https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN44560-ALARACT_0792025-000-WEB-1.pdf
ALARACT 079/2025
DTG: R 121400Z AUG 25
UNCLAS
SUBJ/ALARACT079/2025–ANNOUNCEMENT OF CHANGES TO AR 840–10, AR
600–25, AND DA PAM 600–60
THIS ALARACT MESSAGE HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED BY JSP ON BEHALF OF THE
HQDA, DCS, G–1 AND OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, ARMY PROTOCOL, CSA
1. (U) REFERENCES:
1.A. (U) AR 840–10, FLAGS, GUIDONS, STREAMERS, TABARDS, AND
AUTOMOBILE AND AIRCRAFT PLATES
1.B. (U) AR 600–25, SALUTES, HONORS, AND COURTESY
1.C. (U) DA PAM 600–60, A GUIDE TO PROTOCOL
2. (U) PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF
FORTHCOMING CHANGES TO REFERENCES 1.A., 1.B., AND 1.C., RELATING TO
EXISTING POLICY AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE DISPLAY AND FLYING OF U.S.
AND OTHER FLAGS FOR CEREMONIES, PARADES, AND OTHER EVENTS AS
WELL AS FLAG FINIALS AND OTHER RELATED POLICIES.
3. (U) SITUATION: REFERENCE 1.B., PRESCRIBES ARMY POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES FOR THE RENDITION OF SALUTES, HONORS, CEREMONIES,
CUSTOMS, AND VISITS OF COURTESY. A RECENT REVISION OF REFERENCES
1.A. AND 1.C. IDENTIFIED PROTOCOL POLICIES RELATED TO U.S. AND OTHER
FLAGS, INADVERTENTLY INCLUDED IN THESE PUBLICATIONS, WHEN SUCH
POLICY SHOULD BE PUBLISHED IN THE PRESCRIBING AUTHORITY,
REFERENCE 1.B.
4. (U) THIS MESSAGE ANNOUNCES THAT PROTOCOL POLICIES AND
ASSOCIATED FIGURES INADVERTENTLY PUBLISHED IN REFERENCES 1.A. AND
1.C. WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO REFERENCE 1.B.
5. (U) SPECIFICALLY, THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS WILL BE REMOVED FROM
THE NEXT REVISION OF REFERENCE 1.A.:
5.A. (U) PARAGRAPHS 2–3A(1)(A) THROUGH 2–3A(1)(Y): GUIDANCE ON THE USE
OF THE GARRISON FLAG ON HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL OCCASIONS.
5.B. (U) PARAGRAPH 2–4: SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE POSITION AND
MANNER OF DISPLAY OF THE U.S. FLAG FOR ALL ARMY CEREMONIES,
PARADES, AND OTHER OCCASIONS.
5.C. (U) PARAGRAPH 3–55: SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE DISPLAY OF THE
MEDAL OF HONOR FLAG AT ARMY CEREMONIES.
5.D. (U) PARAGRAPH 4–1E: POLICY GOVERNING DISPLAY AND PRECEDENCE
OF THE U.S. ARMY CEREMONIAL FLAG AND THE U.S. ARMY DISPLAY FLAG BY
AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATIONS.
5.E. (U) PARAGRAPH 7–11C: SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE DISPLAY OF
STATE AND TERRITORIAL FLAGS.
5.F. (U) CHAPTER 8: POLICY GOVERNING THE USE OF FLAGSTAFFS AND
FLAGSTAFF HEADS (FINIALS).
6. (U) THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE NEXT
REVISION OF REFERENCE 1.C.:
6.A. (U) PARAGRAPH 6–8: POLICY GOVERNING THE DISPLAY OF GENERAL
OFFICER FLAGS AT EVENTS AND CEREMONIES.
6.B. (U) PARAGRAPH 6–9: POLICY GOVERNING THE DISPLAY OF RETIRED
GENERAL OFFICER FLAGS.
6.C. (U) PARAGRAPH 6–12: POLICY GOVERNING THE USE OF FLAGSTAFFS AND
FLAGSTAFF HEADS (FINIALS).
7. (U) THE POLICIES CITED ABOVE WILL BE ADDED TO THE NEXT REVISION OF
REFERENCE 1.B. THE GUIDANCE AND INSTRUCTIONS CITED ABOVE WILL BE
ADDED TO THE NEXT REVISION OF REFERENCE 1.C.
8. (U) SEE ATTACHMENT 1, FOR THE DRAFT POLICY PROVISIONS THAT THE
PROPONENT WILL ADD TO THE NEXT REVISION OF REFERENCE 1.B.
9. (U) POINTS OF CONTACT FOR THIS MESSAGE ARE AS FOLLOWS.
9.A. (U) REFERENCE 1.A. PROPONENT, DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, G–1:
USARMY.PENTAGON.HQDA-DCS-G-1.MBX.PUBLISHING-TEAM@ARMY.MIL.
9.B. (U) REFERENCE 1.B. AND REFERENCE 1.C. PROPONENT, ARMY PROTOCOL
OFFICE, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE ARMY:
USARMY.PENTAGON.HQDA-VDAS.MBX.ARMY-PROTOCOL@ARMY.MIL.
10. (U) THIS ALARACT MESSAGE EXPIRES ON 6 AUGUST 2026.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. ANTICIPATED CHANGES TO AR 600–25
ATTACHMENT 1: ANTICIPATED CHANGES TO AR 600–25
1
The proponent of AR 600–25 (Salutes, Honors, and Courtesies) anticipates that the following provisions
will be added to the next revision of AR 600–25.
Position and manner of display
Ceremonies and parades. Specific mandatory instructions for the position and manner of display of the
U.S. Flag for all Army ceremonies, parades, and other occasions is prescribed in DA Pam 600–60.
The U.S. Army Ceremonial Flag, Army Display Flag, and the Army Field Flag
Display. The U.S. Army flag (ceremonial or display) has precedence over all other Army flags. Its display
with streamers, by Army organizations, is encouraged on all appropriate occasions. Organizations
authorized the U.S. Army Ceremonial flag or the U.S. Army Display flag, or subordinate units of these
organizations, are governed by the following:
a. Indoor display. Display inside offices or headquarters buildings on occasions directed by the
commander of the organization authorized the flag.
b. Parade and review. Carry in parades and reviews in which other Armed Forces participate when flags
of these services are carried. Whenever possible, carry in all parades and reviews of organizations
authorized the flag.
c. Other official occasions and ceremonies. Display or carry on occasions when heads of departments or
agencies or other distinguished representatives of the U.S. Government or foreign governments are
present. The U.S. Army Ceremonial flag may be displayed or carried at public ceremonies.
d. Community relations. Display as determined by commanders to support community relations activities
when Army participation is authorized.
e. Other occasions. Carry or display on suitable occasions not specified above, as determined by the
commander of the organization authorized the flag.
f. Precedence.
(1) When displayed or carried with flags of Army echelons and no foreign national flags or State flags are
displayed or carried, the U.S. Army flag (ceremonial or display) will be at the marching left of the U.S. flag.
Other organizational flags according to echelon will be to the left of the U.S. Army flag (ceremonial or
display). Distinguishing flags for regimental corps will have precedence over the command flag of the
regimental proponent. If the flag of the United States is carried or displayed in front of the center of a line
of other flags, the U.S. Army flag (ceremonial or display) will be on the marching right of the line that is
behind the flag of the United States.
(2) When displayed or carried with flags of U.S. Army echelons, foreign nationals, or State flags, the
order of precedence is the U.S. flag, foreign national flags, State flags, U.S. Army flag (ceremonial or
display), and flags of Army echelons.
(3) When a number of flags (excluding foreign national and State flags) are grouped and displayed from
staffs radiating from a central point, the flags are arranged alternatively on each side of the U.S. flag in
order of precedence to the right and left (observer’s left and right facing flag). The U.S. Army (ceremonial
or display) flag will be displayed on the immediate right (observer’s left facing) of the U.S. flag, the next
ranking flag on the immediate left (observer’s right) and so on, alternating right and left.
(4) In parades, ceremonies, and displays in which members of the Armed Forces participate precedence
is given the U.S. Army Ceremonial flag over the flags of the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force,
Coast Guard.
g. Dipping the flag. The U.S. Army Ceremonial flag is an organizational color and is therefore dipped
while the U.S. National Anthem, “To the Color,” or a foreign national anthem is played. The U.S. Army
Ceremonial flag is also dipped when rendering honors to the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, their direct
representative, or an individual of higher grade, including a foreign dignitary of equivalent or higher grade.
The U.S. Army Ceremonial flag will not be dipped under any other circumstances.
State and territorial flags
Display. State and territorial flags may be displayed, when approved by commands, on special
occasions and holidays. Such displays must consist of all State and territorial flags. These flags are not
authorized for display by individuals on military vehicles or in personal areas to include billets, bunkers,
and tents. No individual is prohibited from the private possession of a flag. However, its display is not
authorized in any manner that can be interpreted as representing the United States, its military units, or
individuals as members of the Army.
ATTACHMENT 1: ANTICIPATED CHANGES TO AR 600–25
2
Display of general officer flags at events and ceremonies
a. For ceremonies and event flag lines, display only the GO flags of those GOs actively participating in
the event, such as the host or presiding official, or speaker.
b. If there is more than one GO or SES participating of the same rank (of the same Service), display only
one flag of the rank. Flags will not be displayed in a flag line for GOs just in attendance.
c. If there is more than one GO or SES participating in the event, and they are from different Services,
both flags are displayed.
d. The Surgeon General 3 star flag is maroon and the chaplain GO flag is purple.
e. Positional flags take precedence over personal flags. It is incorrect to display a four-star personal flag
for the CSA or VCSA. When these individuals visit an installation or agency, someone in the official party
normally carries a positional flag for use if the principal is hosting, or actively participating, in ceremony
while on the installation.
Display of retired general officer flags
Retired GOs of the Regular Army, ARNG, and USAR may display their personal flags privately in their
homes. Public display of personal flags is prohibited except when the officer is being honored at an
official military ceremony or the officer has an official role in the ceremony and another flag depicting his
or her rank is not already displayed. Display of individual flags to represent other than the GO
participating in the ceremony is prohibited.
Display of the Medal of Honor Flag
Specific instructions for the display of the Medal of Honor flag are prescribed in DA Pam 600–60.
Flagstaffs and Flagstaff Heads (Finials)
Flagstaff
The flagstaff is the staff on which a color, distinguishing flag, or guidon is carried or displayed. Authorized
flagstaff lengths for the following size flags are as follows:
a. Flagstaff of national flags are the same length as flagstaffs of accompanying flags.
b. Flagstaffs for President of the U.S. flag are 10 feet, 3 inches and 7 feet, 9 inches.
c. Flagstaffs for positional colors, distinguishing flags, and organizational colors are 9 feet, 6 inches or 8
feet. The flagstaff for all flags in a display will be the same length.
d. Flagstaffs for general officer’s flags are 8 feet.
e. Flagstaffs for guidons are 8 feet.
f. Flagstaffs for markers and marking pennants are 7 feet.
g. Flagstaffs for automobile flags are of sufficient height that when mounted the lower edge of the flag will
fly about 1 inch higher than the crest of the automobile’s hood. Flagstaffs normally are mounted on the
inside of the right bumper support. When this is not possible, the nearest location that does not interfere
with the right headlight beam is used. These flagstaffs are not stocked by the Army and are to be
improvised locally.
h. Specific mandatory instructions for the use of finals is prescribed in DA Pam 600–60.