18 "2005-09-13T22:21:11Z")
> [@William V.](#): > > I have a Bennington Battle Flag I’d like you to take. How should I get it to you? I’ll check back here for your answer in the next few days. Just shoot me an e-mail (in my profile). I’ll send you my mailing address, then you can box 'er up and send her to me. > [@](#): > > What kind of fighter do you fly? F-14? F-15? F-15? F/A-18? F-114? Something else? I dig warplanes, although I’m no pilot and have never been in the military. I’m not a pilot. **Airman Doors** is enlisted aircrew though, on a C-130. I’m a Civil Engineer (AFSC: 32E3E) in a squadron known as the [819th RED HORSE](http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/redhorse.htm) which is an acronym ( **R** apid **E** ngineer **D** eployable, **H** eavy **O** perations **R** epair **S** quadron, **E** ngineer) – basically the Air Force’s equivalent of the US Navy SeaBees. We’re different than a “typical” Civil Engineer squadron in that RED HORSE isn’t tied to one specific base (we’re highly mobile), and we’re more of a _construction and repair_ unit, than a _maintenance_ unit. But, because I work on airfields and flightlines, I know a lot of contacts that are pilots (F-16s, F-15s, F/A-18s, A-10s, KC-135s, C-130s, and a few Brits too). Also, at deployed bases, a lot of squadrons run little programs like this for morale. Long story short, I claim to be “the Bob Vila of the Air Force”. You want it built, I’ll build it. > [@Omniscient](#): > > what exactly does it mean to reenlist someone in a battle zone, and why is a flag manditory? I understand it’s a military formality, but whats the rationale, be it antiquated or not. Gracias. Well, for logical reasons, some enlistees are offered retention bonuses, sometimes in the thousands of dollars. Those bonuses are taxed. Well, if you’re “in country”, you don’t _pay_ federal taxes (one of our perks!). But for “esprit de corps” reasons, some reenlist in a battle zone just as some want to get married by Niagara Falls. I once had a plumber ask me to reenlist him on top of a water tower (I hate heights). However, the US Flag is a requirement by Air Force Instruction. _Some_ version of the US Flag is required, and I’ve seen 3’x5’ flags, 8’x15’ flags, and in one poor guy’s case they forgot a flag, so they used a darn _postage stamp_ [sub]Hey, it worked. . .[/sub] It’s a requirement, but I think it’s there to remind you of the serious nature of what you’re swearing to. Clear as mud? Tripler But hey, you can say that your flag was there when 15 500 lb. bombs rained down on Osama! ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011/19 "2005-09-13T22:36:51Z")
Is there a US Air Force {or general military} policy about what flags may or may not be carried, or is this solely an informal tradition? This isn’t the thread for pissing on US foreign policy, but certain flags might be - ahem - problematic, and I know that some countries {mine, for one} may not want their flags flown into combat in a military action they don’t support. Just asking is all, and wishing you nothing but a safe return. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011/20 "2005-09-13T22:52:10Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > Is there a US Air Force {or general military} policy about what flags may or may not be carried, or is this solely an informal tradition? AFAIK, it’s an informal tradition, with no guidance on what _has_ or _can’t_ be carried. **William V.**'s [Bennington Battle Flag](http://www.twilightbridge.com/hobbies/festivals/flagday/flaggallery.htm) would obviously be an acceptable alternative (and I’ll keep my eyes out for the VT Air Nat’l Guard, aka “The Green Mountain Boys” for him), but I couldn’t guarantee they’d accept a Soviet or Afghanistan-Taliban flag. Tripler There’s no hard rules. It’s informal. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-usual-deployment-offer-send-me-your-flags/321011.md?page=2)