This information affects all bases overseas for all services.
The photo at the top of the page is from 2025 of the Spangdahlem Air Base Honor Guard color guard in Luxembourg for the celebration of the liberation of Vianden with the wrong colors in the wrong positions. When my wife and I were stationed at Spang, I did this very same ceremony as a member of the BHG, our colors set up was just like this because of “common knowledge” , and we were also wrong. We just didn’t know we were wrong back in 2009 because of the lack of guidance.
Military color guards overseas cannot carry the country’s color just because you’re in a foreign land. Strict requirements must be met, and those requirements are found in Department of Defense Instruction 5410.19 Volume 4.
Another thing about the Spang team above. The USAF Honor Guard has restated that the USAF flag will always be carried for color guards of this nature*. That is plainly shown in AFPAM 34-1203, Drill and Ceremonies.
*Two rifle guards with only the national color is the minimal team authorized for all services. It’s not usual and most often is solely for foreign national arrival ceremonies but it is an option.
SECTION 5: CEREMONIAL SUPPORT AND MILITARY SERVICE EXHIBITS
DoDI 5410.19-V4, September 29, 2021 (underline and asterisk emphasis mine)
5.1. CEREMONIAL SUPPORT.
b. National Flag of Foreign Nations and Other Organizational Flags.
(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**.
**This is the key phrase that forbids the POW/MIA from every being carried outside of a funeral for a former POW.
When I write articles, I sometimes duplicate the information in another article and state it a different way. I’ve written about this here.
The Ramstein team pictured above is also in the wrong because the team is carrying the German flag (and a whole host of other issues).
So, What Can You Do?
Display the nation’s flag for ceremonies and do not carry it unless the above stated requirements are met. In the Ramstein photo, you can see the colors are all preposted on the stage and that means the team entered for what we call a “Shoe-n-Go” where the team enters, formally present, and then departs. All of the colors that need to be displayed are displayed and the color guard should then only present the authorized colors (US and AF).
Your Job
Spread the word. We need to get every Protocol office and ceremonial team in the DoD educated about this and stop violating instructions.