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Army - Military Chapel and Chaplain Flags (U.S.)

Last modified: 2019-01-01 by rick wyatt
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Military Chapel Flags

The Chapel flag is used only in chapels on Army installations, and is always displayed with the U.S. National Flag. Its proportions are 4'5" at the hoist by 5'6" on the fly.
Tom Gregg, 7 July 1998

"Army Regulation (AR) 840–10: Flags, Guidons, Streamers, Tabards, and Automobile and Aircraft Plates (Heraldic Activities; 1 November 1998 Update)" goes into some detail about the four main religious flags issued by the US Army, among other banners and standards.

"7–4. Army military chapel flags" describes that these are the main flags used at established chapels only and recognized as such by the Army. These flags are 4'5" at the hoist by 5'6" on the fly, with a white fringe that is 2.5" wide. Centered on these blue flags is the branch emblem of the chaplain in question (as of now, it is Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist)."

"7–5. Army chaplains flags" are best described as field flags, used by chaplains at designated sites for worship services. They are 2'x3' in size, the colors are the same and they will contain the same emblems as the flags in Regulation 7-4. They are without fringe."
Zachary Harden, 26 July 2018


Christian Faith Chapel Flag

[Military Chapel Flag of the Christian Faith] image by Zachary Harden, 26 July 2016


Chaplain's Flags

Besides the chapel flags, there are chaplain's flags for use in the field. The are 2' at the hoist by 3' on the fly, dark blue with the appropriate insignia in white, and are used to mark the chaplain's location when divine services are held in the field. There is a flag for the Christian faith with a white cross, the Jewish faith with the Jewish chaplain's insignia.

All Army units with an assigned chaplain are authorized a Chaplain Kit, which is a standard issue item containing all the religious impedimenta necessary to conduct divine services. The kit includes two Chaplain Flags, one Christian and one Jewish. The flags are used in the field to mark the location where divine services are to be conducted. They are displayed in any number of ways: on flagpoles improvised from tent or camouflage net poles, draped over the hood of a vehicle, hung vertically over a tent entrance, etc. Unlike the Chapel Flags, they need not be displayed with the U.S. National Flag.
Tom Gregg, 18 July 1998

The amendment to the regulation adds two more flags, for the Muslim and Buddhist faiths. Muslim flag, as I recall is white crescent on blue flag; Buddhist is blue flag with white symbol (dharma chakra) that I believe is called "wheel of the most excellent law." Looks sort of like a ship's helm.
Tom Gregg and Joe McMillan, 8 September 1999

Jewish Faith Chaplain's Flag

[Military Chapel Flag of the Jewish Faith] image by Zachary Harden, 26 July 2016


Buddhist Flag

[Military Buddhist Flag] image by Zachary Harden, 26 July 2016


Muslim Flag

[Military Muslim Flag] image by Zachary Harden, 26 July 2016


Regimental Color

Chaplain (MAJ) Martin E. Matthis informed me that the Chaplain Regimental Color is 3'x4', dark (near navy) blue field with a large, centered Chaplain Corps crest, a scroll underneath which says Chaplain Corps, and gold fringe. It resides at the U.S. Army Chaplain Center & School at Fort Jackson, the Regimental Home of the Chaplaincy."
David Fowler, 10 September 1999


US Army Chaplain Center and School

[Army Chaplain Center and School] image located by Ned Smith, 5 March 2006

The flag of the US Army Chaplain Center and School is described at www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Schools/Chaplain%20Center%20and%20School.htm. The website is run by the Institute of Heraldry of the US Army, and it states:
"The flag for the Chaplain Center and School is dark blue with yellow fringe. The device of the Center and School is centered on the flag (TIOH drawing 5-1-279)."

The device is rather hazy in the image of the flag but fortunately there is a separate image and description for the device:
[Army Chaplain Center and School Detail] image located by Ned Smith, 5 March 2006
"On a piscium (a pointed oval) a shield blazoned: Blue issuant in chief a demi-sun radiant to base Or and in chief a dove overall descending Argent, beak to base holding a spring of olive Vert and between it's tail and the sun's rays the numerals "1775" yellow above an open book Proper. Above the shield, on a white ribbon scroll edged yellow and showing a red reverse side inscribed "The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom," in black Old English letters. Around the oval is the legend "The Chaplain School of the United States Army" in black uncial gothic letters."

"Symbolism: The piscium is the shape of the early church seals. The sun and rays allude to the provision and presence of God in nature. The dove with olive branch, a traditional symbol of peace, embodies the Center and School's mission in the Army to teach the detriment of war and to strive for peace. The red on the ribbon scroll represents theology."

"Background: The device was originally approved on 26 Dec 1961 for the U.S. Army Chaplain School. It was redesignated for the U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School on 23 Dec 1983. On 11 Feb 1993 the device was revised."
Ned Smith, 6 March 2006