Competitive Flags at Navy Boot Camp

Competitive Flags at Navy Boot Camp, 1969. GGA Image ID # 219b6dfa6e

Introduction

The article "Competitive Flags at Navy Boot Camp" details the various competitive flags awarded to recruit companies at the U.S. Navy's boot camps. These flags represent excellence in different aspects of training, such as drill, cleanliness, athletics, and academic performance.

The flags carried by the companies are earned by them in competition with other recruit companies in all phases of recruit training. In addition to the privilege of carrying these flags with the company, winning them enables the company to obtain extra liberties.

The competition for most of these flags occurs weekly, with the winning company carrying the flag the following week. The five areas of training represented in the competition are military drill, cleanliness, citizenship, scholarship, and athletics.

Each company carries a blue flag with its company number in white numerals. The competition awards all the other flags.

Hall of Fame Competitive Flag, Recruit Training at Great Lakes, 1973. GGA Image ID # 219b80fd6a

THE HALL OF FAME FLAG is the supreme award that a recruit company may win. It is awarded to the company within the brigade that earns the requisite number of the following flags and maintains consistently high standards as prescribed by the command, satisfying the requirements for entrance into the Recruit Training Command Hall of Fame.

A trophy accompanies this rarely-achieved flag, and the company is enshrined in the Recruit Training Command Hall of Fame. To receive this flag, a company must have won the Color Company Flag and three “E” Flags, five Drill Flags, five Star Flags, five “S” Flags, one “A” Flag, plus a combination of any four additional flags.

Color Company Competitive Flag, Recruit Training at Great Lakes, 1977. GGA Image ID # 219c56bd89

COLOR COMPANY FLAG is awarded to the company attaining the highest overall average among the companies with which it will graduate. The company that wins the distinction of Color Company at its graduation will "Post the Colors" at the Graduation Review.

This flag is given at every graduation to the recruit company, maintaining the highest overall average of efficiency in all aspects of training.

"A" Flags for Superior Athletics and "A" flag for Compiling the Most Points in Athletic Events, Recruit Training at Great Lakes, 1977. GGA Image ID # 219be52a91

"A" FLAG—Athletic superiority in team and individual events is recognized by the weekly presentation of an "A" Flag to the company within each battalion that achieves the most points.

The "A" FLAG is awarded each week to the Recruit Company within each battalion, compiling the most points in those athletic events specified by the command.

Star Flags are awarded weekly in the field of cleanliness as determined by barracks, locker, and personnel inspections conducted by a staff unit known as "Brigade Inspectors." The Battalion Star Flag (right) is for the winning company in each battalion; the Regimental Star Flag (center) is for the winning company among Battalion Star Flag winners; and the Brigade Star Flag (left) is for the company in recruit training compiling the highest overall average.

THE BRIGADE STAR FLAG is awarded each week to the recruit company with the highest average in cleanliness, as determined by competitive barracks, locker, and personnel inspections.

THE REGIMENTAL STAR FLAG is awarded each week to the Battalion Star Flag winner in each regiment, compiling the highest average in the field of cleanliness, as determined by competitive barracks, locker, and personnel inspections.

Recruit Training Company Displaying Competitive Drill Flags at Great Lakes, March 1977. GGA Image ID # 219bfc5699

Recruits' teamwork is rewarded weekly with Drill Flags for proficiency in close-order drills. The company wins the Battalion Drill Flag (center) in each battalion, compiling the highest average in competition; the Regimental Drill Flag (left) is won by the company, scoring the highest in competition among Battalion Flag winners. The Brigade Drill Flag (right) is won by the company in recruit training, demonstrating the greatest proficiency.

THE BATTALION DRILL FLAG is awarded each week to the recruit company within each battalion, which compiles the highest average in a drill competition based on military drills, manual of arms, and physical drills under arms.

THE REGIMENTAL DRILL FLAG is awarded weekly to the Battalion Drill Flag winner in each active regiment, compiling the highest average in a drill competition conducted among the Battalion Drill Flag winners within that competitive grouping.

THE BRIGADE DRILL FLAG is awarded weekly to the company in recruit training, demonstrating the greatest proficiency in close-order drills.

Recruit Training Company at Great Lakes Displays Competitive Flags for Efficiency, February 1977. GGA Image iD # 219c312ca6

"E" FLAGS—"E" Flags (also known as "Efficiency Flags" or "Rooster Flags") are the symbols for overall excellence in a given week of training. Each company in a battalion has the opportunity of winning the weekly Battalion "E" Flag (left); the company with the highest score in a regiment also wins the Regimental Efficiency Flag (center); and the company with the highest score in recruit training wins the Brigade "Rooster" Flag (right).

THE BRIGADE EFFICIENCY FLAG is awarded weekly to the company with the highest overall excellence in recruit training.

THE BATTALION EFFICIENCY FLAG is awarded weekly to the battalion with the highest overall average in all competition branches.

THE REGIMENTAL EFFICIENCY FLAG is awarded weekly to the regiment company with the highest average in all phases of recruit training.

Recruit Company at Great Lakes Displaying the "S" for Achieving the Highest Scholastic Scores, January 1977. GGA Image ID # 219c3a1f41

"S" FLAGS—The Battalion "S" Flag (Left) is awarded weekly to the company in each battalion scoring the highest on scholastic examinations. The company won the Regimental "S" Flag (center), an advantage over all other companies in each regiment. The Brigade "S" Flag (right) goes to the recruit company with the highest score among all the companies in training.

Academic Flags

The "I" Flag is awarded to the company within each regiment, demonstrating the highest scholastic ability in each week's course of instruction.

This flag largely indicates the degree of concentration with which each recruit has given his weekly instructions in the present training program. Tests are conducted each week based on what the recruit has learned in the preceding week and what he has assimilated from all previous instructions.

On receiving these tests, the recruits find that the questions asked are neither vague nor abstract but are, in fact, directly concerned with what the recruit has encountered in his Navy training.

THE BRIGADE "I" FLAG is awarded each week to the recruit company within the command that compiles the highest academic average on the scheduled weekly examination.

THE BATTALION "I" FLAG is awarded each week to the recruit company within each active battalion, which compiles the highest academic average on the scheduled weekly examination.

Therefore, this award program covers all phases of the recruit's development: drill, cleanliness, citizenship, scholarship, and athletics. A man proficient in these five areas is a definite asset to the Navy and his country throughout his enlistment.

Such awards are not only the beginning of self-confidence and military cooperation but are, in the largest sense, indicative of the entire spirit and principle of the United States Navy.

Key Points

• Hall of Fame Flag: The highest honor for exceptional performance.
• Color Company Flag: Awarded for overall excellence at graduation.
• Special Flags: "A," "S," "E," Drill, and Star Flags represent specific achievements.

Summary

Competitive flags at Navy boot camps symbolize excellence in various training areas. They motivate recruits and foster teamwork and discipline.

Conclusion

These flags are vital for boosting morale and encouraging excellence, reflecting the spirit and discipline of Navy training.