FORT GORDON, Ga. -- (August 26, 2011) Servicemembers, civilians, and visitors to Fort Gordon may now notice things coming to a stop on post twice a day. This is because all personnel are now expected to render honors and courtesies during "Retreat" and "Reveille."
In a message sent out post wide, the Fort Gordon Installation Operations Center has instructed that, at 6:30 a.m., "outdoor activity stops, Army servicemembers and civilians face the colors or the sound of the bugle and vehicles pull to the side of the road. Soldiers render a salute; civilians stand at the position of attention facing the colors or sound of the bugle call. A single round from the salute battery will be fired, followed by the bugle call. Normal activity resumes after the last note of "Reveille.'"
Additionally the message provides instructions for "Retreat," which occurs at 3 p.m. on Thursdays and 5 p.m. all other days. The message reads:
"At the sound of 'Retreat' … outdoor activity stops. Army servicemembers and civilians face the colors or the sound of the bugle and vehicles pull to the side of the road. Soldiers come to Parade Rest, civilians come to the position of attention and remain on that position until the end of the first bugle call (Retreat). A single shot is fired by the cannon salute battery and then the bugle sounds the second call, 'To the Colors,' as the color honor guard briskly brings the colors down. Soldiers out of doors come to attention and salute, while their civilian colleagues remain at attention or place their hand over their heart, giving honors to the nation's colors at the end of the duty day. Normal outdoor activity resumes after the last note of 'To the Colors' sounds."
Additionally, all vehicles entering or exiting the installation will be stopped at the Access Control Points during both rendering of honors. And in effort to ensure drivers know when "Reveille" and "Retreat" are beginning, Military Police vehicles will pull to the side of the road with their blue lights on.
"I think this is great," said Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald S. Pflieger, U.S. Army Signal Center of Excellence regimental command sergeant major. "I am happy to see our Soldiers and civilians supporting this return to a very basic military custom. Honoring our flag is one the U.S. Army's most inspiring traditions we have to remind us each day why we've chosen this profession."
The actual task of raising and lowering the flag is performed by the students of the Fort Gordon Regimental Noncommissioned Officer Academy. Soldiers attending the Advanced Leader Course and the Senior Leader Course alternate approximately every two weeks.
According to 1st Sgt. Robert Barnes III, the RNCOA deputy commandant, every class is given time to learn the proper procedure for rendering honors.
"Every NCO should know 'Reveille' and 'Retreat,'" Barnes said. "It's a part of their curriculum and they are graded on their performance. At the academy, we teach NCO's to be leaders and knowing these customs and courtesies is an important part of that."
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