???

They are not.
It's an optical illusion...

The blue field leads, if they werent reversed it would look like the soldier wearing the flag is retreating.

Kharn

It's the flag "riding" into battle.

to symbolize they they're running towards the enemy, and the flag is blowing appropriatly.

flag always moves forward.

So when the bad guys sees them coming in the rear-view mirror, they know who's sending them to meet allah.

They always show a forward motion

Not fast enough...

Why is The US Flag reversed?


It isn't surprising that this question is being asked....far more media coverage of this war has lead to more people noticing that the US flag worn on the right arm by the troops appears to be reversed. Here are the reasons and customs.



Under current Army policy the appropriate sleeve, left or right, for wear of the U.S. flag patch is driven by the type of operation involved. The flag patch is worn on the right sleeve during joint or multinational operations where the distinguishing of individual national soldiers is desired and overrides tactical considerations. The flag patch is worn on the left sleeve when deployed in support of a United Nations operation.
Regardless of which sleeve, the U.S. flag must always be displayed with the blue star field facing forward. There are thus two separate flag patches in the Army inventory: the normal U.S. flag replica that is worn on the left sleeve, and what is referred to as the "reversed field" flag patch, which is worn on the right sleeve.

The reversed flag is not confined to the Army, it is used in most military services. The "reversed field" is used on the right so it looks as though the flag is blowing in the wind caused by forward movement. Some have suggested that if the traditional flag were worn on the right shoulder, it would look like a soldier were running backward -- retreating. That might be overstating it, but the philosophy is to show that soldiers and vehicles are moving ahead.


Even Air Force One displays the reversed flag on the right side of the tail fin.

On vehicles, the flag decal has the union (the blue area with the stars) on the side closer to the front. On the left side of a vehicle, the decal shows the flag with the union at the left, as usual. On the right side of a vehicle, the union is on the right.


Air Force One again, this time displaying the conventional flag on the left side of it's tail fin.

i thought it was for dislexics.  or guys who can't spell

No, actually thats for lysdexics...

Because we are always moving forward into battle, I wonder how Kerry's would point.
I guess IF he gets into office all our troops will need to change them!

Cool, thanks guys. Now why are some  OD green?

is it because red white and blue are bright colors?

Quoted: Cool, thanks guys. Now why are some  OD green? is it because red white and blue are bright colors?

OD goes with woodland cammies.  Tan one goes with 3 color desert.  Sometimes the red, white, and blue is used on both.  

OD flags ARE NOT authorized items of uniform wear.

We have this discussion at least once a week.

Someone do a GD search......

Quoted: Cool, thanks guys. Now why are some  OD green? is it because red white and blue are bright colors?

Quoted: Quoted: Cool, thanks guys. Now why are some  OD green? is it because red white and blue are bright colors? OD goes with woodland cammies.  Tan one goes with 3 color desert.  Sometimes the red, white, and blue is used on both.

There are subdued ones AVAILABLE, but, for the army at least, they're not authorized.  The online updates to AR 670-1 specifically point out that the full-color versions are the only ones allowed.  I don't know about the Marines, Coast Guard and Navy.  They may have differant rules.

sadily cooks at our chow hall in Al Asad make us a cake that looked like this on July 4



understandable but jeeze

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Cool, thanks guys. Now why are some  OD green? is it because red white and blue are bright colors? OD goes with woodland cammies.  Tan one goes with 3 color desert.  Sometimes the red, white, and blue is used on both.   There are subdued ones AVAILABLE, but, for the army at least, they're not authorized.  The online updates to AR 670-1 specifically point out that the full-color versions are the only ones allowed.  I don't know about the Marines, Coast Guard and Navy.  They may have differant rules.

Roger that.  My bad.....

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Cool, thanks guys. Now why are some  OD green? is it because red white and blue are bright colors? OD goes with woodland cammies.  Tan one goes with 3 color desert.  Sometimes the red, white, and blue is used on both.   There are subdued ones AVAILABLE, but, for the army at least, they're not authorized.  The online updates to AR 670-1 specifically point out that the full-color versions are the only ones allowed.  I don't know about the Marines, Coast Guard and Navy.  They may have differant rules.

The expression 'In Flying Colours' comes to mind.