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As we look forward to the 2012 season, there is always room for improvement for ALL of us. The purpose of this thread is to list those things that you see around you at AUTHENTIC events that don't quite sit right with you, or something that is a pet peeve of yours. Something that we can do as a group to improve the group impression and experience. Offer a suggestion on how "we" can improve in this area.
Besides the fact that most of us are too old or too fat, I'll start with a couple:
1) The preponderance of Federal saddle blankets for CS impressions. It seems that many of us only have one saddle blanket - the Federal issue blue with orange stripes. And it's the one that we use for every impression, Federal or CS. It doesn't take much effort to find a period correct, 100% wool blanket in a neutral color for your CS impression. I was looking at stills for the recent Chickamauga film shoot and noticed that "we" mounted CSA Gen'l Helms on a horse with a Federal saddle blanket. Really?
2) We, as a group, still carry way too many pistols. The inspection reports show that maybe 30 - 40% of troopers in most units were armed with a pistol. Perhaps unit commanders can ask some of us to leave the pistol in the truck. or, maybe a system similar to "fate" cards, where the unit draws cards or straws to determine the pistoleros.
3) Unarmed men. Virtually all of the CS Inspection Reports enumerate unarmed men, often in significant numbers. Have you ever seen even one unarmed man in the field at an event? Maybe the same "fate" card system. Or, perhaps a few of us show up unarmed and announce that we are "unarmed men."
What do you see that could stand improving? How would you change it?
Besides the fact that most of us are too old or too fat, I'll start with a couple:
1) The preponderance of Federal saddle blankets for CS impressions. It seems that many of us only have one saddle blanket - the Federal issue blue with orange stripes. And it's the one that we use for every impression, Federal or CS. It doesn't take much effort to find a period correct, 100% wool blanket in a neutral color for your CS impression. I was looking at stills for the recent Chickamauga film shoot and noticed that "we" mounted CSA Gen'l Helms on a horse with a Federal saddle blanket. Really?
2) We, as a group, still carry way too many pistols. The inspection reports show that maybe 30 - 40% of troopers in most units were armed with a pistol. Perhaps unit commanders can ask some of us to leave the pistol in the truck. or, maybe a system similar to "fate" cards, where the unit draws cards or straws to determine the pistoleros.
3) Unarmed men. Virtually all of the CS Inspection Reports enumerate unarmed men, often in significant numbers. Have you ever seen even one unarmed man in the field at an event? Maybe the same "fate" card system. Or, perhaps a few of us show up unarmed and announce that we are "unarmed men."
What do you see that could stand improving? How would you change it?
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