Why Is The Fag Patch Worn Backward On The Shoulders Of Members Of The U.S. Military

A United States Flag patch always has the union of the flag to the viewer's left. This works well when looking at the left side of the vehicle or person, but when looking at the right side, if the union is to the viewer's left, it appears as though the flag is flying backward when the vehicle or person is in motion. Also, it would place the flag in a position of being in retreat as the vehicle or person moves forward.To alleviate this problem, the International Civil Aviation Organization decreed that flags painted on aircraft must face the direction of the flight to be aerodynamically and aesthetically correct. For consistency, the Flag Foundation decided to recommend that flags or flag decals on vehicles, as well as flag patches on uniforms, should be so oriented. The foundation therefore recommends that the flag patch on the left sleeve of a uniform should have the union to the viewer's left, while a patch on the right sleeve should be displayed with the union to the viewer's right, so that in both cases the flag is facing forward and is streaming to the back as the person moves forward.