The American flag is worn backwards on the right shoulder of a soldier’s uniform to look like it’s waving in the breeze as the soldier moves forward. The rule dates back to the early days of the military. The American flag is always given pride of place and is never dipped in salute.
Army regulation 670-1 dictates what an American soldier’s uniform should look like. Part of that regulation, known as the “Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia,” mandates that the American flag be worn backwards on the right shoulder of a soldier’s uniform. Why? The rule dates back to the early days of the military, when an ensign carried the flag into battle. As the bishop charged, his forward momentum sent the flag flowing back into the wind, the blue patch of stars pointing forward. The same goes for the backwards patch on the right shoulder: it’s designed to look like the flag is waving in the breeze as the soldier moves forward, and it never looks like the stars are in retreat.
It’s a big old flag:
America takes its flag seriously. Pride of place for the American flag is always to the right of other organizational flags, such as the flags of the Marine Corps or Navy.
When carried in conjunction with an organizational flag, the American flag is carried to the right of the line of march.
An organizational flag may be dipped in salute to the reviewing officer in a parade or during the national anthem, but the American flag is never dipped in salute.
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