USE OF FLAGS AT AF CEREMONIES AND PROTOCOL FUNCTIONS

References:

AFR 900-3 (Department of the Air Force Seal, Organizational Emblems, Use and Display of Flags, Guidons, Streamers, and Automobile and Aircraft Plates)

AFMAN 36-2203 (Drill and Ceremonies)
Chap 5, Sec C (Manual of the Guidon)
Chap 7, Sec B (Parade Ceremony)
Chap 7, Sec C (Raising and Lowering the Flag)
Chap 7, Sec D (Change of Command)
Chap 7, Sec E (Colors)

US Code, Title 36, 171-177 (The Flag of the United States of America)

US Code, Title 18, 700 (Criminal Penalties with Respect to the Physical Integrity of the United States Flag)

US Code, Title 4 (Description of the Flag)

1. The following is general guidance regarding the use of flags at ceremonies and protocol functions:

a. Not all events require flags, and in some cases, flags can actually bring a sense of formality which might be counterproductive to an effort requiring an informal atmosphere.

b. If flags are displayed, start with the US flag and add additional flags as appropriate.

c. It is appropriate to display individual flags when someone has an official part in a ceremony or protocol event. Only display the flag for the highest ranking individual taking part.

d. It is not mandatory to post/retire colors. It is not mandatory to retire colors just because colors have been posted. Also, it is not customary to retire colors if they were not formally posted. If the honor guard posts/retires colors they will normally supply their own flags.

e. The order of precedence for flags is as follows:

(1) National flags (alphabetically after the US Flag)

(2) State flags (in order as they entered the Union (order available by contacting the Directorate of Protocol)

(3) Service flags

(a) US Army

(b) US Marine

(c) US Navy

(d) US Air Force

(e) US Coast Guard

(4) Organizational flags (MAJCOM, SOA, DRU, NAF, GROUP, WING, SQ) (alphabetically or numerically as applicable with host flag displayed at the center of the grouping).

(5) Individual flags:

(a) President of the United States

(b) Vice-President of the United States

(c) Secretary of Defense

(d) Deputy Secretary of Defense

(e) Inspector General, Department of Defense

(f) Director of Defense Research and Engineering

(g) Assistant Secretary of Defense

(h) ** Secretary of the Air Force

(i) ** Under Secretary of the Air Force

(j) ** Assistant Secretary of the Air Force

(k) Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

(l) ** Chief of Staff of the Air Force

(m) ** Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force

(n) * Air Force General

(o) * Air Force Lieutenant General

(p) * Air Force Major General

(q) * Air Force Brigadier General

* Use Army, Navy/Coast Guard, and Marine flags for these ranks. These flags are different in color and configuration from the Air Force flags.

** Use Army, Navy/Coast Guard, and Marine flags when available (ask aide to bring with them).

f. Individual flags are not used for:

(1) Personnel simply in attendance and not formally taking part in a ceremony.

(2) Retired personnel (unless in uniform)

(3) Senior Executive Service (SES) personnel not filling one of the positions listed in para (5) above.

(4) Personnel selected for, but not confirmed to, one of the positions listed in para (5) above.

(5) US sister service general officers when their appropriate service flag is not available. It is appropriate to ask the visiting officer to bring their personal flag with them to be used during the ceremony.

(6) USAF general officer flags may not be substituted for foreign country Air Force general officers of equivalent rank. It is appropriate to ask the visiting foreign officer to bring their personal flag with them to be used during the ceremony.

g. Religious flags are displayed in religious facilities and normally only with the US flag (US flag takes the position of honor).

h. POW/MIA flag is displayed when appropriate and normally only with the US flag (US flag takes the position of honor).

i. Position flags IAW AFR 900-3. Generally speaking, the position of honor is to the flag's own right (observer's left) or center (higher than other flags) (see AFR 900-3 for display of US flag with other national flags for position of honor and height).

2. If faced with a conflict regarding flag protocol and precedence, look for ways to deconflict the situation. If you are required to have an honor guard (carrying the US flag) and your ceremony is in the area of the base flag pole, your audience may become confused as to which direction to face during the National Anthem. Simplify the situation by positioning the honor guard between the base flag pole and the audience. If you are required to have the POW/MIA flag present at your dining-in, position it near your POW/MIA table rather than with the US, organizational, and individual flag display.

3. How do you prevent the official party from having to put their back sides to the audience when the US flag is on the stage behind them? Pre-post the colors on the stage, or have the honor guard post the colors on the stage, and have the official party stand at seats in the front row of the audience during the National Anthem. Following the National Anthem, have the official party go up on the stage.

4. The positioning of the flag display is often times arbitrary and based primarily on the best location for the event. This could be directly behind the speaker, to the (observer's) left of the speaker, or centered together on the stage. When positioning flags consider position of honor, traffic flow of those participating in the ceremony, obstruction of audiovisual equipment, getting flags into the background for photographs, and practicality.

5. US Code, Title 36 and AFR 900-3 simply state, "The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning." AFR 900-3 also states, "A torn flag may be professionally mended, but a badly worn or tattered flag should be destroyed." If you have a flag which needs to be destroyed you should first check with your equipment custodian to see if it is an accountable item on the CA/CRL. If so, it should be turned into supply IAW AFM 67-1, Vol 1, Part 1, Chap 3. If not, it can be personally destroyed. We recommend the flag be given one final opportunity to inspire a young American such a Boy Scout or Girl Scout.