The Flag Service Org of today was actually formed on the Flagship Apollo in September 1973. By then the Apollo had been at sea for several years performing many functions essential to the forward progress of Scientology. Most notable among its functions were the training and processing of selected org staff members from around the world, and research. The latter was its prime function.
During its time at sea, the vessel, known originally as the Royal Scotman and later rechristened Apollo, served as Ron's floating research base. It was perfect, because it gave Ron a place to conduct his various research projects relatively free of everyday distractions.

In his research room on the Promenade Deck, a great many breakthroughs and discoveries of magnitude were made by Ron. Particularly important in the history of Flag was the high level administration technology developed there in 1970 to ’71. The Flag Executive Briefing Course became the final form of this tech. The exact intention of the course was to bring executive action up to the high level of precision that at the time could only be attained in auditing. Ron considered it the beginning of third dynamic tech. It made the equivalent in management of a Class VIII auditor in auditing.
The students who did the course were selected staff from the various orgs of the world. It was given only on the ship. From all over, students came to get this remarkable tech so they could, once home, assume executive posts and boom their org. They also received auditing while aboard so their cases would be in shape when they returned to assume their new roles.
Coincident with the period of the first FEBC students on course, Ron was researching and developing incredible new auditing tech. This tech came from the OT levels and the research on increasing OT powers. Piloted on these FEBC students, it turned them into “power houses”. What it did was handle the reason a person restrains himself from action, as well as other case problems. We know this tech today as the incredible L-10!

At night in port

From the piloting of L-10 on the FEBC students and study of their progress while on course, and later, their progress in the field, Ron developed two more startlingly powerful rundowns. One was originally created for FEBC students returning to minor posts. Shorter in time to do than L-10, it takes up the major aberration a person has. It handles this one thing, not the whole case; and gives the person a whole new life. It's best known as L-11, or the New Life Rundown. The other rundown was designed for those students going back to executive posts. It extroverts, stabilizes and makes it so a person isn't likely to go PTS. Known then as the OT Executive Rundown, it's more popularly called the fabulous L-12!
The tech of the L's is so powerful and precise, that a whole new class of classed auditors had to be trained by Ron to deliver them. These are the Class Xs, XIs and XIIs. They were hand picked and intensely trained by Ron on the Apollo. And the Case Supervisor for the L's delivery was Ron himself.

The Apollo Stars entertain guests

Of course, the fortunate people who received these phenomenal rundowns as part of their FEBC training brought news of their wins from the L's back to their orgs. Word-of-mouth dissemination about these Flag-only rundowns spread with chain lightning rapidity. But it was not until September 1973 that things were set up to really deliver the L's to the public. Not only were the three “giant” L Rundowns made available, but so was the entire Grade Chart line-up for training and processing. This was the dawn of a new era in its own right. It meant that a person could get all the services on the Grade Chart, if they so desired, all in one place. It also meant they could obtain unsurpassable results from services delivered at LRH standards. A good many of the staff had been personally trained by Ron. Technical perfection is a Flag tradition. Additionally, services were offered which a person could get nowhere else on the planet. Besides the L's, there was the Data Series Evaluators Course (now the Elementary Evaluators Course), the Flag Case Completion Intensive, Flag Internships which enabled one to attain Flag Standards in auditing, Flag Admin training for the executive or would-be executive, and other services.
At this time, the Flagship, which had always been a model of efficiency, became even more so. In addition to all the regular functions performed on the ship, which included the many Sea Org activities, delivery of the entire Dianetics and Scientology Bridge was now taking place.

Renovations at the Fort Harrison

Going to the Flag Service Org, in those days when it was at sea, was not so simple or direct as it is now. One made arrangements through the Flag Service Consultant, as the first action. When all preliminary details were settled, you went to the FOLO where the Flag Consultant was. There you got your clearance to go on to Flag. Then you saw the Relay Officer. He handed you your airline ticket to any one of many ports at which the Apollo called. It was the point where mystery was dispelled and you at last knew your destination. It may have been Corfu in the Greek Isles or Cadiz in Spain, but wherever it was, you were off to fun, adventure and a great leap up in personal freedom on the Bridge!
When your plane landed you were met promptly by a representative, quickly guided through customs and baggage formalities, then whisked off to the ship.
On board you were placed in care of the LRH Host. Auditing and training were intensive, just as they are now, so you achieved maximum gain in a relatively short time. And through his Host, Ron monitored each person's progress to ensure all was correct and just right for the particular individual.
The ship bustled with activity of all kinds, but there was a well ordered and purposeful feeling about things. Guests of course had the best facilities on the ship.
When in port, free time took on a special color. There were foreign sights to see, exotic things to shop for and fine beaches to swim from and lounge on. Often at night there would be a performance for the local populace by the Apollo Stars — a musical and dance troupe. These were very talented Sea Org Members that Ron formed into a dynamic performing team which thoroughly applied his art bulletins to their performances. These shows spread good will with enormous effectiveness. They were a grand time for all concerned.

FCCIs coming from Tampa Airport

Then towards the end of 1975, Flag, which had been expanding rapidly, began its transition to land where there was plenty of space for expansion. The shift was made in two stages and was a masterpiece of OT planning and organization. The Fort Harrison Hotel had already been purchased, but extensive cleaning and poshing up cycles were in order before it could be considered fit to be Flag's new home. A special Sea Org Mission was fired to make it ready for occupancy. Simultaneously another series of operations were engaged in handling the first stage of the transition to land. Their task was the setting up of the Flag Service Org and other activities from the ship in a temporary location on land. It was at this interim location that Flag's impeccable services continued to be delivered as if nothing unusual was going on. It was here that Flag also underwent a huge unprecedented boom. People could reach it easily; and Flag now had the space for them!
Soon, the Fort Harrison was ready and the second stage was carried out with equal skill and facility, which established Flag as a land base. It was a dream come true for Ron. It was as he said in his message to all Scientologists published in the first issue of SOURCE magazine: “My plans are to bring you a new environment where you can experience newfound stability of case state and increased OT abilities, something I have wanted you to have for a long time.
“The best on the planet is waiting for you at the new Flag Base.”

The Fort Harrison

Flag maintains and forwards these plans today.
Ron keeps tight technical liaison lines with Flag and new technical breakthroughs continue to be piloted and released at Flag. This issue alone carries news of two such releases, which are the incredible Solo NOTs breakthrough and the “Doctorate Series Course for OTs”. Ron's standards and perfection of delivery are the normal operating procedure. Hubbard Guidance Center auditors are trained as if Ron had trained them himself. There are still many tech personnel at Flag who originally trained under him on the ship. And the LRH Host ensures you are treated as Ron's guest, that all goes smoothly, and that you get exactly what you came for. Flag is very much Ron's Org and the welcome mat is always out. The best on the planet is indeed here for you at Flag.