• Frequently Asked Questions

  PHS Flags and Official Corps Seal

  Why does the Corps need a flag?

  The flags and official seal help enhance the prestige of the Corps, provide a symbol of identity, and are the physical manifestation of the trust Americans have in the Corps and officers’ own belief in our Corps’ values.

  Why do leaders in the Corps need flags?

  Flags for our Corps’ leaders establish a symbolic weight to these positions that goes beyond the individuals who temporarily occupy them. They symbolize the leadership roles of the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH), Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health (PDASH), Surgeon General (SG), Deputy Surgeon General (DSG), and Assistant Surgeon Generals (ASGs).

  Why do leaders need separate flags at each level?

  Leaders at different levels fulfill different roles and accomplish different projects. It would not be right to standardize their individual accomplishments down to a generic one-size-fits-all flag.

  Who pays for these flags?

  Each official pays for his or her own flag in the same way that officers pay for their own uniforms and decorations of rank. In some cases, an agency or office may purchase flags that remain the property of the agency or office.

  I’m a flag-level officer, how do I get a flag?

  Flag rank officer may either be provided a flag by the agency the officer works for or may be required to purchase one. In the latter case, the flag is the property of the officer and can be taken with him/her when he/she leave the agency. An officer should inquire with his/her respective agency regarding the exact protocol and/or procedure as it relates to flag rank flags.

  Can flag level officers take their flags with them when they retire or change jobs?

  Not when they change jobs, unless they purchased it with their own funds. The flag honors the position, not the person. When the person no longer holds a specific office, the honor of the flag goes to his/her successor. However, when an ASH, PDASH, SG, DSG, or ASG retires, the government may present the appropriate flag to the officer upon the occasion of retirement.

  Where can officers fly the flag?

  Flag rank officers can fly their flag in their office and, in conjunction with the U.S. Flag and the PHS Flag on occasions of ceremony, in auditoriums or conference rooms, or on similar occasions, provided that, on any of these occasions, (1) the officer is present, and (2) he/she is the senior flag officer present. In addition, An officer occupying a position of Division Director or above, and an officer in charge of field stations or activities, may display appropriate Indoor Flags (e.g., U.S. Flag and the PHS Flag) in his/her office, in conference rooms, auditoriums, buildings and lobbies.

  Also, if a post’s Officer-in-Charge is a Corps flag rank officer, the flag pertaining to that rank shall be displayed. When the Officer-in-Charge is of the flag rank and is absent from the post, the flag of the next flag rank officer present shall be displayed. However, if an officer(s) of higher rank(s) visit the post, the post flies the flag of the highest ranked officer present.

  The Corps authorizes flag rank officers to display their flags on automobiles on occasions of ceremony, when participating in parades, or when performing official visits to stations and activities under their jurisdiction.

  What do the stars on the flag mean?

  The number of stars on the flags correspond to the officer’s rank. The Assistant Surgeon General’s Flag has two designs. One has one star while the other has two because some ASGs are Rear Admirals Upper-Half (O-8) and some are Rear Admirals Lower-Half (O-7).
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  The link above will take you to the Noncompetitive Promotion Roster for Promotion Year 2020.

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