Flags on your uniforms. - Page 2

HoDiggity71 · 05-23-2006, 12:59 PM

Navy wears it "backwards"...IAW the Army regs. My last helo squadron required us to wear "tactical flags" (black/green) when we flew in Iraq. Most of us crewman just took them off during flights, not out of disrespect but the Nations colors are Red, White and Blue and should be represented as such.

Corporal79 · 05-23-2006, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoDiggity71

Navy wears it "backwards"...IAW the Army regs. My last helo squadron required us to wear "tactical flags" (black/green) when we flew in Iraq. Most of us crewman just took them off during flights, not out of disrespect but the Nations colors are Red, White and Blue and should be represented as such.

I understand what you're saying but subdued patches are authorized so why not just wear the patch?

exmarinegrunt · 05-23-2006, 06:02 PM

Had it easy in the Marine Corps, no flag or unit patches allowed on the uniform. Just Name tape and US Marines above the breast pockets. Anything is considered "excessive" and makes you an individual. I used to hear some of the harder corps Staff NCOs bitch about the fact that recon guys wore the gold wings and scuba badge on their cammies because they thought it was too flashy and they were trying to look like the squids or doggies!!! I coulda given a rats ass but thats the way it was!

HoDiggity71 · 05-23-2006, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corporal79

I understand what you're saying but subdued patches are authorized so why not just wear the patch?

The issue started small with one of our jr. pilots who was an Army vet, and just kind of grew from there. One of the senior pilots (Ops O) got a little hot under the collar and for some reason decided he wanted to mandate a change from our common practice of flying 100% "sterile" to flying with the flag patch on. It was more less a pissing contest between our two "sticks" but there was no "clear ruling" on our protocol considering we were in theater taking orders from a Navy 2 Star, yet working for an Marine 2 Star living on an Army post. Not to mention our CO did not want to piss any of the Big Guys off!

Corporal79 · 05-23-2006, 06:54 PM

I think the Army should follow the USMC in uniforms, I think all of the feel good badges should be dress uniform only, BDU's and now the ACU should be name tape, "US ARMY" tape and US flag only. Oh well

exmarinegrunt · 05-25-2006, 12:35 PM

My question for the army grunts out there is didn't you rip off those patches during training? We used to rip up our cammis like crazy, especially pockets and name tapes.