Why a TSA Color Guard Is Not Authorized—and What Works Instead

1. TSA Is a Civilian Security Organization, Not a Military or Armed Service

The Transportation Security Administration is a civilian federal agency under the Department of Homeland Security. While TSA officers perform a security mission, they are:

• Not a uniformed armed service
• Not commissioned or enlisted military personnel
• Not a law enforcement agency with ceremonial arms authorization

Color guards, as a formal ceremonial construct, originate from military and quasi-military traditions where:

• Arms are authorized
• Unit lineage and command authority are clearly defined
• Ceremonial drill doctrine exists and is enforced

TSA does not meet these criteria.

Note: the photo at the top of the page shows a TSA color guard. The guards should not be armed. This must be a Flag Display Team as shown below.

2. Armed Guards Are the Core Defining Element of a Color Guard

A true color guard is not simply “people carrying flags.”

A doctrinal color guard includes:

• A national color
• Organizational or departmental colors (when authorized)
• Armed guards whose weapons symbolize protection of the colors
• Equipment handling governed by established doctrine

TSA officers:

• Are not authorized ceremonial arms bearers
• Do not have a weapons-based ceremonial tradition
• Do not train under any recognized color guard doctrine

Removing arms removes the defining feature of a color guard.

3. Uniform ≠ Authority to Perform Military Ceremony

TSA uniforms are distinctly civilian, even if visually structured. Wearing a federal uniform does not convey:

• Military authority
• Ceremonial arms authorization
• Color guard authority

This is a recurring misconception you have addressed elsewhere:
Uniformed appearance does not equal ceremonial authorization.

The Correct Alternative: A Flag Display with Unarmed Guards

What TSA is authorized to do

A flag display is entirely appropriate and defensible.

A proper TSA flag display would include:

• The US flag (displayed, not maneuvered militarily)
• A DHS or TSA organizational flag (if authorized)
• Unarmed escorts or attendants
• Simple, respectful movements
• No military commands, rifle movements, or simulated guard behavior

This approach:

• Honors the flag without misusing military ceremony
• Avoids false equivalence with military color guards
• Aligns with civilian ceremonial norms
• Prevents doctrinal errors and public confusion

Why Unarmed Guards Matter

Unarmed guards:

• Signal civilian status
• Avoid implying combatant or protective authority
• Remove the need for weapon-handling doctrine
• Reduce errors and misrepresentation

This distinction is critical in public-facing ceremonies, especially in airports where symbolism carries weight.

Is There Any Scenario Where a TSA Color Guard Would Be Authorized?

Practically speaking: no.

Unless TSA were:

• Granted explicit ceremonial arms authorization
• Provided formal color guard doctrine
• Integrated into an armed uniformed service structure

—which is neither current policy nor historically consistent—
a TSA color guard remains ceremonially inappropriate.

Instructor-Level Takeaway

This is not about disrespecting TSA officers or minimizing their role. It is about respecting the boundaries of ceremonial systems.

Remember:

• Do not cross service systems.
• Do not borrow traditions without doctrine.
• Ceremony without authority becomes imitation.

TSA color guards fall into the same category as many civilian groups attempting to replicate military forms without authorization.