OPR: AF/A1SA

Supersedes: AFI 34-1201, 4 October 2006

This instruction implements Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 1005.06, Display of the

National Flag at Half Staff, and Air Force Policy Directive (AFPD) 34-12, Air Force Protocol.

publication to the Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) using the AF Form 847,

Recommendation for Change of Publication; route AF Form 847s from the field through the

s chain of command. Ensure all records created as a result of processes

prescribed in this publication are maintained in accordance with AFMAN 33-363, Management

of Records, and disposed of in accordance with the Air Force Records Information Management

System Records Disposition Schedule located at

https://www.my.af.mil/afrims/afrims/afrims/rims.cfm. The use of the name or mark of any

specific manufacturer, commercial product, commodity, or service in this publication does not

imply endorsement by the Air Force.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

accession for U.S. territories and deletes erroneous DV code 7 in Table A10.1.

Chapter 1—AIR FORCE PROTOCOL PROGRAM 8

Chapter 2—FLAGS AND PLATES 9

Figure 2.1. Flag of the United States Carried in Processions with Another Flag ..................... 12

Figure 2.2. Flag of the United States Displayed and Another Flag Displayed with Crossed

Figure 2.3. Flag of the United States Displayed with Other Flags Radiating from a Central

Figure 2.4. Flag of the United States Displayed in a Line with Other Flags at Equal Height. . 13

Figure 2.5. Flag of the United States Displayed in a Line with Other Flags at Lower Level. . 14

Figure 2.6. Flag of the United States Displayed at an Angle from a Building. ........................ 15

Figure 2.7. Flag of the United States Suspended over a Sidewalk. .......................................... 15

Figure 2.14. Flag as a Feature in a Ceremony for the Unveiling of a Statue. ............................ 22

Figure 2.15. Bunting. .................................................................................................................. 22

Figure 2.17. United States Air Force Provisional Flag with United States Air Force Flag. ....... 28

Figure 2.18. President of the United States Flag. ....................................................................... 29

Figure 2.19. Vice President of the United States Flag. .............................................................. 30

Figure 2.20. Secretary of Defense Flag. ..................................................................................... 30

Figure 2.21. Deputy Secretary of Defense Flag. ........................................................................ 31

Figure 2.22. Secretary of the Air Force Flag. ............................................................................. 31

Figure 2.23. Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Flag. .................................................................... 32

Figure 2.31. General Officer Flags (Personal Colors). ............................................................... 36

Figure 2.32. United States Air Force Senior Executive Service Flag. ....................................... 37

Figure 2.33. Guidons. ................................................................................................................. 37

Figure 2.34. Streamers. .............................................................................................................. 38

Figure 2.35. Streamer Arrangement. .......................................................................................... 39

Figure 2.36. Display of State Flags with the Flag of the United States. .................................... 41

Figure 2.37. United Nations Flag. .............................................................................................. 41

Figure 2.38. NATO Flag. ........................................................................................................... 42

Figure 2.39. The Medal of Honor Flag. ..................................................................................... 44

Chapter 4—MEMENTOS 49

Chapter 5—TRANSPORTATION 50

Chapter 6—TITLES, FORMS OF ADDRESS AND MILITARY ABBREVIATIONS 51

Chapter 8—CUSTOMS AND COURTESIES 58

Figure 8.1. Member not in Formation but in Uniform Salutes as Follows ............................... 59

Figure 11.2. Vehicle Seating. ..................................................................................................... 68

Figure 11.3. Greeting/Farewell Layout and Sequence. .............................................................. 70

coordinate with Air Force Services, the Air Force Protocol Office and the Air Force Services

2.5. Authorized flags and plates. Flags and plates are authorized for positions or individuals as

prescribed in this publication.

This instruction covers use of flags on Air Force installations after they have been approved and

produced.

2.7. Flag Protocol. Title 4 United States Code establishes the rules for proper use, display of,

and patriotic customs to be shown to the flag of the United States. The flag of the United States

Figure 2.8. Flag of the United States Displayed Against a Wall.

2.10.9.      

above and behind the speaker. When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium,

the flag of the United States should hold the position of superior prominence and in the

flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or to the right of

the audience (Figure 2.10). The flag should always be positioned at the same level or above

as the clergyman or speaker, never at a lower floor level. When the flag is not on stage but

placed on the floor in front of the stage, the flag is to the right of the audience.

Figure 2.10. Flag of the United States on Stage with Speaker.

south. This includes aircraft hangars. It is permitted to have U.S. flag/color team display for

ceremonial events in front of and in addition to a large permanently affixed U.S. Flag

displayed in a building or hangar (Figure 2.11).

Figure 2.11. Flag of the United States/Colors with permanently affixed U.S. Flag display

personnel of the Navy. Flags of other nations are flown or displayed in equal size and on

poles of equal height, and are never flown below the flag of the United States. While the

preferred and most traditional method is to fly flags at outside venues on individual flag

poles, the U.S. Flag Code does permit flags of cities, states, localities, organizations (i.e.

USAF, MAJCOM, NAF, or Wing flags), pennants of societies or special flags such as

Figure 2.13. Flag of the United States Draped over a Closed Casket.

2.11.9. Local installation commanders may authorize the display of additional organizational

flags.

Figure 2.14. Flag as a Feature in a Ceremony for the Unveiling of a Statue.

2.12.7. The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any

mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

2.12.8. The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or

delivering anything.

2.12.9. The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It

should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed

2.12.10. No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However,

States Flag should be worn on the left shoulder, with the union to the viewers left.

2.12.11. The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from a staff.

firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender.

2.12.13. No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right

naval chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church

2.13. Display of the United States Flag at Half-Staff. The United States flag shall be flown at

half-staff throughout the United States and its territories and possessions in accordance with

DoDI 1005.06, Display of the National Flag at Half-Staff.

2.13.4. All flags displayed with the flag of the United States should be flown at half-staff

specified in paragraph 2.13.1 and Attachment 3, when they consider it proper and

appropriate. Within the Air Force, this authority is delegated to the installation commander.

Any time an installation commander decides to fly the flag at half-staff based on this local

authority for a local death, the base marquee(s) should state the reason to avoid confusion.

2.14. Hoisting and Lowering the United States Flag. During the ceremony of hoisting or

lowering the flag, all persons present, except those in formation, should face the flag and stand at

attention. Those present in uniform should stand at attention and render the military salute.

specific meaning assigned to the folds of the flag. Although there are flag folding ceremony

options offered by various national interest groups, these are not official Air Force ceremonies.

The Air Force developed a script that provides a historical perspective on the flag. There are no

ceremonies in the Air Force requiring a script to be read when the flag is folded. However, when

a flag folding ceremony is desired and conducted by Air Force personnel at any location, on or

off an installation, this script is the only one that may be used. This includes printing in

programs and/or any handouts. See Attachment 4 for this script and a diagram depicting the

proper method for folding the flag of the United States.

2.16. Ceremonial Reviews. Render proper courtesies to the flag during parades or passes in

review:

conduct during the playing of the national anthem. The national anthem, first verse, is the only



salute. All others should remove their hat with their right hand and hold the headdress at the

left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Individuals in uniform should give the military

salute at the first note of the national anthem and maintain that position until the last note.

When the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same

manner they would if the flag were displayed.

2.17.2. Indoors. Military members in uniform, while in formations, should wear appropriate

headgear and render the military salute at the first note of the national anthem and maintain

that position until the last note. While not wearing headgear during an indoor ceremony,

military members, in formation or not, should stand at attention at the first note of the

national anthem and maintain that position until the last note without rendering the military

salute. There is one exception to this. Military members in uniform, under arms, should