Flags

C077/K051 Feb 21-Apr 25, 1990

All of the companies had flags during their time at RTC. I have seen numerous pictures from different times that show different flags. But, as we all know, the Navy likes to changes things, even when it just seemed so simple, to begin with.

The first flag the company received was the guideon. Pretty simple blue flag with your company number on it in gold. When the company first acquired the guideon, it was still furled. We technically, we were not a company yet. So, if memory serves me all through P-days, we kept it furled. Pretty obviously, the guideon bearer carried the flag. They also served as the pacesetter for the company. This was typically a shorter person.

Next were your Division flags. I believe those were “awarded” to the company on 1-5 day. The flags the companies received also let others know how far along you were in training with an easy glance. Our division could award a banner for your performance on 1-5 day if the Division CMC felt it was proper.

The next set of flags every company earned was for the three Competition Periods. I think those were run as follows, Comp Period 1 week 1&2, Comp Period 2 weeks 3&4, Comp Period 3 weeks 6&7. Might have those wrong. The last Comp period might have only been part of week 7 since that was also PIR week. Each one fo those flags could also have a banner awarded as well. Depending on how well the company did during each comp period, you could get a blue or a gold banner. If you just squeaked by, you got no banner.

During work week, one lucky person who could paint was assigned the task of painting the Company flag. They also painted one of the cinder blocks in the passageway leading into the companies compartment. Now, I remember seeing so many different flags around the base during my time. A few stuck in my head for some reason. One company had a flag with the Burger King logo and a big red slash through it. We did hear the term “This is not Burger King, and you cannot have it your way,” a few times. I guess they felt like putting that on their flag.

 I saw a flag from a female company with a Skittles pack on it. After hearing a story from a young lady, it makes sense now. She told me about the “Skittles Gang.” They were practicing with the flags one night, and they were messing up. The CC gave each young lady a Skittles each time they got it right. He called the flags the Skittle Gang after that. Oddly she was at RTC after I was, so maybe that technique was used for rewards before.

Another female company had signal flags on their company flag to spell out “$hit Hot.” The young lady said that is what their CC kept referring to them as. Our flag had an image of our CC, MMC Mark Engley, yelling, “Self Destruct Begin!” It is hard to make out the other images on the flag, but one looks like a young lady. The other side had our company number C077. I hope somebody has that flag.

One optional flag that companies could earn was the Cheerio flag. This was won at Sports Day. It also had banners on it as well. These were awarded for winning competitions during Sports Day. We won that one convincingly too.

A couple other optional banners you could win along the way. I recall a banner for DC week. If the company received a certain score on the DC test, they won that banner to go on their flag. I also remember there being one for church attendance as well. One final little banner was awarded for us sending postcards to potential new recruits, we called it Popcorn. I do not remember what the torch flag was awarded for. Yes, I forgot something!

There were two other flags a company could potentially win. First was the CO’s White. Next was Hall of Fame. To win, either the company had to perform at a far higher level than the others in the training group. Hall of Fame was a flashy red flag. I recall only seeing one or two while I was in RTC. It was hard to win. CO’s White was a little easier to win, but the company still had to be on its toes.

Three companies in our training group won the white. I think it was C076, K050, and C077.

I know we just made it. During the last comp period, it was very close to us making it. One of our CC’s told us the very last afternoon that is we finished out the day clean with no street marks, we would win. We did everything we could to not mess up. No stomping at the galley for mark time. No slamming the flags down. We were outstanding all day. Then after we got back from dinner, one last lone recruit from C077 was on the streets. He was known for not being the best. Our no PT chit guy. When we heard that pound, pound, pound, on the door, we all shouted sound off.
“SR Corffey returning from chow.”

“Carry on” we all shouted

He had made it! We had won the White!
I know none of what we did in boto camp transferred to any other command. All we have to remember those flags is a picture. Sorts of like winning Regionals in Baskbell or Sectionals in Cross Country my senior year, it means not much after you are gone. But, it is something you helped with, and it made us feel great that the moment.

We were a 10 flag company, the most in the training group. Now we could stomp while we marked time at the galley.