All military departmental and organizational colors dip only in specific instances. The instances are fully explained for the departmental colors, and many do not understand that the restrictions to dip colors apply to all military organizational flags.
The image at top shows an Army ROTC color guard in the pass-in-review for a Basic Camp graduation at Fort Knox, KY.
Not to be Confused with a Naval Salute
From the US Navy Regulations Chapter 12. A naval salute involves lowering the colors in salute. For example, a merchant ship may lower its national flag to half-mast when passing a naval vessel. The ship then returns the salute by lowering its ensign to half-mast for a few seconds, then closing it back up. The merchant vessel then raises its ensign back up.
The tradition of dipping the colors was codified in 1594 when European powers agreed that only the Pope and King of Spain could continue to fly their colors when their ships encountered one another on the open seas. Ships of all other nations yielded precedence to these two and lowered their colors in salute.
The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard only return salutes from vessels flying the U.S. flag or the flag of a nation formally recognized by the Government of the United States. Warships never initiate such a salute, nor do they dip to each other. Submarines and or ships in which doing so would be hazardous for the crew are not required to dip the ensign.
This form of the dip does not apply to the other situations that are explained for a land-based color guard.
Dipping Colors for a Color Guard
The image at top shows an Army ROTC color guard in the pass-in-review for a Basic Camp graduation at Fort Knox, KY.
National Colors
All national colors are not dipped. Ever. For military teams, carrying a foreign national must meet the requirements of DoD Instruction 5410.19, Volume 4, Section 5, 5.1. b.
(1) U.S. military personnel in a foreign location may carry the official national flag of foreign nations participating in official civil ceremonies sponsored and conducted by the U.S. Government or a State, county, or municipal government.
(a) An official of the foreign nation concerned must be present in an official capacity to receive such honors.
(b) The official must be an individual to whom honors normally are rendered.
(2) In all other public programs or ceremonies, Service members in uniform and in an official capacity must not carry flags of foreign nations, veterans’ groups, or other non-military organizations.
Emphasis mine, above.
What the DoDI does not mention is what happens stateside. That means we look to other manuals for that guidance.
AR 840-10, 7-14. e. U.S. military personnel may carry flags of foreign nations in official military ceremonies when an official of that nation is present in an official capacity and is one for whom honors would normally be rendered.
MCO 5060.20, Chap 7, para. 5. e. The national colors of foreign countries will not normally be carried by the same color guard carrying the United States colors. When necessary, refer to reference (j [describes staffs and colors. -DM]).
MCO 10520.3, 4. Carrying Flags of Foreign Nations and Non-Military Organization. Marine Corps personnel may carry flags of foreign nations in official civil ceremonies when an official of the nation concerned is present in his official capacity and is one for whom honors normally would be rendered. In this capacity the flag of the foreign nation will be carried by a separate color guard (normally three Marines). This color guard will be preceded by a Marine Corps color guard during the ceremony. In all other public events or ceremonies, Marine Corps personnel in uniform and in an official capacity are not authorized to carry flags of foreign nations, veterans groups, or other nonmilitary organizations.
US Navy Regulations Chapter 12, 4. When a personal flag or a foreign ensign is required to be displayed ashore during the official visit of, or a gun salute to, a civil official or foreign officer it shall be displayed from the normal paint of display of a personal flag or pennant of the officer in command, and the latter’s flag or pennant shall be displayed at some other point within the command.
AFI 34-1201
2.12. At no time will a foreign national flag be dipped. [This means a foreign color can be carried. -DM]
2.22.7. When displayed or carried with flags of other Air Force organizations, foreign national flags, or state flags, the order of precedence is as follows: The United States Flag, foreign national flags, state flags, Air Force flag, and flags of other Air Force or military services organizations.
2.33.4. Flags of Friendly Foreign Nations. Flags of friendly foreign nations, when flown with flags described in this instruction, are approximately the same size. The designs are those selected by the foreign nations. They may be displayed or carried during ceremonies attended by officials or troops of friendly foreign nations.
Civilian and civil (first responder) color guards can carry a foreign national flag. Notice that the photo shows the foreign national colors (here, Canadian) are not dipped. This team is using proper flag protocol.
Military Departmental and Organizational Colors
The Continental Color Guard of the US Army 3rd Infantry Division, The Old Guard
Two different ceremonies where it was appropriate to dip both colors and then only the organizational.
All departmental and organizational colors dip for:
- The Star-Spangled Banner, To the Colors, and foreign national anthems. They DO NOT DIP for the Pledge of Allegiance.
- The sounding of Taps and Hail to the Chief.
- The President, VP, and members of the Cabinet.
- All service Secretaries, Chiefs of Staff, equivalents, and higher. Also dipped for their representatives.
- Foreign national dignitaries, civilian or military, of equivalent grade or higher.
In addition, all organizational colors are dipped:
- To the unit commander*
*This is why JROTC color guards carry state colors in competition, understandable, but unnecessary. Replacing the AJROTC color should not be standard for any other ceremony. For more on this, read my article, The Why of the Military Color Guard – JROTC and State Colors. In any case, JROTC cadets need to stop immediately dipping their JROTC color, organizational or institutional, on command.
I know! The JROTC organizational colors are difficult to get and a bit expensive. Most cadets have no idea that the org color is mandatory to carry. I’m writing about what the standard is, not demanding you spend money you may not currently have to meet a standard (budgeting for this requirement is a really good idea).
References
AR 840-10, Chapter 4, 4-1, (7) Dipping the flag. The U.S. Army Ceremonial flag is an organizational color and is therefore dipped while the U.S. National Anthem, “To the Color,” or a foreign national anthem is played. The U.S. Army Ceremonial flag is also dipped when rendering honors to the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, their direct representative, or an individual of higher grade, including a foreign dignitary of equivalent or higher grade. The U.S. Army Ceremonial flag will not be dipped under any other circumstances.
AR 600-25, Chapter 2, 2-2 a. The flag of the United States is not dipped by way of salute or compliment. The organizational color will be dipped in salute in all military ceremonies while the national anthem of the United States, “To the Colors,” or a foreign national anthem is being played, and when rendering honors to organizations and individuals for which the military ceremony is being conducted.
b. The U.S. Army flag is an organizational color and as such is also dipped under the situations stated in paragraph 2–2a.
MCO 5060.20, Chapter 7, paragraph 2. Color Salutes, b. By the Organizational Colors. In military ceremonies, the organizational colors salutes while the “National Anthem,” “To the Colors,” “Retreat,” or “Hail to the Chief” is being played, and when rendering honors to the organizational commander, individual of higher rank, or the dead, but in no other case. (See section 1, paragraph 5 of this chapter.)
- Salutes by the Organizational Colors
a. Once the color guard is at present colors, and when appropriate, the organizational color bearer will render a salute with the organizational colors by straightening the right arm and lowering the staff naturally to the front. The staff will rotate naturally as it goes forward causing the sharp edge of the spearhead to face down. (See figure 7-13.)
b. Salutes by the organizational colors are not automatic when presenting colors. They will be rendered only during honors to national colors, to the commander of the organization represented by the colors or to an individual senior in rank to the organizational commander; (e.g., during a parade or review when the adjutant presents the command to the commander of troops. The organizational colors does not salute, unless the commander of troops is the organizational commander or of higher rank.)
c. When musical honors are played, the organizational colors will salute on the first note of music. The colors will be returned to the vertical position following the last note of music or the last volley of a gun salute. If no music is to be played and a color salute is appropriate, the organizational colors will salute immediately after the color guard has gone to present colors.
d. When marching, the salute is rendered when 6 paces from the reviewing stand or person to be saluted. Carry colors is resumed when 6 paces beyond the reviewing stand or person to be saluted.
AFI 34-1201, 2.22.8. The Air Force departmental flag is an organizational flag and is dipped while the national anthem, “To The Color,” musical honors for CSAF or higher, or a foreign national anthem is played. The Departmental Flag is also dipped when rendering honors to the SecAF, the CSAF, their direct representative, or any government official of equivalent or higher grade, including foreign dignitaries, and during a pass in review. Additionally, the departmental flag and other subordinate flags will be dipped during military funeral honors. (T-1). This includes the movement and transfer of the remains, the playing of “muffled ruffles” and “Taps”. The departmental flag will not be dipped under any other circumstances. (T-1).