Uniformed Services Protocol and Etiquette Submitted by CDR Diahann Williams, Recruitment, Marketing, and Information Systems Division, Office of Commissioned Corps Force Management More than ever, members of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (Corps) are assigned within military environments, are working alongside other uniformed service members, and with the recent policy for daily uniform wear, have much more pubic visibility. Therefore, it is critical that Corps officers know and perform proper uniformed services protocol and etiquette, whether in uniform, or not. This is the first in a series of articles that will be featured in the Commissioned Corps e-Bulletin to present protocol topics of interest.  Flag Protocol: Showing Proper Respect to the Flag One of the most important duties an officer or enlisted person in any of the uniformed services is expected to perform is the show of proper respect to the U.S. Flag. The Flag Code - Title 36, Chapter 10 of the U.S. Code - covers a variety of patriotic customs relating to the flag. Section 177 of Chapter 10 addresses conduct during hoisting, lowering, or passing of the flag. Section 177 specifically states the following: “During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, all persons present except those in uniform should face the flag and stand at attention with the right hand over the heart. Those present in uniform should render the military salute. When not in uniform, men should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Aliens should stand at attention. The salute to the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.” (Source: http://www.usflag.org/uscode36.html#177) Question: What is the proper flag protocol when a person in uniform is in an area designated as “covers not required”? Answer: Regardless of whether an area is designated as “covers not required”, proper respect should be shown to the flag. For example, if the flag is being lowered and a person in uniform is in an area where “covers are not required” and is not wearing a cover, the person should stand at attention until the flag is completely lowered to its base. Likewise, if the flag is being lowered and a person in uniform is wearing a cover, the person should stand at attention and render the salute until the flag is completely lowered to its base.

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