Whose Troops Are They?

[allodial]

Flag of distress? That came to mind. However, we're talking about military dress controlled by very meticulous formalities and super-professionals at heraldry who aren't likely to make mistakes when it comes to sending a message. And "distress" could be the message or part of it.



The above is to knowledge of the Canadian Army uniform between 1980 and 1995.

Similarly, the uniform of the Governor General of Canada as Commander In Chief shows a flag that has similarities to a Canadian flag except the colors are wrong. Is it because he can't wear red for 'camo' purposes?





Now returning to the matter of the U.S. Army, look at the below image from the cover of an Osprey book on the topic.



Indeed, "distress flag" came to mind. But considered in a larger context, one of the first things that came to mind is that toying with a flag "just enough" and in "just the right way" would be a clever way to avoid committing perfidy.

Article 37 [ Link ] -- Prohibition of perfidy

1. It is prohibited to kill, injure or capture an adversary by resort to perfidy. Acts inviting the confidence of an adversary to lead him to believe that he is entitled to, or is obliged to accord, protection under the rules of international law applicable in armed conflict, with intent to betray that confidence, shall constitute perfidy. The following acts are examples of perfidy:

(a) the feigning of an intent to negotiate under a flag of truce or of a surrender;

(b) the feigning of an incapacitation by wounds or sickness;

(c) the feigning of civilian, non-combatant status; and

(d) the feigning of protected status by the use of signs, emblems or uniforms of the United Nations or of neutral or other States not Parties to the conflict.

2. Ruses of war are not prohibited. Such ruses are acts which are intended to mislead an adversary or to induce him to act recklessly but which infringe no rule of international law applicable in armed conflict and which are not perfidious because they do not invite the confidence of an adversary with respect to protection under that law. The following are examples of such ruses: the use of camouflage, decoys, mock operations and misinformation. [Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I), 8 June 1977.]

Rule 62. Improper use of the flags or military emblems, insignia or uniforms of the adversary is prohibited.

Rule 63. Use of the flags or military emblems, insignia or uniforms of neutral or other States not party to the conflict is prohibited.

Perhaps twiddling with the flag allows for a kind of 'asset tracking' without the deployed 'asset' actually being under the jurisdiction of its origin?

CLEVELAND POLICE Department will be changing their uniform patches, removing the U.S. flag and replacing it with a ribbon pin. The flag patch will be replaced with CPD’s emblem. (More)

Read more: Cleveland Daily Banner - CPD patch to replace U S flag on uniforms
Related: Carlisle police questioned over flag patch (apparently, its contagious)