US Flag - reversed

[muttguru]

My brother Bill bought a USAF current issue CWU 45/P flight jacket recently. It's the genuine article, not a repro. In the pocket was a small US flag which velcros to the jacket. The odd thing is that the flag is "reversed"....the stars are on the right-hand-side of the patch, like a mirror image.
Can any of you fly-boy types explain why the flag is reversed? I've seen pictures on the web showing examples of this, but no explanation as to why.
Thanks guys....
Ken

[Stagg]

The flag orientation is based on which shoulder you wear it.
The theory being, the flag should look like it is "moving forward."

It would make more sense if you were a flagpole

[Mr. Recovery]

That is so it can be worn on the right shoulder or right breast pocket. ( I think )

[muttguru]

Dan and Stagg.............
thanks for that. I know that you guys treat your flag with far more reverence than us Brits treat ours..... that's why I was surprised to see the S & S modified in this way....
Now I know
Ken

[Stagg]

Well, some of us treat it with reverence due the symbol of the country.... others seem hell bent on doing the exact opposite.

[Elvis Presley]

It is also turned to signify that someone has been deployed to a combat area.

When you're about to deploy, you get the reversed flag.

[muttguru]

It is also turned to signify that someone has been deployed to a combat area.
When you're about to deploy, you get the reversed flag.

Thanks for that. My bro goes everywhere in his jacket now. I probably wouldn't recognise him if he took it off

Ken

[mutt and jeff]

The new BSA uniforms have the flag sewn on the right shoulder. It looks backward to me, but when I inquired at the scout shop, I was told the stars never reatreat. They are always forward. So, yes, it depends on what shoulder you are wearing the flag patch. On the chest, I presume it is always the filed of blue and star in the upper left, regardless of wither you are deployed or not.

That's what the Boy Scouts story is, anyways.

[acudanut]

Well, my 2 cents is...If your facing the wind, how does the flag fly ?. Been that way for over 20 years here on our field uniforms. In some countries it's the same, as the flag never reverses, and stays the same. There is no forward or reverse.. YES, stars forward. Cheers
The USMC does not wear any patches, unless ordered to do so in some situations. We never had name tapes on our cammies, until 15-20 years ago.