I may have asked this before on the old forum, but we seem to have a different group of folks visting this one.  My question is "How is rank determined in your unit?"  Longevity, loyalty, smarts, etc?

Ken

Our unit elects our company officer, and usually we look to someone who has time in the hobby and also the willingness to learn the role.

Our Sgts are also elected like our officer above.  I have been portraying a sgt in our group for the last 4 years and in the last 2-3 have really been trying to learn the nuances to it..

Cpls, are selected by the Sgts per event from among the experinced privates.  This gives guys a change to learn the role and try something new.  How many we have is determined by the size of the company.  

I belong to two units plus one battalion. We pretty much elect anyone stupid enough to take the jobs. (That's how I got elected Battalion Commander)  

Mama says "Stupid is stupid does"!

 

--Last edited by Ken Cornett on 2007-01-24 16:34:50 --

You've gotta' know the job to get the stripes or the cheese knife.

Quote :

Bill wrote : I belong to two units plus one battalion. We pretty much elect anyone stupid enough to take the jobs. (That's how I got elected Battalion Commander)

Bill, that is what happens when you don't show up to the meetings.. they elect you in abstentia..

Ken -

Our battery commander is selected and commissioned by the State of Ohio. He has the authority to name his officers and NCO's, depending on their knowledge and ability. The officers are then commissioned and the NCO's are given warrants.

We like to think of it as a "benevolent dictatorship."

Per SOP, battery officers and NCO's are also required to bring a slick sleeve uniform to events just in case things are looking too top heavy.  

--Last edited by Forquer on 2007-01-25 07:56:38 --

Guys,

I was just kidding in my last post. In one of the units I belong to we have elected positions to administer the unit, but all field rank is chosen on an event by event basis. In my other unit we have a number of administrative positions plus elected officers and NCO's. In this unit, it's understood that every officer and NCO will have a private's kit to use at every event we attend. This is to insure that we don't get rank heavy if attendance doesn't match our rank structure. Oh yeah, that includes me.

 

Our unit elects all officers and nco's every two years

No really, I had to take a 4 page written NCO test administered by one of our group. Attend NCO schools and prove I could do it before I could do it in the field.

What exactky is this little smiley guy humping?

Grumpy, I don't know what he is humping, but he is smiling, so it must feel good.  

Reb Cav,

We expect people to sign their posts with their correct given name. You can set your profile up to automatically sign for you.

Thanks, I'll take my Mod hat of now.    

In my unit, according to the by-laws, to eligable for promotion, you need to have attended half of the unit meetings and max effort events.  That goes for corporate officers as well.  However we just made an ammendment to allow an emrgancy appointment if a position is vacated.  The appointment is only to fill the position for the remainder of the term and the position will be filled by vote at the next unit meeting.  

To me that seems like a fair way to do things and you'll get people that regularly attend events and will no the job better.

Anthony, that makes a lot of sense, otherwise the unit ends up being run by a bunch of newsletter subscribers who rarely, if ever, take the field. This lack of event presence has been the downfall of more than one group, to be sure.

Dave,

I think I still have a copy of the NCO test somewhere. It was  a good idea and at least proved to the powers that be you had at least read the regulations and the duties of an NCO.

Marc

Is that a test your group created?  If I sent you a PM with an email address could you send me a copy?

Thanks

Rank:

What the company smells like on Sunday morning after a July event. For me though, it's usually wet sheep.

I'm sorry to say that test got lost when my old computer went to Old Nick.  

--Last edited by grumpydave on 2007-02-20 20:42:00 --

Greg,

All my stuff is in storage until I move in the spring. It is not that hard to develope the test really. Just cover the basic duties of an NCO in a few of the different ranks to see if the potential NCO has at least read about what to do.

Marc

Hallo

In my c/p/h unit we just fill where asked when we go to some events.

In my M/P/C unit(yes that is mainstream/progressive/campaigner ) we have bylaws that set  how officers and NCOs are put in place. Here is a copy of that......
11. GRADE POSITIONS: Will be voted on at the yearly policy meeting.
A. The 21st Georgia Volunteer Infantry, in compliance with the Georgia Division Infantry
regulations, may at times have grade positions.  The number and type of grade positions will be
dictated by the requirements of section XXX of the Georgia Division Infantry regulations.
B. Terms of office for Officers shall be set at three years.
C. Terms of office for Enlisted grades shall be set at two years.
D. Elections for office shall be held a the yearly policy meeting, and members elected to positions will
start serving in that capacity at the beginning of the next calendar year.
E. The Captain has the right to brevet from the ranks when there is a vacancy in one of the company
positions.  This brevet shall run until the absent graded members arrive on the property, or the end
of the reenactment event.
F. Requirements for grade positions with in the Twenty-First Georgia Volunteer Infantry:
1. Requirements for grade of Captain:
a. Must be a member of the Twenty-First Georgia Volunteer Infantry with five years service time.
b. Must attend 75% of Georgia Division Infantry and Twenty-First Georgia Volunteer Infantry
Maximum Effort Events.
c. Must purchase proper equipment to portray a common infantry line officer, and be
proficient in drill for all positions Captain and below.
d. To the best of his ability, see to training the troops in his command.
2. Requirements for the grade of 1st Lieutenant:
a. Must be a member of the Twenty-First Georgia Volunteer Infantry with four years service time.
b. Must attend 75% of Georgia Division Infantry and Twenty-First Georgia Volunteer Infantry
Maximum Effort Events.
c. Must purchase proper equipment to portray a common infantry line officer, and be
proficient in drill for all positions Captain and below.
d. To assist the Captain in any way deemed necessary by the Captain.
e. Be prepared to assume command of the company, in the absence of the Captain.
3. Requirements for grade of 1st Sergeant:
a. Must be a member of the Twenty-First Georgia Volunteer Infantry with three years service time.
b. Must attend 50% of Georgia Division Infantry and Twenty-First Georgia Volunteer Infantry
Maximum Effort Events.
c. Be proficient in drill for all positions Captain and below
d. As the senior enlisted member of the company, responsibilities includes all reports and
correspondence with the Battalion Sergeant Major and Adjutant.  Duties also include
anything necessary to facilitate the normal operations of the company.
e. Be prepared to assume the command of the company, in the absence of the Captain or 1st
Lieutenant.
4. Requirements for grade of 2nd Sergeant:
a. Must be a member of the Twenty-First Georgia Volunteer Infantry with two years service time.
b. Must attend 50% of Georgia Division Infantry and Twenty-First Georgia Volunteer Infantry
Maximum Effort Events.
c. Be proficient in drill for all positions Captain and below
d. Duties  consist of  anything necessary to help the 1st Sergeant facilitate the normal
operations of the company.
e. Be prepared to assume the command of the company, in the absence of the Captain or 1st
Lieutenant and 1st Sergeant.
5. Requirements for grade of  Corporal:
a. Must be a member of the Twenty-First Georgia Volunteer Infantry with one years service time.
(Page 5 of 8)
b. Must attend 50% of Georgia Division Infantry and Twenty-First Georgia Volunteer Infantry
Maximum Effort Events.
c. Duties include keeping proper alignment of the company during maneuver, and assisting
the Sergeants in any way deemed necessary.
d. Be proficient in drill of Hardees Light Infantry Tactics to be able to instruct, and correct if
necessary, the rank and file of the company.
e. Be prepared to assume the duties or the 1st or 2nd Sergeants  in the event of their absence.

I belong, or am an associate member of, several units, but my home unit is the Brady Sharpshooters (originally 'Co. BSS', 16th Michigan) of the USV.  USV by-laws require that we have a formal "Commanding Officer" and "Administrative Chair" so we elect those positions annually, along with a safety officer and two members of a "rank committee" (the CO is the third member).  

Attendance determines what rank the CO will wear; he and the committee will decide what other stripes or straps we'll need and who will wear them.  

We've tended to change COs every other year.  We usually have a different set of NCOs for each event, though they often come from the same cadre of more experienced, more fully trained, and more extensively read members.

Maybe it's because most of us are from the greater DC area and work either for the government or a government contractor that we don't get hung up much on rank and can literally take it or leave it.  I think the unit began as "Sharpshooters" because most of the original members couldn't afford the amount of ordnance carried by any self-respecting dismounted cavalry.  But over the last few years we've become more and more interested in learning about the real war, and have ended up spending just as much money, if not more, on books, manuals, and the gear required for our different roles.  

If nothing else, we've all become rather more skilled at sewing on different types of insignia than we ever were at marksmanship.