Is using 'Ensign' to refer to the flag only a Naval tradition?

SN Greg Wright — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 18:16:20 -0500

In another post, I referred to saluting the Ensign without thinking that that might be unusual for some. Thankfully PO3 David Fries pointed out that I was talking about the Flag. Do sister services not use this term to denote the flag?

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2016 6:37 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 18:37:41 -0500

Oh, interesting. I have not heard this one. Please educate this AF chica. :)

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jan 31 at 2016 6:42 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 18:42:32 -0500

Ensign is generally a "Naval Term" in the US so the ground forces (outside the Marine Corps) don't typically use it.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2016 7:00 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 19:00:09 -0500

SN Greg Wright Next topic for you to start: the "Jack".

Response by PO3 David Fries made Jan 31 at 2016 7:08 PM

PO3 David Fries — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 19:08:06 -0500

I figured there might be some (considering the different branches) question as to what the Ensign referred to. Easier to answer the question before its asked!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2016 2:34 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 02:34:11 -0500

The term Ensign refers to the US flag when flown aboard a ship, or on ground installations of the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or NOAA. So it's not exactly an interchangeable term for flag. For example, a flag on an Army Post is not an Ensign, while a flag on a Naval Base is.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Feb 1 at 2016 5:36 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 05:36:38 -0500

OK Could you ever see the Union Jack (British Flag) flying from a US Naval Vessel. I can think of 2 Situations where that can occur. What are they?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2016 9:03 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 09:03:56 -0500

Never heard of this! In the Army we commonly refer to it as either "the Colors" or just the Flag.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 1 at 2016 9:16 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 09:16:03 -0500

No. AR 840-10 Flags, Guidons, Streamers, Tabards, and Automobile and Aircraft Plates; paragraph 2-3 answers your question. An ensign is a different size of the national colors, for a specific purpose. Army Mariners probably use it more. Glance at the paragraph (2 pages long) yourself and you will see why the land services don't use it. I understand saluting the ensign and asking permission to board, but that is because I worked with the Navy.

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member , SN Greg Wright

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Feb 1 at 2016 2:22 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:22:29 -0500

And here I thought it meant a clueless, baby officer..... ;o)

Response by CDR Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2016 9:39 AM

CDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 09:39:51 -0500

Want to really melt their minds? Refer to the jack.

Response by PO1 Brian Carlson made Feb 9 at 2016 9:42 AM

PO1 Brian Carlson — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 09:42:41 -0500

It is like the flag being at "half mast" or "half staff".

Response by CAPT Hiram Patterson made Feb 9 at 2016 9:58 AM

CAPT Hiram Patterson — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 09:58:16 -0500

It is a nautical flag. There is also a battle ensign which for the US is a much larger version of our national flag.

Response by SCPO Ken Badoian made Feb 9 at 2016 10:12 AM

SCPO Ken Badoian — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 10:12:33 -0500

Of course the USMC because they are a naval service. Also the ensign is called a flag as in "raise the battle flag". It being the largest ensign run up the mast when a ship in going into battle. Of course ,a lot of real navy seaman terms are going by the board. I have heard sailors talking about their boat when discussing an aircraft carrier. If it talks like a sailor, walks like a sailor, then he or she is a sailor. MMC S(SW)(SS) USN Ret.

Response by CAPT Charles Weishar made Feb 9 at 2016 1:06 PM

CAPT Charles Weishar — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 13:06:13 -0500

The usual definition of an ensign is a flag or standard indicating nationality. It is used by both Army and Navy. The Navy's lowest rank of officer is also called an Ensign.

Response by PO1 Kevin Goldston made Feb 11 at 2016 1:19 AM

PO1 Kevin Goldston — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 01:19:45 -0500

The big flat top ship with airplanes, is it naval tradition to call it an aircraft carrier?

Response by CAPT Charles Weishar made Feb 11 at 2016 3:29 PM

CAPT Charles Weishar — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 15:29:14 -0500

Axter reading all the responses to this question, I can only suggest that people start to consult dictionaries.

Response by CPO Thomas Solomon made Feb 14 at 2016 9:35 AM

CPO Thomas Solomon — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 09:35:30 -0500

It is called the Ensign, but also referred to as the Union. Also the Jack or the Flag for rising.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 29 at 2016 7:25 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 07:25:15 -0400

Proof that one is never to old to learn. This is totally new to me.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2016 11:55 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Jun 2016 23:55:14 -0400

I have not heard that before. Cool. I just learned that.