Why is the U.S. Army the only branch that wears the full-color U.S. Flag?

Because why not?

There is no reason to wear a subdued flag in peacetime garrison environment.

They attach with velcro, so they are easy enough to swap out with subdued flags for field or operational duty.

So why not? The Navy and the USAF aren’t impressing anyone with their camouflage flags in the mess hall on base.

The US flag is Red, White and Blue. There is no good reason to not proudly display those colors in a non-tactical environment.

Dates to the 1990s during the Bosnia and Serbia operations. Those deployed he region of the former Yugoslavia wore the US Flag patch to distinguish them from other NATO forces as many wore a similar BDU style uniform. As Soldiers had to remove them upon return there was the issue of cost. These deployments the flags were not subdued. Then Afghanistan kicked off. Again, wearing flag patches became the norm, removed upon return. So it was decided to make it permanent about a year before the ACUs started to come out. Color when Garrison, subdued when deployed/field.

Wow, I’m jealous! As retired USAF, would have loved to have worn a fully colored US Flag! During my Service time, the only time we wore a subdued flag was when we were on deployment. Wore subdued on a deployment to Bosnia during Operation Joint Forge and 9/11. I chose military service after having been held hostage twice in childhood under military coupes in Peru and Libya. Wish I could have done 28 yrs wearing a fully colored US flag on my uniform! It becomes even more meaningful as our citizens refuse to respect the flag, trample on it or burn it! I learned early in life and before military service that freedom isn’t free and often comes at a price and not everyone or every country has freedom! You US Army folks are really, really, really lucky to wear a colored US flag!!!

When I was in Vietnam our unit patch( First Air Cav on helicopter, was painted the correct color so the enemy knew who was giving them hell. I see the full colored flag as showing pride.

Showing the US Flag is part of the mission of the US Army when deployed or at home. Yes, wear the subdued version when practical, STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER! God Bless America and Troops everywhere!!!

HOOAH that's why.

I certainly concur with you my friend SSG(P) (Join to see) that instead of a full color patch on "combat uniforms " "it seems to me that wearing the subdued flag insignia would make more sense because it matches the uniform pattern."

Why not wear full color with pride? Wish we could have in the 60's. Foreign countries did and still do. Wear it, you earned it, you are a 4%er

why does it matter. I'm no longer in the army but fly my flag each day, proud and in full color

It kind of begs the question, "If we wear a full color Flag, why can't we have full color unit patches in garrison?"

While assigned to Korea, even when I was assigned to the Brigade TOC, I had to carry both full-color and subdued American Flags, because when my unit went to the range or the field, I had to, first of all know when that happened, and then switch out my full color Flags for subdued Flags. When my unit came back, I had to switch out once again. Silliness.