Why do the service academies take flag precedence over the actual service branches?

WOW! That is a really great question. I was just pondering it myself just yesterday day as I was studying the differences between those two lists. Also, take note: In my comparison chart between only The Army and The Air Force, only The Army does it that way. The Air Force does not. I do not know what the other services do in that regard. My one thought, and this is only my own sentiment not at all based on fact or history, is as follows. In life, don't all we "seasoned veterans" let the younguns go ahead of us. I do not claim the honor of ever having served, but I compare the concept to myself and my brood of nephews. If I were with them all someplace where there was some honor or recognition to be enjoyed, wouldn't I let them sit in the front row? Somehow it seems very cool, very gallant and very self sacrificing to me that currently serving troops give up the position of honor to the cadets. Maybe it is somehow tied to the idea that the troops currently serving don't have anything to prove and will therefore let those coming up behind them have the spotlight. Imagine the symbolism represented by this order of march: First come the cadets who are ,after all, mostly college kids yet to fire a shot in anger. After them come active duty combat troops whose ranks may no longer even be complete. Gosh, think of this protocol. Imagine a ceremony at West Point in 1946. First come the cadets just out of high school , next come the D-Day Normandy veterans. I wonder if the words bravery, courtesy, honor, and gallantry apply to this protocol. After all, I suppose every society and every organization understands that its youth represents the entire hope for the future. As well, I wonder if this amazing US Army protocol is a display of the behavior we see throughout mankind wherein the strong will protect its young who in their own turn will soon assume the torch. The sort answer to your question is that I do not know. My personal observation is that I find it very endearing that the Army protocol calls for a very mighty group, active duty troops, to give up the position of honor to cadets. Keep in mind that some of those cadets will never even finish their term to become active duty. I will keep my eye out for a better explanation and let you know. I will see if West Point's head of protocol will respond to this question. Let me know if you find out anything