Why is the flag on the Scout uniform displayed wrong?

Category:Boy Scouts of America

The flag patch on the BSA uniform is worn properly. So is the flag worn on the uniform of many law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services and astronauts. Page 76 of the 12th Edition of the Boy Scout Handbook notes the difference between the BSA and the U.S. Army methods of wearing the flag, and that the BSA method is in compliance with the U.S. Flag Code.

The US Flag Code has no guidance on the wear of the flag patch, nor on the use of flags on vehicles. When the US Flag is depicted on a vehicle, the tradition is to show the standard flag on the left side and the reverse on the right so that it appears to be advancing.

The BSA started wearing the flag patch on the uniform in 1972, using the standard flag. Cub Scouts initially wore the flag over the right pocket, then it was moved to the right sleeve.

The US Army wore the standard flag patch on some uniforms during World War II. They began wearing the reverse flag patch during operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Army refers to it as the U.S. flag cloth replica. Other services do not wear the US Flag on uniforms.