NOTE FOR PROSPECTIVE (INTERESTED) RECRUITS
TO THE COLUMBIA RIFLES

Hello, and thanks for your interest in the Columbia Rifles.  As you no doubt know, the Columbia Rifles (or CR) is a campaign-oriented living history organization who's principal portrayal is Federal infantry.

Membership in the unit is by invitation, but we're always looking for good reenactors to join as members.  Members who portray infantrymen must be 18 years of age (17 with signed, written permission from a parent or guardian).  We have no formal musician corps but we do have members and guests who portray musicians and these must be at least 14 years of age and proficient with their instrument.  We do not have members who portray civilians.

We ask that all potential recruits provide the following information when they express an interest in joining:

1.  Full name
2.  Age
3.  E-mail address
4.  Photograph in period attire (preferably sent via e-mail)
5.  Location (city, state)
6.  Previous or current unit(s) to which you belong or have belonged
7.  Number of years of reenacting experience
8.  Rank(s) previously held
9.  List of some representative campaigner-oriented events you have attended (if you haven't attended any this isn't a strike against you)
10. A paragraph on why you want to join the CR instead of some other unit.  This may seem like some kind of a school essay and if it does, we apologize for it, but the answers we get to the question, "Why do you want to join the CR?" are always quite varied.
11. What event(s) on the CR calendar you would like to attend with the CR.
12. List of your equipment and manufacturer (thread counts is not the most pressing thing in our list of priorities, but it IS important.  If you don't have "cool threads" that's not necessarily a strike against you…we're more interested in attitude than kit, but a few items of "good kit" are non-negotiable to fall in with us even once…more info on this is provided below)
13. Are you physically fit? Members of the CR are not necessarily bodybuilders or marathon runners, but we do expect our members and guests to be reasonably physically fit.  What does "reasonably fit" mean?  Ask yourself this: "Can I march ten or eleven miles with a fully loaded knapsack with all my gear for a weekend-long event regardless of the weather and terrain?"  Members and guests of the CR are expected to be able to answer "yes".  We are trying to portray soldiers and no one wants to miss part of an event to "baby sit" someone who bit off more than he could physically chew.

Here is how new members are admitted to the CR:

1.  You submit the info requested above.
2.  If you sound like a serious reenactor who wishes to learn how to reenact more-correctly, you'll be invited to fall in with us at an event or two in the coming season.  We ask that prospective members fall in with us as guests once or twice so that you can check us out and vice-versa.
3.  If all goes well, you'll be formally invited to join the CR and provided with a membership application form.  One of our current members will have to be your sponsor--please check with your prospective sponsor before you fill out the form.  Please fill out the form and mail it with your dues payment to the CR Secretary/Treasurer.
4.  After your application is received, the Board will review it and, if all goes well, formally vote you in as a full member.  You'll start receiving the newsletter right away regardless of whether or not the Board is prompt in voting you in.
5.  There is a probationary period of one year after the date you are voted in.

If all this sounds like a lot, it probably is, and frankly it does take a long time to get your membership application submitted and approved--please be prepared for this.  This doesn't mean we don't want you--it only means that we aren't always as prompt as we should be with our own paperwork.  The procedures may seem involved, but so far they have kept the group to a common mindset that allows us to reenact in a common fashion.

If you submit a formal application by September 15 or after, your dues for the following full calendar year will be waived.  If you subscribe to the newsletter ($10 a year) before applying for membership, the cost of the newsletter will be deducted from your first-year membership dues.

What's necessary "kit" for falling in with the CR as a guest?  Normally, we ask that guests comply with all the same authenticity standards that CR members do; these standards are published on the CR website.  However, we recognize that not all prospective recruits have "cool threads", so we'll accept reasonably-authentic gear on our guests (i.e., C&D Jarnagin quality on most items).  However, the following items are "non-negotiable" and MUST be worn by all members and guests at CR events:

1.  Period-correct eyewear (if any)
2.  100-percent wool blanket, tan (preferred) or gray
3.  Proper shelter--often (but not always) we use shelter halves and a good, correct shelter half is a must (i.e., no Panther or Fall Creek halves are allowed)
4.  Correct canteen (tan or gray jean cloth cover for all canteens) with strap that is correct for the scenario (i.e., russet (brown) leather strap for scenarios through early 1863, white cotton strap for scenarios after early 1863)
5.  No stainless steel mess gear
6.  Correct insignia (no Masonic badges, Irish harps, etc.  Ask before you show up in something that may not be correct!)
7.  No bad hats--we've all seen the horrible "fuzzy purple" misshapen forage caps in other units!
8.  Period-correct rations appropriate for the scenario
9.  Correctly made ammunition (ask if you need details)
10. KNOW YOUR DRILL!  In particular, know how to stack arms according to Casey's manual; it's amazing how many otherwise very good reenactors are deficient in this area.
11. Adhere to all CR standards regarding conduct
12. Conform to all event standards

We almost always have loaner gear available if some aspect of your kit doesn't comply with our standards--please ask questions and we're more than happy to help out.

When you know what event(s) you'd like to attend, please contact us and inform us of your request to attend that event as a guest of the CR.

We enjoy meeting new people and getting new members, but we believe that adherence to our standards and historical correctness is more important than numbers.

Again, thanks for your interest and we look forward to hopefully seeing you in the field at an upcoming CR event.

Regards,

Tom Craig
The Columbia Rifles
Torrington, Connecticut
Tom-Craig@sbcglobal.net