FLAG ETIQUETTE

Flag Ettiquete

The National Flag shall be used only on such occasions and in such manner as is in accordance with the rules made by the Government.

The world Scout Flag may be used on appropriate occasion and when used it shall fly at a lower level than National Flag at its left and at a higher level than the Bharat Scouts & Guides.  Flag as its right, When the National Flag and the Bharat Scouts & Guides flags are flown simultaneously, the Bharat Scouts & Guides Flag shall fly at lower level than the National Flag as its left. When the Group Flag is flown it shall be flown separately by the Group.

The flag must be treated with reverence at all times. The flag pole shall be sloped over the right shoulder and the flag gathered in. In March past it shall beheld vertically and the flag must fly freely or the fly end must be held with the right hand.

The Bharat Scouts & Guides Flag must be dipped to the President of the Indian Republic; it shall not be dipped when the National Anthem is played except when the President of the Indian Republic is present. The Bharat Scouts & Guides Flag may be dipped to the President or the National Commissioner of the Bharat Scouts & Guides.

Flag Carrying: The strap is worn on the right shoulder. The right hand palm, facing front, holds the flag staff at a convenient place, above the left band. The palm of the left hand faces the body. The fly end of the flag should be held with the right hand when it should not fly free.On the shoulder. The flag staff is sloped over the right shoulder and the flag gathered in.

How to fold, hoist and break the flag:

To fold: Two scouts are needed to do this. One sccout will hold the flag at each end and fold it in half lengthwise, as in the diagram. The toggle is on the top left hand or hoist end, and there is usually a loop at the bottom end of the rope on the same side of the flag. The opposite end of the flag is spoken of as the ‘fly’ end. Now fold lengthwise again as in the diagram. Remember that the scout at the hoist end of the flag should hold on that. Fold the flag inwards on to itself and if the flag Is a large one, it may be necessary to do this twice, then roll it up as tightly as possible from the doubled end. Twist the rope once or more as required, round the rolled flag and push a loop of it under the turns as shown in the diagram. The flag is now ready for hoisting.

To hoist: The flagstaff has rope attached to it which slides on a pulley, or through a hole made on the top of the start this rope is called the halyard… The cleat on which the loose ends of the halyard are wound is usually a piece of wood or a clamp attached to the flagstaff, about four feet from the bottom.

Attach the end of the right hand halyard to the toggle, with a clove hitch, slipped completely over the toggle, and attach the left band end of the halyard to the loop at the end of the rope fixed to the flag, with a sheet Bend. Now pull carefully on the halyard above the sheet Bend until toggle reached the top of the pole. Hold both ends of the Halyard firmly and wind the rope, on which you have been pulling, round the cleat until all the slackened rope is wound up. Finish it off with a half hitch, taking care not to pull on the halyard which is attached to the loop. The flag is now ready for breaking.

To break: Undo the half hitch, with your right hand raised as far as it will go, give a sharp pull on the right hand halyard which should be hanging slightly, slack. The flag will then break and, if there is wind, will fly out.

WHISTLE HAND SIGNALS

Whistle Signals

When a Scoutmaster wants to call the Troop together he whistles “The Scout Call”, or uses a special Troop call.

Patrol Leaders thereupon call together their Patrols by giving their Patrol call. Then they take their Patrol “at the double” to the Scoutmaster.

Here are some whistle signals for Scout wide games.

One long blast means “Silence”, “Alert”; “Look out for my next signal”.A succession of long, slow blasts means “Go out”, “Get farther away”, or “Advance”, “Extend,” “Scatter”.A succession of short, sharp blasts means “Rally”, “Close in”,”Come together”, “Fall in”.A succession of short and long blasts alternately means “Alarm”,”Look out”, “Be ready”, “Man your alarm posts”.Three short blasts followed by one long one from the Scoutmaster calls up the Patrol Leaders-i.e., “Leaders come here”.

Any signal must be instantly obeyed at the double as fast as you can run-no matter what other job you may be doing at the time.

Hand Signals

Hand Signals-which can also be made by Patrol Leaders with their Patrol flags when necessary.

Hand waved several times across the face from side to side, or flag waved horizontally from side to side opposite the face means “No”, “Never mind”, “As you were”.

Hand or flag held high, and waved very slowly from side to side, at full extent of arm means “Extend”, “Go farther out”, “Scatter”.

Hand or flag held high, and waved quickly from side to side at full extent of arm means “Close in”, “Rally”, “Come here”.

Hand or flag pointing in any direction, means “Go in that direction”.

Clenched hand or flag jumped rapidly up and down several times means “Run”.

Hand or flag held straight up over head, means “Stop”, “Halt”.