Is wearing a flag patch on a backpack against regulations?

What do you think about having one on your service dog? I have old Unit patches as well as other patches. The one and biggest is the U.S. Flag

Does everyone in your unit have a flag on their ruck? If the answer in no then you have your answer to what you should do. If it was in regs everyone would have one and there would be no questions. Just simple without delving into rule books. Don’t bump heads with Sgt Majors, it rarely ends well unless your O5 O6.

This one came up recently because someone made a wreath for their house using a flag they received at her father's funeral. What you want is the US code. It does say about the flag authorization for soldiers uniforms. My main bitch about disrespect to the flag is those that have a tattered us flag hanging on the bed of their truck occasionally flanked by the Confederate battle flag or the black and blue flags. These are the same people that will call themselves patriotic but show more disrespect to the flag than someone kneeling in protest.

I believe that a flag patch can be worn on a backpack as long as it is properly displayed in both a horizontal or vertical position.
The flag on one of my backpacks has a flag properly displayed, and I am proud of it. For me, it shows my pride in my country in uniform or in my civilian clothes.

This May be a little off topic. I have an issue with clothing that is made to appear that it is the flag. (hats, shirts, jackets, etc.) Its disrespectful to me to wear it as clothing. I am interested how many others feel that way.

In the Quarterly Publication “Proceedings” published by the Naval Institute there is usually a 2-4 paragraph side bar called “Nobody asked me but...” where someone interjected their opinion about some Naval (or military) “hot button” issue. It was kind of a kid gloves off answer.

In my family tact and diplomacy were never family traits along those lines before my mother passed away she said that she had done too good a job of teaching me about sarcasm. After more then a few years in the Coast Guard I became first a Chief Petty Officer and 1-1/2 years later I was commissioned as a Chief Warrant Officer 2. As a CWO I was often asked my opinion on an issue where at times my answer to the CO was a flat No sir we can’t do that. There was a collective gasp by the young O-1s fresh from the Academy to the cutter; that someone would dare say No to the CO. Of course the next words out of my mouth would be a viable way to do with hat the CO a was asking to be done.

This discussion about putting a US Flag Patch on a back pack should be a question in the General Knowledge version of Trivial Pursuit; does it really matter as long as it is done respectfully? Are there more important topics that should be discussed by All Hands?

Just rotate your flag patch 90 degrees counterclockwise so its vertical and not horizontal and you're all set. The Sergeant Major will be happy, and you'll be happy.

The union (the blue part with stars) is supposed to be in the flag's own top right (so when you look at it, it appears to the viewer in the top left). The exception is when the flag is worn on the right sleeve, because it's supposed to look like you're moving forward through the wind, presumably into combat. Atleast metaphorically you're moving forward making progress on some mission. The other exception is when the flag is on a coffin, because it's facing the deceased.

Presumably the flag patch the PFC is asking about is the one meant for his/her right uniform sleeve. When you put it on the back of your pack, you are presumably not sidestepping laterally to your right the whole time. You're also presumably not deceased. I doubt you bought a flag patch that was not meant for your uniform sleeve with the union on the opposite side (you often see these on security guard uniforms worn on the left sleeve - you could always get one if you want).

So just rotate your issue flag patch vertically when you put it on your pack and move out...

They say there is no such thing as a dumb question, but here we go again.....

In reference to your input here there should be no more questions on this subject since you covered all bases here. Great job.

The flag code (4 USC) keeps popping up here. Which isn't a bad thing, it's good advice. But it's also not a "legitimate" law in that it's entirely unenforceable at any level under any circumstances.

As one of us quoted it out above, we can all refer back to it and then juxtapose it with this truth: If the Flag Code was actually enforced then literally thousands of Service-members would be subject to Court Martial. EVERY GI who ever carried a flag in a parade or sporting event or other public event, where that flag was carried in HORIZONTALLY, would be subject to Court Martial for violation of Federal Law.

4 U.S. Code § 8(c): The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free."

So what Officer or Staff NCO wants to start writing up the Article 32 paperwork for literally GENERATIONS of GIs and make himself a pariah and an embarrassment to the Service?