US NAVY ENSIGNS & FLAGS

UNITED STATES NAVY

CURRENT ENSIGNS & FLAGS

The national flag of the United States also serves as the nation's naval ensign. The jack—officially titled the Union Jack—is the union or canton of the ensign, and by regulation it is the same size as the canton of the ensign with which it is being flown. In the US Bicentennial Year (1976), all ships of the US Navy were ordered to wear the First Navy Jack in place of the Union Jack. This historical naval flag dates from the American Revolution and is one of the many "rattlesnake flags" of the period. After 1976 the First Navy Jack was permitted to be worn in place of the Union Jack as a special distinction by the oldest US Navy warship in regular commission. In 2003, the Secretary of the Navy ordered all US Navy ships to fly the First Navy Jack for the duration of the war on terrorism. The Commission Pennant is worn at all times by all US warships in commission except when a ship is under the command of a flag officer, in which case the appropriate rank flag is flown instead.

The Navy Battalion Flag served as the parade and ceremonial flag of the US Navy until replaced by the current United States Navy Flag. Today it is used as a unit flag ashore, especially at training establishments, and unit designations may be added to it. Navy company and squadron guidons are based on the Battalion Flag. Companies of the Brigade of Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy (Annapolis, Maryland) have yellow guidons with blue company numbers and a blue border for the Color Company.