I’m currently running a relatively new Joint Service Cadet Unit. One of the aspects we are trying to develop is a joint parade format for the start of the evening parade. Me being a Green Job, our main ceremonial process in the Army comes from parading banners and the likes, so I don’t have much knowledge of the RAF and RN way of raising Ensigns at the start of training.
Is there any precedent, practice or policy for how to raise a flag in a Joint Service context? Can we simply use the RAF format or is this verbotten? I would not want to cause any offence to any visitors to the Unit? I know that the RN and RAF use a similar format, I think involving whistles and salutes and it wouldn’t do the Army Cadets any harm to be introduced to this tradition as we often train on RAF and RN stations.
If there’s no issues with copying the RAF or RN format, could someone kindly point me to a post or publication that shows the correct way to do it?
Is there an official title for the action of raising the Ensign at the start of work?
For clarity, we will be be raising a Joint Services flag to capture all 3 of the Services we represent.
this link (here) or Chapter 16 of part 2 Ceremonial of Ap818 will be able to guide you
in short
NCO blows a single whistle. ALL personnel outside stop and turn to face the flag pole
Duty Officer Salutes for the duration (between whistle blasts)
NCO raises the ensign.
upon reaching the top the NCO sounds two blasts on the whistle.
the same is down when lowering, one blast, lower, two blasts.
the book indicates the NCO conducts their duties under orders from the Officer but i haven’t ever seen this done on a ATC unit or RAF Station…
On an RAF station the Orderly Officer runs the raising ceremony assisted by other orderly staff, normally at about 08:00 then lower it at 18:00 (or dark).
I follow this process at my squadron but have the duty Sgt carry out the role of the orderly officer.
NCO blows a single whistle. ALL personnel outside stop and turn to face the flag pole
Duty Officer Salutes for the duration (between whistle blasts)
NCO raises the ensign.
upon reaching the top the NCO sounds two blasts on the whistle.
the same is down when lowering, one blast, lower, two blasts.
the book indicates the NCO conducts their duties under orders from the Officer but I haven’t ever seen this done on a ATC unit or RAF Station…[/quote]
You missed an important bit out Steve
… all personnel out of doors are to stop movement, turn and face the direction of the flagstaff and stand at Attention. [u][i]Officers are to salute [/u][/i].
A small point perhaps, but one which may incur the wrath of senior officers! Oddly, Cranwell don’t seem to teach this bit these days as I have picked people up on occasions and their comment has been ‘oh, I didn’t know I had to do that.’
Also, the only times I’ve ever known the Duty NCO not to take their orders from the Officer (in the RAF) has been on very small units or deployed bases.
opps!!
yes well corrected i did miss the all Officers salute!
having arrived at the local RAF Station at 0800 i have seen the ensign go up (and also on Monday morning parade while on camp) and not seen/heard a officer give the commands…!
Rating on Ensign staff reports* ‘Colours’, Sir/Ma’am’.
OOD orders ‘Make it so’.
Rating detailed strikes eight bells (at 0800) or two bells (at 0900). Ratings on Ensign and Jack staffs turn to face the staff.
On completion of the bells, the OOD orders ‘Pipe the Still’.
On completion of the Alert/Still:
Ratings on Ensign and Jack hoist away slowly so that flags reach their block in approximately 20 seconds
When the Ensign is close up to the block, the rating on the Ensign turns to face the OOD.
Prep is haled down.
The rating on the Ensign staff reports ‘Prep Hauled Down, Sir/Ma’am’.
The ‘Carry On’ is then piped.
On completion of the ‘Carry On’, the OOD orders ‘Colour Party, Dismiss’. Ensign and Jack halyards are then made fast.
For Sunset or Evening Colours
The ceremony of Sunset is carried out at the actual time of sunset or at 2100, which is known as Evening Colours, whichever is earlier.
At 5 minutes prior to the Ceremony:
-Hoists ‘Prep’ close up .
Rating on the Ensign staff reports* to OOD ‘Five Minutes To Sunset/Evening
Colours, Sir/Ma’am’.
At the exact time of the ceremony:
Dips ‘Prep’.
The rating on the Ensign staff reports* ‘Sunset Sir/Ma’am’ or ‘Evening Colours Sir/Ma’am’.
The OOD orders ‘Pipe the Still’.
On completion of the Alert/Still:
The Ensign and Jack are lowered in silence in a time of approximately 20 seconds
On completion of lowering the Ensign, the rating turns to face the OOD.
The rating reports ‘Prep Down, Sir/Ma’am’, the ‘Carry - On’ is then piped.
On completion of the ‘Carry On’, the OOD orders ‘Colour Party, - Dismiss’. The halyards are then secured and the Colours folded.
Note. *These reports should be preceded by a hand salute if the Conducting Officer is a commissioned officer and the rating is not constrained by the halyards.
Interesting, this, because I did wonder about this with my CCF. We fly a CCF flag (green background, CCF badge, name of CCF embroidered) but we don’t hoist it with ceremony at the moment; the duty NCO simply hoists it before parade and strikes it afterwards. But I did originally plan to fly the RAF or White ensigns on suitable occasions (nearest parade to BoB Sunday?), and haven’t got round to it.
Mind you, my RN section likes to do Colours on their own hut on the river anyway…
[quote=“tmmorris” post=26110]Interesting, this, because I did wonder about this with my CCF. We fly a CCF flag (green background, CCF badge, name of CCF embroidered) but we don’t hoist it with ceremony at the moment; the duty NCO simply hoists it before parade and strikes it afterwards. But I did originally plan to fly the RAF or White ensigns on suitable occasions (nearest parade to BoB Sunday?), and haven’t got round to it.
Mind you, my RN section likes to do Colours on their own hut on the river anyway…[/quote]
We thought long and hard about it too, but decided in the interests of “Jointery” that it would be a worthwhile parade format. Logically, the RN and RAF Sections need to see how it’s done (and also do it) and it’s an education piece for the Army Section.
Our parade nights always start with a parade and parish notices anyway so it’s the one occasion we parade as a whole Unit and it gives everyone a feeling of Unity. A lot of our lessons are run jointly anyway when we’re developing leadership and allowing Cadets to deliver lessons to each other so it makes sense for us.
It’s either that or I try and run 3 sS parade formats but that way lies madness!
[quote=“steve679”]
… having arrived at the local RAF Station at 0800 i have seen the ensign go up (and also on Monday morning parade while on camp) and not seen/heard a officer give the commands…![/quote]
No orders given as on a parade, so you won’t hear anyone shouting. However, the Orderly Sgt is under the orders of the Orderly Officer in that he/she raises or lowers the ensign only when the officer tells them to.
[quote=“flago”]
Now for how the RN do it… as ever, its not simple or straight forward …
My recommendation - do it the RAF way![/quote]
Try to imagine Flago’s Senior Service ‘Colours’ parade carried out entirely by RAF personnel, none of whom had any idea about ‘Colours’, ‘making so’ or indeed using a bo’suns call at all. This was the case at RNEC Manadon many years ago when ex-airman RAF Eng Officers did their HNCs prior to starting their RAF Eng O training proper back at Cranditz.
For Flago’s Rating on Ensign staff reports to OOD ‘5 minutes to Colours, Sir/Ma’am’, insert newly-commissioned ex-Cpl RAF OOD says ‘how the hell do we do this’?
One of the other RAF Jnr Offs on Ensign staff duty says ‘no problems, I’m an ex SNCO and I did this loads of times, we just blow this whistle once, whip the ensign up, you salute, blow it twice and we all leg it’.
RAF OOD says ‘sounds like a plan’; and it was ‘made so’ at the exact time of the Ceremony.
