Here are two ways to avoid potential problems

Cutting the First Stripe
The method of “cutting” the first stripe, used when a flag has been folded many, many times and is now stretched out to where it will not end up positioned properly for the tuck at the end, creates a very small initial triangle helping create more cloth for later folds.

Here is what the flag looks like before the triangle folds. The small fold to the left is only to show the two horizontal folds.

 

Pulling the Inside
At the last fold into the blue, which should look like the picture below, if the tip does not fall into the space within the two lines, it may be difficult to tuck at the end of folding.

 

If the tip does not fall in between those lines, back up one fold, pull the inside folds forward and continue. If the tip comes nowhere close to the blue, as pictured below right, accomplish the same procedure, without backing up a fold.

 

After finishing the triangle folds, make the last fold at an angle to give the right corner a little more cloth to tuck. It works very, very well for most every flag.

 

 

DrillMaster

Author, drill designer, marching instructor, trainer for honor guard units, military drill teams, marching bands and drum and bugle corps.

Recent Posts

Making RTC Great Again

I have been posting critiques on social media for several years now. The critiques are…

4 hours ago

Protocol Manual Update, AFI 90-1201 Replaces AFI 34-1201

In October of 2024, the Air Force furthered the coverage of instructions and other regulations…

1 week ago

Presenting the Colors and Rain

Your team is asked to present the colors at a game outside and there’s a…

2 weeks ago

Joint International Color Guard Protocol

It's an issue that has never been formally addressed before and the time has come…

3 weeks ago

Why We Have In-Ranks Inspections

In-ranks inspections matter because standards matter. All standards matter.

4 weeks ago

When to Dip Colors in Salute

All military departmental and organizational colors dip only in specific instances. The instances are fully…

1 month ago

This website uses cookies.