Happy Birthday United States Department of Defense

100% American-Made United States Military flags from LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®
100% American-Made United States Military flags from LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®

After the American Revolutionary War was underway, the Second Continental Congress openly considered creating a national department dedicated to the management of military operations throughout the colonies. It wasn't until 1789, at the constant urging of President George Washington, that the 1st United States Congress finally created the War Department.

However, a decade later, Congress created the Navy Department in 1798. By the end of WWII, 150 years' worth of conflicts of interest and disputes over control between departments had manifested in internal confusion. In 1947, at the urging of President Harry Truman, Congress created the National Military Establishment, which was the first step to creating unity among military departments.

Finally, on August 10, 1949, the National Military Establishment absorbed the major military departments and was renamed the Department of Defense.

The United States Department of Defense is the world's largest employer, providing for more than 2.8 million service personnel and civilians.

On August 10 each year, we celebrate the founding of the United States Department of Defense.

100% American-Made United States Military flags from LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®
100% American-Made United States Military flags from LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®

Flying U.S. Military Flags Outdoors

The Department of Defense Directive 1005.8 asserts the order of precedence of military personnel, which we can safely assume mirrors that of military flags on an Outdoor Flagpole. That order is as follows: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard Flag moves up right behind Navy when the Coast Guard operates as a service of the Department of the Navy during a time of war.

As of this writing, the D.O.D. Directive has not been updated to include the Space Force flag (current as of 2003).

The recent addition of the Space Force flag has, therefore, generated some confusion. Most visible examples show the Space Force flag placed between the Air Force and Coast Guard flags. However, though it meets with historic precedent and follows the same guiding reasoning, this precedent has not been documented in writing that we have found.

In a mandatory directive from the Secretary of The Air Force (downloadable here) in August of 2020, the Space Force flag is ordered to be flown in the sixth position, after the Coast Guard flag (as pictured throughout our website).

When the flags are being flown on multiple Outdoor Flagpoles, the American Flag should always be flown first in line. If you are flying flags from one or more military branches on the same pole as your American Flag, it/they should be of equal size or smaller and flown below the American Flag.

Displaying United States Military Flags Indoors

When displaying Military Ceremonial Flags, the order of precedence remains the same as when they are displayed outdoors. The American Ceremonial Flag is always displayed first in the order. It’s also important to remember that when a Military Ceremonial flag is presented by a color guard, either indoors, during a parade, or on the playing field, a Parade Carry Belt must be worn.

Military Desk Flags and sets are another way to show your support for U.S. Armed Forces. Desk flags are small and versatile; they can be displayed on a podium, a desk, or even a window sill. These small flags can also be waved during a parade or celebration for the U.S. DoD Birthday.

100% American-Made Ceremonial United States Military flags from LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®
100% American-Made Ceremonial United States Military flags from LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®

Do You Celebrate the U.S. Department of Defense?

Send us your pictures of Military flags, American flags, flagpoles, ropes, or other accessories! We would be honored to feature your photography in our blog or on Facebook. Remember, photos of damaged flags and accessories are valuable, too.

Do you have suggestions for information you'd like to see here? If so, please send them our way!

Please send all of your suggestions or questions to service@LibertyFlags.com. We want to hear from you!

Have a great day, from your friends at LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®.

Back to blog