Baby's first steps

 

Hello, soldier! Let's start with the basics:

<--- This is your flag. It might differ from regiment to regiment, but this is the basic appearance.

 

First thing you'll notice: There's a green icon. This is the "near flag icon". The flag is one of many sources of morale in the game, so you, as a flag bearer, will keep the flag near your company (that's the group of teammates you're playing with) so their morale will be at an appropriate level.

 

So, you're playing the game, typically in a line formation. You're doing your business, trying to aim at some guy 100 studs in front of you. Then, at the top of your screen, this is visible:

You might panic the first time, that's normal. This is commonly called the "flag down timer", a countdown that activates when the current flag bearer, dies. The flag drops to the ground, in the drooped position, like in the first image. So what do you do? It's simple:

Press E on the proximity prompt on the flag. It looks like this:

 

You've done it! You've picked up the flag. You're now a flag bearer.