RECRUIT SUSTAINMENT PROGRAM SOLDIER TRAINING READINESS MODULES What Does the Flag Mean / The Army Song 17 June 2011 SECTION I. Lesson Plan Series Task(s) Taught Academic Hours References Student Study Assignments Instructor Requirements Equipment Required ADMINISTRATIVE DATA What Does The Flag Mean / The Army Song Task Number INDIVIDUAL The academic hours required to teach this lesson are as follows: Test Test Review Total Hours: Resident Hours/Methods 0 hrs 50 mins / Conference / Discussion 0 hrs 00 mins / Practical Exercise (Performance) 0 hrs 0 hrs 0 hrs 50 mins Number Title Date Additional Information FM 3-21.5, C-1 Drill and Ceremony 07 Jul 2003 FM 22-5, App K AR 840-10 AR 600-25 None Flag, Guidons and Streamers Salutes, Honors and Visits of Courtesy a. 1 Instructor per 35 Soldiers 01 Nov 1008 24 Sep 2004 b. Be familiar with this Training Support Package (TSP) Id Name 5836013927680/96454N LCD DATA PROJECTOR 6730-00-577-4813 Screen, Projection, BM-10A, Stand 702102982124/70209N Computer, Personal System Stu Ratio Inst Ratio Spt Qty Exp 1:1 No 0 No 1:1 No 0 No 1:1 No 0 No 1
Materials Required Instructor Materials: a. This Training Support Package (TSP) b. Pencils/Paper c. Three to four tripods, butcher block paper, and markers Classroom, Training Area, and Range Requirements Instructional Guidance Student Materials: a. Other materials as directed by RSP Unit SOP Organizational Classroom Before presenting this lesson, instructors must thoroughly prepare by studying this lesson and the identified reference material. It is suggested that the instructor divide the students into groups to produce their own answers to questions asked throughout the class. 2
SECTION II. INTRODUCTION SHOW Slide 1 (STRM) Method of Instruction: Conference / Discussion Instructor to Student Ratio is: 1:35 Time of Instruction: 5 mins Media: Slide Presentation Motivator Today s training focuses on the American Flag and the Army Song. To start off, I want to tell you a true story. A young Private, not much older than you, was serving on a base overseas. Like many of the Soldiers on the base, this Private would duck inside whenever he heard the Stand By bugle call so he wouldn t have to stop what he was doing to salute the flag while it was being raised or lowered. (We ll get to this regulation a little later.) One day, he was rushing inside and his Platoon Sergeant stopped him, giving him a terse verbal counseling for his lack of respect for the flag. The Platoon Sergeant asked him why..then asked him if he really knew what he was doing. No, Sergeant, I don t, said the young Private. I know people who would love to have the chance to salute that flag, the Sergeant explained, but they can t because they died while serving. And I know other folks who d love to be able to give the salute, but they don t have the hand to give the salute they lost it in combat. Terminal Learning Objective Safety Requirements Risk Assessment Level Evaluation Instructional Lead-In So for the sake of all of those people who would give anything to give one more salute, the Sergeant continued, you had better never avoid saluting that flag ever again. Are we clear? SHOW Slide 2 (Terminal Learning Objective) Inform the students of the following Terminal Learning Objective requirements. At the completion of this lesson, you [the student] will: Action: Conditions: Standards: Determine the Meaning of the Flag and Learn the Army Song Given a task, discuss and explain the Meaning of the Flag and know the Army Song Define the Meaning of the Flag and recite the Army Song Conduct a safety brief prior to training as needed and IAW unit and installation policies. Low - Risk Assessment to be produced locally IAW FM 5-19, August 2006. None None 3
SECTION III. PRESENTATION 1. Learning Step / Activity 1. Determine the Meaning of the Flag and Learn the Army Song Method of Instruction: Conference / Discussion Instructor to Student Ratio: 1:35 Time of Instruction: 25 mins Media: Slide Presentation This entire class may be given by only referring to the following talking points. Feel free to express your ideas in your own way, asking questions and getting the class involved as you proceed. After reading the motivator you may wish to introduce other stories relating to a show of disrespect to the flag or perhaps the opposite (The headquarters element at Fort Jackson s 1 st Brigade would fall out together in the evening for the sole purpose of saluting the flag as it was lowered over post headquarters, then go back in to finish the day s work, or recount the story behind the famous Iwo Jima photograph). SHOW Slide 3 (The Meaning of the Flag) Ask the students why respecting the flag is important. Possible answers include: Pride in self, our country, the Army, esprit de corps, reflection of another day of freedom, support from those at home, etc. or a story of a family service member. a. What kind of places do you see the flag? (1) Public buildings. (2) Schools. (3) Mailboxes. (4) Bumper stickers. (5) Stamps. (6) Ball games. (7) Cemeteries. (8) At work. (9) In front of people s homes. (10) Military bases and installations. SHOW Slide 4 (The Flag) Divide the students into small groups, providing each group with a tripod and butcher block paper. Have each group select a spokesperson and a scribe to jot down the thoughts of each group and answer the following questions with bullet remarks, explain to the class each remark and why. Give the groups 5 minutes and use 10 minutes for a brief-back. In what ways do you believe we take the flag for granted? What is meant by the flag becoming invisible? 4
Have students explain their thoughts from their small group. Explain to students why and how the flag needs to register or display special meaning. The following are meant to serve as initial comments by the instructor, but are by no means a requirement of this lesson plan. As always, introduce the contemporary operating environment to further teach or explain any particular point. b. As an Army National Guard member the flag needs to register with our Soldiers because they are in the armed forces, no matter the service, they have given an oath to protect that flag and what it stands for, an oath with their lives. c. The oath is not comprised of just words, it is a life commitment. Ask the students, doesn t it make sense to learn everything you can about something so important to you personally? d. What Does The Flag Mean? (1) Flags are symbols. Symbols are objects that represent other people, places, things, or ideas. (2) For the last several thousand years, flags have been used to represent, or symbolize, ruling kings and queens, their nations, or any organized group of people. Flags have always been important military symbols as well, representing the armies flying them. On a battlefield flags took on another meaning when Soldiers wore clothing that was the same color as their flag or had the same design. This is how the Soldiers identified their enemy. (3) We continue to use flags today: every country has its own flag, so does every American state. Many American cities have a flag too, as do each of the services. So when we talk about our national flag the Stars and Stripes we re talking about the flag that we as Americans all identify as OUR flag, the one that all of us honor, no matter where in the States we live. e. The American flag means different things to different people and Americans have different reactions to the flag. For some, the flag has a deep meaning, and so does the pledge. For others, it s like that Private in the story: the flag is fine, and they pledge allegiance, but it doesn t really have a deep meaning for them. And still others may have negative feelings about the flag because of current government policies or positions that they disagree with. f. Some of that is just because people are different. Some of it is because of what s going on in the country or the world. And some of it is because of what people know, and don t know, about the flag, its history, and what it s meant to Americans from before the Revolutionary War to the present. SHOW Slide 5 (The Meaning of the Flag Cont.) g. How do we use the flag ceremonially? (1) Raising and Lowering the Flag: The flag-raising ceremony and the bugle calls that go with it are very old. Reveille, the bugle call that s played as the flag is being raised, dates back to the Crusades in the Middle Ages. The flag-raising ceremony was used to wake up the troops and to let the sentries know that they could stop 5
challenging people as they had been doing all night. Similar to raising the flag, lowering the flag served two purposes: (a) Telling the soldiers it was time to get some sleep. (b) Telling the sentries that they needed to start challenging people. (2) Occasions when the flag flies at half-staff: (a) The President orders flags to be flown at half-staff at the death an individual or group, for example, a former Vice President or the crew of the Challenger space shuttle. (b) The presidential order covers all flags flown at all military bases and installations, public buildings, and embassies here and abroad. (3) When lowering the flag to half-staff, it s first raised all the way to the top of the flagpole, held there for a moment, then lowered. (4) Flag honors at a funeral: Similarly, flags are used at the funerals of distinguished civilian and military leaders. The flag is draped over the casket with the blue field over the heart of the deceased. (5) Following the funeral and before the casket is lowered, the military pallbearers remove the flag from the casket, fold it, and present it to the family of the deceased. Check on Learning QUESTION: What do the colors of the flag stand for? ANSWER: Red Courage White Justice Blue Liberty QUESTION: What do the 13 red-and-white stripes stand for? ANSWER: The 13 original colonies. QUESTION: Why are the stars all together in the blue field? ANSWER: To symbolize union of states into a single country. QUESTION: Why is the flag such a powerful symbol? ANSWER: Because of the important meanings we associate with it and because it s a reminder of those who have given their lives for our safety and freedom. 2. Learning Step / Activity 2. The Army Song Method of Instruction: Conference / Discussion Instructor to Student Ratio: 1:35 Time of Instruction: 15 minutes Media: Slide Presentation SHOW Slide 6 (The Army Song) a. The History of the Army Song: The U.S. Army is the only service with an official marching song. It was adapted from the music of "The Caisson Song," written about 1908. The official Army Song was formally dedicated by the Secretary of the Army on Veterans Day, 11 November 1956. 6
b. React to the playing of The Army Song: In addition to standing while the National Anthem is being played, audiences render honors while state songs, school songs, and other symbolic songs are being played. Accordingly, Army personnel will stand at attention whenever the official Army Song is played. Give Student Handout to the class. c. The Army Song Lyrics: Provide Handout and practice along with song. SHOW Slide 7 (Terminal Learning Objective) TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE ACTION: Determine the Meaning of the Flag and Learn the Army Song CONDITIONS: STANDARDS: Given a task, discuss and explain the Meaning of the Flag and know the Army Song Define the Meaning of the Flag and recite the Army Song 7
SECTION IV. ASK FOR QUESTIONS AND SUMMARY Method of Instruction: Discussion Instructor to Student Ratio: 1:35 Time of Instruction: 5 mins Media: None a. Ask students if they have any questions. b. Answer all questions or agree to get back to students with a complete or appropriate answer. SUMMARY Explain what you have discussed during this block of instruction, and offer any personal experiences to introduce the contemporary operating environment. 8
SECTION V. Testing Requirements Feedback Requirements STUDENT EVALUATION (OPTIONAL) None None 9
Appendix A - Viewgraph Masters VIEWGRAPHS STRM Slide #1 Terminal Learning Objective Slide #2 The Meaning of the Flag Slide #3 The Flag Slide #4 The Meaning of the Flag Cont. Slide #5 The Army Song Slide #6 Terminal Learning Objective Slide #7 A-1
Appendix B - Test(s) and Test Solution(s) (N/A) B-1
Appendix C - Practical Exercises and Solutions Built into Lesson Plan C-1
Student Handout #1 The Army Song Lyrics Appendix D - Student Handouts (N/A) D-1