Final answer:
Flagging an object as Retrieve Only during commit in a VCS protects critical resources from alterations while allowing team members to use the specific version.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of version control systems (VCS), flagging an object as Retrieve Only when committing changes means that the object can be downloaded or checked out from the repository, but cannot be modified and uploaded back into the repository. This is typically done to protect critical resources that should not be altered or to maintain a specific version of an object. It allows team members to pull the object into their local workspace to ensure they are using the correct version, while preventing any accidental changes from being pushed back into the central repository.