Why the American flags on military uniforms are reversed

Capt. Adan Cazarez

This post originally appeared on Quora as an answer to the question "Why are the American flags on military uniforms reversed?" 

Excellent question.

Here’s the official explanation from the United States Army:

• Army Regulation 670-1 states, “the American flag patch is to be worn, right or left shoulder, so that “the star field faces forward, or to the flag’s own right. When worn in this manner, the flag is facing to the observer’s right, and gives the effect of the flag flying in the breeze as the wearer moves forward.”

The flag is worn with the field of stars in the upper right hand corner to symbolize how the flag flies when carried into battle.

Capt. Adan Cazarez

When we as individual soldiers move forward into battle, we are carrying the flag as our forefathers have in conflicts past.

I am not aware of any other nation who displays their flag in a mirrored fashion.

Guy D McCardle, Jr. is a retired USAF command pilot and former combat search and rescue flight examiner.

NOW WATCH: Hitler's Nazi military base in the Arctic was just discovered by Russian scientists