Flag policy public statement 31JUL2020

Flags are powerful symbols, particularly in the military community for whom flags embody a common mission, common histories, and the special, timeless bond of Service Members and civilians.

Recently, Army leadership issued new guidance regarding the public display of flags and depictions of flags on Army installations as the divisive nature of some was hindering our unified accomplishment our mission to protect the Nation.  Army policy now limits the flags that are authorized to be publicly displayed on Army installations to: flags of U.S. states and territories and the District of Columbia; military service flags; general officer flags; presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed civilian flags; Senior Executive Service (SES) and military department-specific SES flags; the POW/MIA flag; flags of other countries, for which the United States is an ally or partner, or for official protocol purposes; flags of organizations in which the United States is a member (e.g., NATO); and ceremonial, command, unit, or branch flags or guidons.

Commanders and leaders of organizations operating on Army installations are charged with ensuring that only authorized flags are displayed publicly in workplaces, common-access areas and public areas under their control.  The restriction extends to privatized housing, government buildings and facilities, government vehicles, recreational areas, commissaries, exchanges, sensitive compartmented information facilities and other secure facilities, open-bay barracks, common areas of barracks, all Army school houses and training facilities, and areas in plain view.

The public display or depiction of unauthorized flags in museum exhibits, on official state flags, state-issued license plates, grave sites, memorial markers, monuments, educational displays, historical displays, or works of art, where the nature of the display or depiction cannot reasonably be viewed as endorsement of the flag by the Department of Defense, is not prohibited.

Click here for more information on this policy.

https://media.defense.gov/2020/Jul/17/2002458783/-1/-1/1/200717-FLAG-MEMO-DTD-200716-FINAL.PDF