UNIT BY-LAWS

2ND Ranger Infantry Battalion
F Company Reenacted

Section I

Mission: 

The Regimental Combat Team (RCT) Reenacted is committed to honoring the veterans and preserving the legacy of World War II through education and active engagement with the public.

Through immersive living histories and combat reenactments, we aim to accurately portray the daily life of 1940s servicemen.

Our mission also includes fostering a unified World War II living history community to sustain and grow the WWII reenacting hobby across Florida.

Rules and regulations:

The RCT is composed of many individuals who collectively offer their talents to recreate a realistic historical experience. This is accomplished by encouraging all to participate in military drill and ceremony, academic knowledge and to some degree, physical fitness. Each member of the unit strives to display an honest appearance of the WWII serviceman or woman in reverence to those who gallantly served our country.   

Although this re-enactment group may appear intense in its desire to reach this objective, the only way to get there is high Espirit de Corps and comradeship. There is an advantage in participation of historical events, sharing experiences with veterans, and understanding how our families lived in times gone by.  Getting started in WWII re-enactmenting can be an enigmatic experience. And, depending on how much assistance one is given, that experience can be positive or negative. 

The Army is a uniformed service that is judged, in part, by the manner in which a soldier wears a prescribed uniform, as well as by the individual’s personal appearance. A neat and well-groomed appearance by all soldiers is fundamental to the Army and contributes to building morale and pride essential to an effective military force.  As living historians, we have a responsibility to look and behave as actual soldiers during WW II. Members must be willing to abide to all authenticity standards and follow orders through the chain of command.  

A member must be willing to make a commitment of time and money to achieve an accurate historical impression.  

This unit does not discriminate against anyone’s race, age, sex, or weight but we do limit certain impressions so as to cast an authentic portrayal of the men and women they represent.  There are also restrictions on certain impressions due to health reasons.  We will do our best to offer an impression that fits each member’s interest while still being historically accurate. 

Be mentally sound and physically fit. The original men and women we portray were put through many rigorous tests.  In the spirit of these men and women, and to ensure they are soundly illustrated, the unit encourages involvement in exercises designed to improve each member’s representation of the WWII serviceman.

Physical requirements- are able to stand in formation in full kit for 20 minutes and be able to march for 20 minutes non-stop.  These requirements are for all members of the unit.  These requirements are for the health of everyone in the unit.

Dues: 

Dues will be 30 dollars per calendar year.  Dues are due at the beginning of the season and will be used to pay for awards, insurance, blanks, and other unit expenses. 

Training: 

Training is continual throughout the season. Every opportunity to enhance the appearance and performance of the unit will be accomplished during scheduled events.

Members are encouraged to research subjects relating to their unit and its contribution to the war continually.

Minimum Age: 

A member must be 18 years of age to carry a firearm. Absolutely NO exceptions will be permitted.  A member must be 16 years of age to participate (with parent or guardian written consent) in any event.  All members must be mature and understand what we are trying to do as a group.  In any case, all members of the unit will adhere to State and Federal firearms laws. Proper certification and permits are the sole responsibility of the member.  Members must not have a felony conviction or a misdemeanor conviction involving domestic violence.

Safety

Since we are handling various sorts of weapons, safety is a major issue.  Numerous safety checks will be done at events in an authentic manner, and if anyone should bring a safety issue to your attention you should immediately take action to fix the problem.  If you are in violation of a safety issue and fail to take it seriously you could be asked to leave the group.  All members will be required to attend a weapons safety class prior to handling a weapon at any event.

Safety Officer: This position will be held be appointed by the unit for each event.  The safety officer is responsible for checking the ammunition and blank adaptation equipment of all members during unit formation. He will record his findings and present them to the unit commanding officer or highest-ranking unit member at the event who in turn will deliver them to the overall allied commander for the event.

Alcohol/Drug Usage: 

There will be NO alcohol consumption by unit members during drills, tactical events, living history events or ANY other events in which the unit participates. After the event (public not present), members are urged to show restraint as to not induce intoxication. The handling of any weapons is prohibited when anyone has consumed alcohol. Members found to be consuming alcohol during events will be prohibited from participating and may be asked to leave if directed to do so by the Coordinator/Commander of the event. 

Illegal drug use is strictly prohibited.  If members are found to be using illegal drugs they will be immediately dismissed from the unit. 

* Any change in the unit bylaws must be approved by a 2/3 or 75 % vote from all members present at unit meeting.

Section II

Membership and Leadership:

Discharging of Members

The unit wishes to maintain a very high level of character and code of ethics.  Any member may be discharged from the unit for conduct discrediting to the unit, unlawful acts, unlawful acts with a firearm, theft, disrespect of a veteran of the U.S. armed services, threats of violence against any member of the unit, safety violations, or for violation of the Unit’s bylaws or persistent violation of board approved rules. If at least six (6) members propose, in writing, to discharge a member the board will put the issue to a unit vote within 30 days. A yes vote of 2/3rds of the total regular members will discharge the member. Any discharged member may, after 60 days, appeal their discharge again to the total regular membership. If 2/3rds of the total regular members vote to discharge then the ruling will stand. Any discharged member will not be eligible for any refund, in part or in whole, of any dues paid.

Organization:

The unit will be organized on two levels: tactical organization, and administrative organization.  The tactical organization is there to run the unit at events and handle any issues that may arise while at the event.  This will be the two highest-ranking members at the event.  The administrative organization is there to help guide the unit in a positive direction.  They will help run the annual meeting and any voting that may need to take place.  They are to keep the members informed on what is going on.  At no time can the administrative organization make a decision that may affect the unit without notifying the members first and getting a majority vote of the unit. 

The administrative organization will consist of the unit’s commanding officer, financial clerk, supply clerk, and intelligence clerk.  All clerk positions can be held by any active member in the unit.  The positions will be filled by members volunteering to hold a certain position for two years.  The appointment or election will take place at the Annual Meeting. A simple majority vote will be sufficient to elect a member to the position.

Commanding Officer: The primary duty of the CO is to maintain administrative control over unit operations and activities. The CO shall preside at all unit meetings. 

Finance Clerk: The function of the Finance Clerk is to keep an accurate account of all unit funds and bear the responsibility for reporting any member with unpaid dues.  Additionally, he will collect unit dues and disperse funds that have met the approval of the unit. The Finance Clerk will prepare a report describing account activity at each unit meeting. 

Intelligence Clerk: The Intelligence Clerk shall serve as the event coordinator and public relations officer. He is responsible for planning and scheduling all unit activities and event notifications.  He is to keep the unit informed of events across the state and major events out of the state.  He will handle the updating of the webpage and social media sites.

Non-Admin Positions:

Non-admin positions will be voted on at the Summer Soldier’s School.  Any member can hold this position as long as they have a majority vote of the members. Administrative Command Members may also hold non-admin positions at the same time.

Recruiter: The recruiter will be the contact person on the website and will handle all new recruit email and phone traffic. 

Authenticity Clerk: Any member may act as an authenticity clerk. The authenticity clerk will assist members in obtaining the correct equipment and keep updates on which vendors stock the correct gear.  Any questionable item must be authenticated by no less than three documented instances in which the item was used by members of the unit in WWII. The documentation must be from three separate events or instances. The member with the questionable item, not the authenticity officers, bears the burden of documenting the item in question. If records cannot be found then any deviation from authenticity must be decided by a majority of the board.  If the Authenticity Officer cannot be at an event he will let the highest member that will be there know and that member will fill in for that event.