The flag has the “power to inflame feelings of division,” he said, adding, “I cannot have that division inside our Corps.”

All Marine Corps installations have regulations prohibiting the display of symbols related to hate speech, guidelines that General Berger said were intended to foster an environment that promotes unity and security.

He ended his letter by asking Marines to focus on the symbols that unite them: the eagle, globe and anchor.

It was not immediately clear if the ban would apply to clothing and cars owned by Marines when they are off base and off duty. The Marine Corps did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

The announcement came two months after General Berger ordered the removal of all Confederate paraphernalia from Marine Corps installations, according to CNN.