## Instruction

 SUBJECT: Display of the National Flag at Half-staff

References: See Enclosure 1
1.  PURPOSE.  In accordance with the authority in DoD Directive 5124.02 (Reference (a)), this instruction reissues DoD Instruction 1005.06 (Reference (b)) to establish policy and assign responsibilities for display of the national flag of the United States at half-staff:
a.  On the death of present and former principal officials of the Federal Government.

b.  During national days of mourning.

c.  When directed by proclamation by the President of the United States, governor of any State, territory, or U.S. possession, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia in accordance with section 7 of Title 4, United States Code (Reference (c)) or by the Secretary of Defense in accordance with Presidential Proclamation 3044 (Reference (d)).

2.  APPLICABILITY.  This instruction applies to:
a.  OSD, the Military Departments (including the Coast Guard at all times, including when it is a Service in the Department of Homeland Security by agreement with that Department), the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the DoD (referred to collectively in this instruction as the "DoD Components").

b.  The Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, under agreements with the Departments of Health and Human Services and Commerce, respectively.

3.  POLICY.  It is DoD policy that the national flag will be flown at half-staff:
a.  Worldwide on all DoD buildings, grounds, and naval vessels:


(1)  On Memorial Day until noon, then raised to the top of the staff in accordance with Reference (c).


(2)  On Peace Officers Memorial Day, May 15 of each year, in accordance with Reference (c) and section 136 of Title 36, United States Code (Reference (e)), unless that day is also Armed Forces Day.


(3)  On Patriot Day, September 11 of each year, in accordance with section 144 of Reference (e).


(4)  On National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, December 7 of each year, in accordance with section 129 of Reference (e).



(5)  Each year in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service in accordance with Public Law 107-51 (Reference (f)).  This date is usually the first Sunday in October and is announced annually by Presidential proclamation.


(6)  On the death of individuals listed in Enclosure 2 of this instruction, on receipt of notification of death from any reliable source, including news media.


(7)  When so directed by the President or the Secretary of Defense.

b.  On DoD buildings, grounds, and naval vessels in the area covered by a proclamation issued by the governor of any State, territory, or U.S. possession or the Mayor of the District of Columbia that the national flag be flown at half-staff because of the death of a member of the Military Services from that State, territory, or U.S. possession or the District of Columbia who died while serving on active duty in accordance with Reference (c).

c.  On DoD buildings, grounds, and naval vessels outside the United States, even if another nation's flag is flown full-staff next to the national flag of the United States, whenever paragraph 3a of this instruction applies.

d.  On buildings, grounds, or naval vessels under the jurisdiction of the Secretaries of the Military Departments on occasions, other than those specified in paragraphs 3a and 3b of this instruction, that the Secretaries of the Military Departments consider proper and appropriate. The Secretaries of the Military Departments may delegate their authority, in writing, to authorize flying the flag at half-staff to individual post, station, detachment, ship or installation commanders under their jurisdiction for occasions they consider proper and appropriate; commanders may not further re-delegate this authority.



4.  RESPONSIBILITIES.

a.  Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)).  The USD(P&R)
establishes policies governing the conduct of flying the national flag at half-staff for all DoD Components and oversees DoD implementation of this instruction.


b.  Secretaries of the Military Departments.  The Secretaries of the Military Departments:

(1)  Ensure Component implementation of this instruction and compliance with its provisions.


(2)  Designate buildings, grounds, or naval vessels under their jurisdiction as appropriate for display of the national flag at half-staff.  The Secretaries of the Military Departments may delegate their authority to authorize flying the flag at half-staff to individual post, station, detachment, ship or installation commanders under their jurisdiction for occasions they consider proper and appropriate.


(3)  Implement uniform Service procedures for flying the national flag at half-staff by all the U.S. military units under their authority and pursuant to Reference (c).


5.  RELEASABILITY.  **Cleared for public release**.  This instruction is available on the Internet from the DoD Issuances Website at http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives. 6.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This instruction is effective July 17, 2015. Enclosures
1.  References

2.  Guidance for Display of the National Flag at Half-staff Glossary

## Enclosure 1 References

 (a) DoD Directive 5124.02, "Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
(USD(P&R))," June 23, 2008

(b) DoD Instruction 1005.06, "Display of the National Flag at Half-Staff," April 1, 2008
(hereby cancelled)
(c) Section 7 of Title 4, United States Code
(d)    Presidential Proclamation 3044, "Display of the Flag of the United States of America at
Half-Staff Upon the Death of Certain Officials and Former Officials," March 1, 1954, as amended by Presidential Proclamation 3948, December 12, 1969.
(e) Title 36, United States Code
(f)
Public Law 107-51, "Memorializing Fallen Firefighters by Lowering the American Flag to Half-Staff in Honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service in Emmitsburg, Maryland," October 16, 2001


## Enclosure 2 Guidance For Display Of The National Flag At Half-Staff

 1.  FLAG DISPLAY.  The national flag, when flown at half-staff, will be hoisted first to the peak momentarily and then lowered to the half-staff position.  The flag will be raised again to the peak before being lowered for the day. 2.  30-DAY DISPLAY.  Flags on all DoD buildings, grounds, and naval vessels worldwide will be displayed at half-staff for a period of 30 days from the day of death of the following persons:

a.  President.


b.  Former President.
c.  President-elect.

3.  10-DAY DISPLAY.  Flags on all DoD buildings, grounds, and naval vessels worldwide will be displayed at half-staff for a period of 10 days from the day of death of the following persons:
a.  Vice President.


b.  Vice President-elect.
c.  Chief Justice or retired Chief Justice of the United States.
d.  Speaker of the House of Representatives.


4.  VARIOUS DISPLAY PERIODS
a.  Flags on all DoD buildings, grounds, and naval vessels worldwide will be displayed at
half-staff from the day of death through the day of interment of the following persons:

(1)  Associate Justice of the Supreme Court (including retired Associate Justice).

(2)  Former Vice President.

(3)  Member of the Cabinet.


(4)  Former Secretary of Defense.

(5)  Secretary of the Army, Navy, or Air Force.

b.  Flags on all DoD buildings, grounds, and naval vessels worldwide will be displayed at half-staff from the day of death until the day of interment or 7 days, whichever is less.  When the date of interment occurs beyond the seventh day, the flag will again be lowered to half-staff on the date of interment of the following persons:

(1)  Deputy Secretary of Defense.



(2)  Under Secretaries of Defense.

(3)  Principal Deputy Under Secretaries of Defense.

(4)  Assistant Secretaries of Defense.


(5)  Other officials in OSD compensated at Executive Levels III or IV.

(6)  Chairman or former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

(7)  Vice Chairman or former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

(8)  Five-star general or flag officer.

(9)  Chief of Staff, U.S. Army.

(10)  Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps.

(11)  Chief of Naval Operations.

(12)  Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force.

(13)  Chief, National Guard Bureau

(14)  Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard.

c.  Flags on all DoD buildings, grounds, and naval vessels worldwide will be displayed at half-staff from the day of death through the day of interment of the following Members of Congress:

(1)  President Pro Tempore of the Senate.



(2)  Majority Leader of the Senate.

(3)  Minority Leader of the Senate.

(4)  Majority Leader of the House of Representatives.


(5)  Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

d.  Flags on all DoD buildings, grounds, and naval vessels worldwide will be displayed at half-staff from the day of death through the following day upon the deaths of the persons listed in paragraphs 4d(1) - d(4) of this enclosure.  Additionally, the flag will also be flown at half-staff on all DoD buildings, grounds, and naval vessels in the State, congressional district, territory, or commonwealth of these officials from the day of death through the day of interment.


(1)  A U.S. Senator.



(2)  A representative, U.S. House of Representatives.

(3)  A territorial delegate.


(4)  A resident commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

e.  On the death of a governor of a State, territory, or U.S. possession, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia, the period of display will be the day of death through the day of interment for flags located on all DoD buildings and grounds in the State, territory, or U.S. possession of the deceased official.

f.  On the death of an active duty Service member, the period of display will be as directed in the proclamation issued by the governor of the State, territory, or U.S. possession or the Mayor of the District of Columbia, or as otherwise directed pursuant to paragraph 4e of this enclosure.


## Glossary Part I.  Abbreviations And Acronyms



USD(P&R)
Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness

## Part Ii.  Definitions


These terms and their definitions are for the purposes of this instruction.


full-staff.  The position of the national flag when it is at the top of the staff.


half-staff.  The position of the national flag when it is one-half the distance between the top and the bottom of the staff.