The U.S. Military Branches

The United States military, officially known as the United States Armed Forces, is made of five branches: United States Army, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force, and United States Coast Guard. The President of the United States is the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces and forms military policy with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), both federal executive departments, acting as the principal organs by which military policy is carried out. All five armed services are among the seven uniformed services of the United States.

The army is the part of a country's military that fights on the ground. People in the army are called soldiers. Soldiers do many things, from shooting enemies, to digging defensive trenches. They are used to defend their country, or attack another country's army.

The 21st century U.S. Navy maintains a sizable global presence, deploying in strength in such areas as the Western Pacific, the Mediterranean, and the Indian Ocean. It is a blue-water navy with the ability to project force onto the littoral regions of the world, engage in forward deployments during peacetime and rapidly respond to regional crises, making it a frequent actor in U.S. foreign and military policy. The Marine Corps is part of the Department of the Navy. While the Marine Corps is its own branch of the U.S. military, it falls under the administration of the Department of the Navy.

In the beginning, the U.S. Air Force or USAF was a sub division the U.S. Army and in 1947, following World War II, that the Air Force was recognized as its own military branch. Along with conducting independent air and space operations, the U.S. Air Force provides air support for land and naval forces and aids in the recovery of troops in the field.

The Coast Guard is a unique branch of the military responsible for an array of maritime duties, from ensuring safe and lawful commerce to performing rescue missions in severe conditions. It is considered a military service, because, during times of war or conflict, the President of the United States can transfer any or all assets of the Coast Guard to the Department of the Navy. The Coast Guard is the nation's oldest continuous seagoing service with responsibilities including Search and Rescue (SAR), Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE), Aids to Navigation (ATON), Ice Breaking, Environmental Protection, Port Security and Military Readiness.

The several branches of the United States Armed Forces are represented by flags, among other emblems and insignia. Within each branch, various flags fly on various occasions, and on various ships, bases, camps, and military academies. The U.S. military flags and memorabilia help show your support for every branch of the Armed Forces, as well as our veterans and active duty members. In addition to their intended purpose they can be purchased with a flag and used as a patriotic gift.

​Flags of the U.S. Military

U.S. Army

The Army flag was dedicated and unfurled to the general public on 14 June 1956 at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, on the 181st anniversary of the establishment of the U.S. Army by the Continental Congress in 1775. Then Vice President Richard Nixon presented it to Secretary of the Army Wilber M. Brucker, and the selected design was chosen for the flag that is still used until today. Before that day, there was no official flag to represent the U.S. Army.

This seal is the official design of the original War Office Seal. The seal on the U.S. Army flag goes back to the American Revolution, when it was used to authenticate documents from what was then called the War Office. It bears the year of the Army's establishment in 1775 and a rattlesnake (hearkening back to the "Don’t Tread on Me" rattlesnake) holding a scroll with the words "This We’ll Defend" in its mouth. A red scroll is featured below the seal, reading “United States Army,” and “1775” is written below, representing the year of the U.S. Army’s formation. The U.S. Army flag features the same colors as the official flag of the United States of America; namely, red, white, and blue.

U.S. Navy

The Department of the Navy Seal, created in 1957, was to serve as the main feature of the official United States Navy flag. On April 24, 1959, by Presidential order, a flag truly representative of the Navy's operating forces at sea was born and remains the official flag of the United States Navy today. The flag's design consists of the official seal of the U.S. Department of the Navy, and below it is a yellow scroll inscribed "United States Navy" in dark blue letters, against a dark blue background.

Before it became the U.S. Navy, for more than sixty years the Infantry Battalion flag served as the unofficial Navy flag in drill formations and parades and at other ceremonies.

U.S. Marine Corps

The official flag was adopted on 18 January 1939. The Marine Corps flag is scarlet and shows the Marine Corps emblem, and it features an eagle, globe and anchor, each symbolic to the military branch. The eagle represents the nation that the Marines protect and is situated on top of the globe, wings open wide. A ribbon held in the eagle's beak carries the Marine motto, "Semper Fidelis," (Latin for "always faithful"). Below the emblem a larger ribbon holds the title, "United States Marine Corps."

Together the three elements – eagle, anchor, and globe – represent the Marine’s diehard commitment to defend the United States, on air, land, and sea. In fact, this emblem has been a part of the Marine uniform since 1868 and became the official emblem in 1955.

U.S. Air Force

The United States Air Force Flags were designed in the late 1940’s and officially adopted by President Truman in March 26, 1951. The official Air Force colors of ultramarine blue and Air Force yellow are reflected in the Air Force Seal; the circular background is ultramarine blue, and the trim is Air Force yellow. The 13 stars represent the 13 original US colonies, while the three-star grouping at the top symbolizes cooperation between the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

When it was still part of the Army, the Air Force's branch colors were ultramarine blue and golden orange, and these colors are still used by Army Aviation. The new official flag was first flown on March 31, 1951.

U.S. Coast Guard

The Coast Guard was founded in 1790 and operated under the Treasury Department. The coast guard ensign was derive from the "revenue ensign" adopted on August 1, 1799, by Secretary of the Treasury Oliver Wolcott, with the approval of President John Adams, to identify the cutters of the Revenue Marine, the principal predecessor of the modern Coast Guard. The first created ensign was poignant with historical detail, inasmuch as in the canton of the flag, there are 13 stars, 13 leaves to the olive branch, 13 arrows and 13 bars to the shield.

When the service adopted the name Coast Guard, the Revenue Cutter Service's ensign became the distinctive flag on all Coast Guard cutters as it had been for the revenue cutters.

The ensign is used on Coast Guard ships and bases. However, the official Coast Guard ensign today does not include the Coast Guard Seal on the flag. The seal consists of two anchors crossed and pointing down.

​These flags truly represent the pride and resilience of our soldiers, and you can fly them proudly knowing they are made right here in the USA. Displaying the flags that represent the country, its soldiers, and the support you're showing for them is a great way to show your gratitude to our troops who continue to fight for the freedom that we all have.

The POW/MIA Flag

The POW/MIA flag has become to mean much more nowadays than it first did when it was created. During its development, it served as a reminder of those who were held in enemy captivity during the wars in Southeast Asia. It is a symbol to remind everyone of the sacrifice and serves as an unspoken promise to the families of loved ones who remain behind - they are Not Forgotten.

The black POW/MIA flag was developed by the National League of POW/MIA Families. The organization was founded by POW wife Sybil Stockdale, during the Johnson administration, in an effort to embarrass LBJ and challenge his line that all in Vietnam was going swell.

Newt Heisley was the one who conceptualized the design of the current POW/MIA flag.