I've noticed this on several movies and just seeing this one it reminded me again. Why do they sew the flag on the uniforms on the right arm I think where it's backwards? It always looks weird like that to me when they could have just as easily sewed it so it wouldn't be backwards when you look at it. Is there some significance to doing it like that?
shareThat's because that's the appearance of the flag if the person was actually holding it, and moving forward into the battlefield.
shareGeddysburn is correct. The flag backwards simulates the flag being held and running forward on a battlefield, and not running away (retreat).
shareWhen an actor wears a military uniform in a movie, it must have obvious dependencies to avoid violating federal laws.
shareyes, as above = a flag on a stationary object is always shown with the field of stars to the left as if on a flag pole, but on a uniform or a vehicle, the stars (as if on a pole moving forward) are to the front.
shareIt's on the right sleeve. When displayed, the blue field is always "flown" forward, as if being held by a guidon bearer in a parade. Imagine you're on the right side of the parade watching them march past.
It's also done with the right-side tail markings on U.S. aircraft.
The U.S. flag was a rather late addition to the previous Woodland Green fatigues, when we started taking a more active role in international peacekeeping operations. I'm not sure why they chose the right sleeve.
It might be because the U.S. Army reserves the space on the top of the left sleeve for special skill tabs, i.e. SPECIAL FORCES, RANGER, etc. and it would be too much clutter.
^Agreed. I am in the military and the flag is worn on the right arm of the ACU(Army Combat Uniform). The flag being backwards represents the Army moving forward. As many people have stated, it represents the army moving forward mostly. Also, as has been stated, the left arm pocket flap is reserved for 4 different special skills tabs, the special forces, ranger, sapper, and president's hundred tabs to be exact.
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