on flags with accuracy and speed comes only with practice. There are many correct ways to bend on the flags. The best way is the method that enables YOU to do the fastest and most accurate job possible. A description of one method of doing the job follows: To bend on, lead the uphaul part of the halyard under the upper part of your right arm, with the snap on the end of the uphaul grasped firmly in your right hand. The ring on the end of the downhaul is in your left hand. (When standing by for a hoist to be called out by the spotter, you can hook the snap on the uphaul into the ring on the downhaul. This method prevents the snap from accidentally being pulled out of your hand and swinging out of reach.) As the first flag is called out by the spotter, hook the halyard snap into the ring on the correct flag. Pull the ring out of its slot with the snap and let go. Then grasp the snap of the flag and pull it out. You are now ready to hook into the ring of the next flag. Continue this process until the spotter calls out, “Going up.” Then hook the snap, which you are holding in your right hand, into the ring on the downhaul, which you have in your left hand. You are now ready to tell the person on the uphaul to “Take it up.” The actual hoisting of a signal is generally a two-man job. Be sure there is sufficient slack in the halyard to prevent the snap from pulling out of your hand. In a strong wind, put the downhaul ring over a belaying pin to free your left hand, and use both hands to handle the flags. Never make fast a halyard in use. These halyards must be free for hoisting or lowering at an instant's notice. NOTE All Signalmen should know the location of the emergency radar cutoff switches for their signal bridge. In the event of a lost hoist, this can prevent extensive equipment damge. 5-6 When you call out to the person on the uphaul, “Take it up,” keep a slight strain on the halyard so the hoist goes almost straight up, not out with the wind. The person on the uphaul should haul away quickly and speedily, hoisting the signal to the dip or close-up position, as appropriate. PQS for flag bag operator is contained in NAVEDTRA 43354B, Personnel Qualification Standards for Visual Communications. HAULING DOWN SIGNALS When a signal is hauled down, the person on the uphaul should keep a slight strain on the halyard as you lower the hoist; otherwise, the hoist might fly out with the wind and become fouled. Haul in quickly and evenly on the downhaul. As the ring on the downhaul comes to your hand, grasp it. Then grasp the snap on the bottom flag, and unhook it from the halyard ring. Place the downhaul ring on the belaying pin located in the fife rail on the flag bag front. Keep hauling the rest of the hoist down to the deck. As the topmost flag passes, unhook the snap end on the halyard, and hook it on the ring located on or near the flag bag. As soon as the flags are on deck, the person on the uphaul should unsnap them one from another and hand them to you for restowing in the bag. As the flags are handed to you, the name of each flag is called out to assist you in getting them stowed. When all flags are stowed and the halyards are made ready for the next hoist, call out to the spotter, “Ready on the starboard/port bag.” PARTS OF A FLAGHOIST MESSAGE LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Identify and explain the parts of a flaghoist message. A flaghoist signal or message consists of two parts, heading and text. The heading may be specified by hoisting a visual call sign. Normally, a flaghoist signal or message hoisted without call signs is addressed to all units within visual contact or to the commander of the unit. HEADING The heading of a flaghoist message is hoisted superior to the text. That is, it is displayed in a position that is read before the text of a message. So long as the heading appears before the text, it may be flown from the yardarm on outboard hoists (as in fig. 5-5) or at the triatic stay or masthead. Modification of Heading The heading of a flag signal may be modified by the use of the four substitutes as follows: FIRST SUB over the call sign of the originator hoisted where best seen means "The originator of this signal is .”  Intervening ships relay this signal