Last modified: 2023-03-18 by rick wyatt
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Indoor/Parade version image provided by Army Institute of Heraldry to Dave Fowler, 15 May 2020 |
Outdoor version image by Pete Loeser, 15 May 2020 Based on: https://www.spaceforce.mil |
See also:
The new U.S. Space Force flag was introduced yesterday (May 15, 2020). The
official flag of the Space Force is derived from key and central elements of the
seal of the United States Space Force, presented on a black field fringed in
platinum with the words "United States Space Force" and Roman numerals MMXIX
(2019) below the seal.
source:
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article/2189185/space-force-flag-unveiled-at-white-house
More info re new flag:
source:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/16/politics/space-force-flag/index.html
The Space Force marks the first new service and accompanying service flag in
more than 72 years, according to the White House. .... (according to Chief of
Space Operations Gen. John Raymond)
The dark blue and white flag is
emblazoned with "United States Space Force" and Roman numerals MMXIX (2019) and
features a globe, a Delta Wing, an elliptical orbit, a white Polaris, two
clusters of small stars and three larger stars, according to the White House.
The design is meant to represent the vast recesses of outer space, with the
globe signifying the Space Force fighters' home and the Delta Wing drawing the
force's ties to the US Air Force in symbolizing change and innovation. The
elliptical orbit is meant to signify defense and protection, as well as
interagency cooperation and allied partnerships, and the white Polaris
represents the force's constant vigilance, the White House said.
The flag was
produced by artists and crafts people at the Defense Logistics Agency flag room
in Philadelphia and approved by Trump this past January, the same month the
newest branch of government was unveiled.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/24/politics/space-force-star-trek-logo-donald-trump/index.html
The official unveiling comes almost two years after Trump
https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/18/politics/trump-space-command-creation/index.html
the Department of Defense and the Pentagon to establish a Space Force. They
officially became the sixth branch of armed forces last December when Trump
signed the annual National Defense Authorization Act into law, and announced
Raymond would be the first Chief of Space Operations.
More information:
source:https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2020/05/15/trump-presented-us-space-force-flag-promises-super-duper-missile/#14db816e1792
CRITICAL QUOTE
"The delta in the middle, that's the symbol that space
communities use for years and years and years. The North Star signifies our core
value, our guiding light, if you will," Gen. Jay Raymond - head of the Space
Force - said at Friday's ceremony. "And the orbit around the globe signifies the
space cape colors that fuel our American way of life."
Bill Garrison,
16 May 2020
The DLA indeed does procure and distribute military flags, but they are
designed by the artists at the US Army Institute of Heraldry in Fort Belvoir,
VA.
Dave Fowler, 17 May 2020
US Space Command is a separate organization from USSF. It is one of eleven
joint combatant commands, like Central Command and European Command that take
forces from all the services for perform an operational mission.
The
USSF's chief of space operations is also temporarily the commander of US Space
Command, but that will be split around October 1.
Dave Fowler, 18
May 2020
The US Space Force is not a unified command, combatant command, or
sub-unified command. It is a new branch of the United States armed forces. It is
the second branch of the armed forces under the Department of the Air Force,
just as the US Marine Corps is a second branch of the armed forces under the
Department of the Navy. The US Space Force is totally and completely separate
from any military command; it is a branch of service, with its own troops
("space cadets?"), it's own rank and command structure, and its own table of
organization.
So, the United States military now consists of six branches
of service: in order of seniority, the US Army, the US Marine Corps, the US
Navy, the US Air Force, the US Space Force, and the US Coast Guard (under the
Department of Homeland Security, except for wartime/war zone deployments).
Combatant commands (COCOMs) are joint military commands established to
oversee specific theaters of operation or specific functions: US Central Command
(USCENTCOM) is responsible for the Middle East, US Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)
is responsible for South America, US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) is
responsible for Asia-Pacific, US European Command (USEUCOM) is responsible for
Europe and Israel, US Africa Command (USAFRICOM) is responsible for Africa, US
Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) is responsible for North America, US
Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) is responsible for worldwide transportation
and logistics, US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) is responsible for worldwide
strategic deterrence, US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is responsible for
worldwide special operations, US Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) is responsible for
worldwide cyber operations, and US Space Command (USSPACECOM) is responsible for
"worldwide" space operations, taking over some of that mission from USSTRATCOM.
Each COCOM is not a service unto itself, but is a joint command with troops,
equipment, and forces provided by multiple services to carry out US military
operations within the assigned theater or function. So, the US Space Force will
likely be providing troops and equipment to support USSPACECOM... as will the US
Air Force, and possibly the US Navy, US Army, and/or US Marine Corps.
Randy Young, 2 June 2020
This White House photo confirms the suspected
order of precedence including the US Space Force flag:
1) US Army (out of the
picture frame)
2) US Marine Corps
3) US Navy
4) US Air Force
5) US
Space Force
6) US Coast Guard
At present, it does not have any
campaign streamers attached, but I expect there will be a concerted effort by
the Air Force Historical Research Agency to compile a list of actions that Air
Force Space Command units have participated in since its inception in 1982.
(Contrary to popular belief, expeditionary space units do deploy into combat
zones).
Dave Fowler, 21 June 2020
As a matter of practice, the two USSF four-star generals, the CSO and VCSO
are only using positional flags right now. If a third USSF officer were to be
appointed to be commander of USSPACECOM, then he or she would use the four-star
flag.
I haven't yet seen a 2-star flag in the wild, but reputable flag
manufacturers that sell Govspec flags, sell all four rank flags.
Dave
Fowler, 9 June 2021
USSF flags that are yet to come:
Rank flags for 1, 2, 3 and 4 star
officers, whatever they end up being titled. My guess is that they will be black
with silver stars.
Positional flags for:
Chief of Space Operations
Vice Chief of Space Operations
Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force
Brigadier General
Major General
Lieutenant General
Organizational flags and guidons for a number of
echelons:
Commands
Wings, or similar organization
Groups, or similar organization
Squadrons, or similar organizations
Since 95% of the
USSF's units will lineally descend from USAF units, expect a heavy Air Force
influence on organizational insignias.
Dave Fowler, 17 May 2020
The Institute of Heraldry has published the illustrations for the following
US Space Force flags:
*Service flag
*Chief of Space Operations
*Vice
Chief of Space Operations
*Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force
*4-star general
*3-star lieutenant general
*2-star major general
*1-star brigadier general
*headquarters guidon
https://tioh.army.mil/Catalog/HeraldryMulti.aspx?CategoryId=10923
Dave Fowler, 6 August 2021
There is a 4-star flag that could be used for generals as well. As a practical matter, it would probably only be used by a Space Force general commanding US Space Command, as the CSO and VCSO have their own positional flags.
https://tioh.army.mil/Catalog/HeraldryList
Dave Fowler, 17 December 2022
image by Zachary Harden, 10 August 2020
based on
photograph
Divided diagonally black over white with central Space Force badge. Two black
stars at hoist, two white stars at fly.
Dave Fowler, 10 August 2020
image located by Dave Fowler, 6 October 2020
The first vice chief of space operations was nominated last week, and when
confirmed, will certainly have a flag as well. As the first two USSF positional
flags are patterned after Air Force designs, it seems
all but certain that the VCSO flag will be quartered black and white, with four
white stars flanking the center delta, globe and orbit.
For reference, the
Air Force vice chief of staff flag.
Dave Fowler, 10 August 2020
Although not super clear from this photo, the VCSO positional flag follows
the basic pattern of that of the US Air Force Vice Chief of Staff:
https://media.defense.gov/2020/Oct/04/2002510949/-1/-1/0/201001-F-LE393-0019.JPG
Dave Fowler, 6 October 2020
image by Zachary Harden, 10 August 2020
based on photograph
The first positional flag for the USSF was seen today...that for the Chief
Master Sergeant of the Space Force. The design is very similar to that of the
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force flag, with a unique central device, and
black in lieu of blue.
Dave Fowler, 10 August 2020
image by Zachary Harden, 15 August 2020
Flag seen at
https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/2676412/major-general-deanna-m-burt/
Zachary Harden,
31 July 2021
image by Zachary Harden, 17 August 2020
https://www.patrick.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/2462036/brigadier-general-stephen-g-purdy-jr/
confirms for a one-star general (Brigadier General), it is a singular white star
on a black field. While there are conjectures about the general (four-star) and
major general (two-star) flags, there is no photographic evidence of them in use
yet.
Zachary Harden, 9 June 2021
image by Zachary Harden, 15 August 2020
based on photograph
First view of a general officer rank flag in the US Space Force is that of a
lieutenant general. Following the Air Force star pattern, 3 white stars in a
horizontal row, on a black field, with silver gray fringe.
Dave Fowler,
15 August 2020
Guidons are used to identify all units below the field command level,
primarily deltas and squadrons.
Dave Fowler, 20 February 2023
USSF Headquarters
image by Dave Fowler, 20 February 2023
Silver gray on black
Space Operations Command
image by Dave Fowler, 20 February 2023
Black on silver gray
Space Systems Command
image by Dave Fowler, 20 February 2023
Black on golden yellow
Space Training and Readiness Command
image by Dave Fowler, 20 February 2023
Black on bluebird
Space Force Element, National Reconnaissance Office
image by Dave Fowler, 20 February 2023
Teal on black