# What is with the backward flags?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-with-the-backward-flags/120439>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 23, 2002, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-with-the-backward-flags/120439 "2002-07-23T20:36:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-with-the-backward-flags/120439/1 "2002-07-23T20:36:03Z")

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Why do U.S. soldiers have a backward flag on the shoulder of their uniforms?

This first came to my attention in the movie _Black Hawk Down_ but I have since seen it in other places, like footage of soldiers in Afghanistan. Is it a UN thing? Back in the late 80s when I was in the service we did not even have flags sewed to our uniforms, only rank and unit. So it is apparently a more recent thing. But it still bothers me that the flag is sewn on with the blue field in the top right corner rather than the top left.

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**Author:** ![JS\_Princeton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@JS\_Princeton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JS_Princeton)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-with-the-backward-flags/120439/2 "2002-07-23T20:56:11Z")

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They aren’t backwards.

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**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-with-the-backward-flags/120439/3 "2002-07-23T20:57:04Z")

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If the patch is on the right shoulder, it is correct, as it mimics the way the flag would appear if flying free in the wind.

Same reason that airplanes have a ‘backward’ flag; it’s on the right-hand side.

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**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-with-the-backward-flags/120439/4 "2002-07-23T21:03:50Z")

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US Army Reg AR-670-1, Wear and Appearanceof Army Uniforms and Insignia is seen here  
[http://www.usapa.army.mil/pdffiles/r670\_1.pdf](http://www.usapa.army.mil/pdffiles/r670_1.pdf)

Page 248, or page 269 on the PDF document says:

> [@](#):
>
> … 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 appropriate replica for the right shoulder sleeve is identified as the reverse side flag.

Yeah, that and the black beret will improve morale.

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**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2002, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-with-the-backward-flags/120439/5 "2002-07-24T17:30:29Z")

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This basic question has been covered here at least two times I can think of (and that’s just since September), although this is the first time that military uniforms have been mentioned in the OP. Usually it’s aircraft the question is asked about.