A Doctrinal Clarification for U.S. Navy Units
The Navy does not have protocol specialists assigned to units like the Army, Air Force, and Space Force do. That’s understandable since protocol is not necessary at sea a majority of the time. However, giving this responsibility to a Petty Officer aboard ship as an extra duty without the Navy providing clear guidance is a recipe for problems.
I’ll help give you the tools to get the job done.
The Problem
Across Navy installations—CONUS and OCONUS—there is a recurring issue:
- Incorrect flagstaffs (metal, telescoping, display kits)
- Improper flag construction (grommets vs. pole hem confusion)
- Misuse of cord and tassels
- Inconsistent fringe application
- Misunderstanding of mast configurations and flag precedence
Most of this does not come from negligence.
It comes from a lack of clear, consolidated guidance.
The Reality
Unlike other services, the Navy does not provide a single, unified, highly detailed system for:
- Ceremonial flagstaff construction
- Indoor color display
- Mast-based display interpretation
Instead, guidance is distributed across sources such as:
- NTP 13(B)
- U.S. Navy Regulations
This creates gaps.
And where gaps exist, inconsistency follows.
Flagstaffs: The First Breakdown Point
The most common error is the use of commercial display equipment:
- Aluminum poles
- Telescoping flagstaffs
- Indoor “flagpole kits”
These are not ceremonial equipment.
They are display tools.
Military flagstaffs are:
- Solid wood
- Fixed length (9’6″)
- Built for repeated use and control
A flagstaff is not just a pole—it is a ceremonial instrument.
Flags vs. Colors: A Critical Distinction
Another frequent issue is improper flag construction.
There are two distinct types:
Hoist Flag (Jackstaff / Halyard Use)
- Header with grommets
- No fringe
Color (Staff-Mounted)
- Pole hem (sleeve)
- Designed for ceremonial display
They are not interchangeable without proper construction.
The national ensign is the only flag that may legitimately serve both roles—when properly configured.
Cord and Tassels: Not Decorative
Cord and tassels are often misapplied.
Per NTP 13(B):
- Authorized only for specific flags
- U.S. Colors: Red, White, and Blue only (IAW NTP13B, this cord is not mandatory)
- U.S. Navy Color: No cord authorized
This is not optional.
It is controlled.
Fringe: Flexible, But Not Random
Navy practice allows variation:
- All colors may have fringe
- Some may have fringe
- None may have fringe
However:
Within a formation/display, the standard must be uniform.
Mixed application degrades presentation and professionalism.
Mast Systems: Where Most Misunderstandings Occur
Naval mast configurations are often misinterpreted.
They are not decorative structures—they are hierarchical display systems.
Key Principle:
The mast defines authority.
Hierarchy is fixed:
- Mast (Truck/Top) — Primary
- Gaff — Secondary
- Yardarm — Tertiary
Additional lines increase display capacity—but never authority.
Foreign National Colors: A Critical Restriction
Foreign national colors will not be displayed from a U.S. mast system.
Why?
Because any flag on the same mast is subordinate to the U.S. national ensign.
That is not appropriate representation.
Correct methods:
- Separate mast of equal prominence
- Or a color guard carrying both national colors
One mast = one nation.
Half-Mast: Not a Measurement
Another common misconception:
“Half-mast means halfway down.”
Not in naval practice.
Per NTP 13(B), half-mast position is:
- Defined by mast configuration
- Adjusted for clearance
- Intended to keep the ensign unfouled and visible
Half-mast is structural—not mathematical.
The Pentagon Myth
A frequent argument:
“The Pentagon uses those office-style staffs.”
Yes—for display.
But during ceremonies inside the Pentagon:
Honor guards use standard wooden ceremonial staffs.
That is the standard—not the office display.
What This All Comes Down To
Most errors come from one assumption:
“Close enough is good enough.”
It isn’t.
Ceremonial standards are built on:
- Precision
- Consistency
- Intentional design
The Bottom Line
- Use wooden flagstaffs
- Use the correct flag construction
- Apply cord and tassels only when authorized
- Maintain uniform fringe standard
- Understand mast hierarchy
- Never subordinate a foreign national color
Final Thought
Ceremonial standards are not based on convenience—they are based on definition.
Download the Full Implementation Package
This article summarizes key points.
For full guidance—including:
- Complete DCS (ICS Pub 12-110)
- Procurement checklist
- Vendor specification sheet
- Visual reference guide
- Mast system diagrams and legend
Download the full ICS package:
ICS DCS 12-110 US Navy Flagstaffs Masts Flags Colors and Display Equipment Standardization
Comments 4
Why are all your articles so obviously written with AI nowadays? It’s slightly unbearable to read. Love your stuff but this might be enough for me to stop reading.
Author
Mr. Jorgensen,
I do appreciate you reading and sticking with my work. Thank you.
I do use AI as a tool for structuring and refining ideas, but every article is based on my vast research, experience, and standards. Over the last four months I have written well over 300 documents based on those ideas and research I mentioned, especially the ideas that I’ve had for the decade-plus. I have published more work in that time than in years past. I don’t know how else to handle the sheer volume of what is in my head, the research involved, and then the extensive writing. If you have a better idea, please let me know.
If the tone feels different, that’s something I’m continuing to refine—I want the material to be clear, relevant, and authoritative.
Again, thank you for the feedback. While I don’t want to alienate a reader, my goals are better attained at the moment using writing tools.
I see. It’s not primarily the fact that AI is being used that alienates me but more so the style it produces. May I suggest providing the model/bot you are using with a number of your previous articles and telling it to replicate that style? That might make things better.
I’d also consider that possibly less is more—while writing manually will result in less articles and ideas getting out, the articles will all be of higher quality. Even if you can get more info out by using AI, it would be made futile if the results are read by less people. This only matters if other people dislike the AI style though, and I may or may not be alone in my opinion.
A third consideration is that human-written articles (I believe) glorify God more, given that your God-given faculties are being utilized more heavily to produce something that (I believe) is more beautiful than their AI counterparts. A good example of this is asking AI to write a prayer: if you prompt it right, it may contain many glorious truths, but ultimately it is not a true prayer because prayer is done by humans, not computers. I understand that your articles still contain your research and opinions, but this is more of a spectrum wherein these AI-assisted articles are in the center of the spectrum, and I think it is more God-glorifying to be on the completely man-made side.
Of course, it’s your blog in the end, and these are just my thoughts. May Christ be with you to the ends of the earth.
Author
I very much appreciate your recommendations and your blessing.
Thank you.