Tweet
- Lack of situational awareness
- Lack of logistical adaptability
- Lack of contingency planning
- Complete command and control breakdown
- Participant endangerment
The Bummers 2009 is over for us, and it seemed to have been disregarded by the event coordinators from the outset.
As an immersion event I would expect to experience many moments where I am disconnected from the 21st century, exposed to situations consistent with known historical events, and enveloped in the fog of ignorance or knowledge based upon the limits and requirements of my rank and responsibility.
What we witnessed was something completely different.
At the start, we marched through the night, ostensibly to our pre-prescribed camp site, one which late arrivals could find, one where water was readily available, and one where the organization of the site made it possible for the command in the field to organize control and structure as it sees fit. Instead, there was a sophomoric night-fire event, and a dangerous advance up a dark hillside, through brambles, hidden holes, sharp rocks, and fallen trees.
The night was blessed with beautiful weather, and a wooded environment, where everyone seemed able to find as much scrap-wood as they needed. Rations were cooked, and people bedded down to a good night. The time of arrival at the campsite, however, was midnight, and this made for a short night. When false dawn broke, most participants packed up quickly and prepared to march. Dawn was at 7am. We did not begin to move until around 9:30.
We went back down the rocky slope to the river road.
From the main Boy Scout camp, southward, 4 trails run in parallel. The western road is the River Road, which runs along the Flint River. Because of the heavy rains earlier in the week from Tropical Storm Ida, the Flint River was in flood. In several places the road was washed over, and, instead of seeking the next higher trail, which ran along the ridge line above the river, the decision was made by command to continue along the River Road. A path was carved for single-file movement on a slippery 45 degree slope. The path was narrow and difficult, even for experienced hardcore reenactors and modern military veterans. But, participants in this event included men in their 60s, and farbs of considerable size.
When a participant, regardless of their physical ability or military experience, signs up for an event, and particularly a pay event, the coordinator becomes responsible for the welfare of that individual. Conditions along the river road were not safe. At any time a participant could have slid down slope and into the fast moving muddy river and no one would have been in a position to safely recover that individual.
When the command became aware that they were grossly behind schedule, 4 hours later, the decision was made to attempt to scale the 60' bluff so we could approach the ridgeline road, and enter the scenario. Most were tired and hungry. The climb was difficult and slippery. Though various individuals assisted in the climb, there was no protection against a participant slipping and sliding off the bluff to the rocks below. One of those assisting was a 1st sergeant without a weapon who appeared to be part of the coordinator staff.
As he took my hand to help me up slope, he apologized to me and those behind me for the situation. I asked, "Did no one realize it rained this week, and that the river might flood?" He said, "No, not really." Then I asked, "Did the grand master plan not include any flexibility that would allow us to avoid this?" And he responded, "No, there was no flexibility."
Shortly after that, as we negotiated the 45-degree slope above the bluff, an old man lost his footing and fell backward, sliding headfirst into a comrade who caught him and prevent him from continuing his slide over the ledge to the rocks below.
Once to the top of the ridge, which rose 800 feet above the river, there was only enough water for 75% of the men who made the climb. We were then told to go to another location where there was a cache of water. Upon arrival that water was also insufficient.
It was now 2pm. We had no food, not enough water, and no officer seemed to have the knowledge of where to go, and how to contact logistical assistance.
At this point my comrades and I witnessed a lieutenant yelling at his divisional commander seeking desperately for food and water for his men. It was obvious he had ceased to be a commander within the scenario, and stepped out as a true officer whose sole concern was the safety and well-being of his men. This attracted our attention.
I had, earlier in the week, found a PDF of some biking trails in the area, and sort-of knew the configuration of the 4 roads and the cross-overs. So I asked the good lieutenant if he had a map. He did not. He insisted that we join his unit since ours had walked on to the newly promised cache of water and food. My friends and I were uncertain, and decided to wait. We then saw a unit approaching with some of the older and less-fit participants intent on taking a path back to the Boy Scout camp which some, who should be in the know, were saying ended in an impassable ravine. The corporal in the company had a map. We asked to look at it and agreed that the lieutenant's information on his location and the ravine was wrong. He insisted on continuing to the promised cache. We decided to help the determined unit of worn-out people find their way home.
Within 20 minutes we had returned to the camp of the previous night, and found our vehicle 20 minutes after that. 4 and 1/2 hours in, 40 minutes back.
In the parking lot we heard other stories of confusing activity. Some of these imply that the entire scenario was a joke. But on the drive back to the highway, we ran across more participants who were lost and disconnected. Some of them were even part of the coordinator or command staff. They reported finding no food and no water.
As I write this, I have no way of knowing if all participants have been safely encamped for the evening, or if some may be lost and wandering the wilderness area.
I do not report on this from a minor perspective, but as a witness to the activity of an entire division, following in the path of those who had marched before and considerate and connected to those who followed behind.
Someone in charge should have inspected the site given the history of massive unprecedented flooding in Northern Georgia this year. The decision-makers should have been aware of the landscape, and should have been prepared to execute alternative plans to ensure that the scenario was resolved as closely to the master plan as possible so that all participants could have had the opportunity to achieve that immersion experience. Divisional command should have been in touch constantly with opposition control, and logistical support so that all resources were properly utilized, and that all participants were protected and secure.
The greatest damage that could come from this is that someone is seriously injured, or even killed. This would be bad not just for those involved, but for the coordinators, the BSA site, and the noble endeavor to preserve authentic historical presentation in the reenactor community.
Sincerely,
Gary Ward
The Stragglers
- Lack of logistical adaptability
- Lack of contingency planning
- Complete command and control breakdown
- Participant endangerment
The Bummers 2009 is over for us, and it seemed to have been disregarded by the event coordinators from the outset.
As an immersion event I would expect to experience many moments where I am disconnected from the 21st century, exposed to situations consistent with known historical events, and enveloped in the fog of ignorance or knowledge based upon the limits and requirements of my rank and responsibility.
What we witnessed was something completely different.
At the start, we marched through the night, ostensibly to our pre-prescribed camp site, one which late arrivals could find, one where water was readily available, and one where the organization of the site made it possible for the command in the field to organize control and structure as it sees fit. Instead, there was a sophomoric night-fire event, and a dangerous advance up a dark hillside, through brambles, hidden holes, sharp rocks, and fallen trees.
The night was blessed with beautiful weather, and a wooded environment, where everyone seemed able to find as much scrap-wood as they needed. Rations were cooked, and people bedded down to a good night. The time of arrival at the campsite, however, was midnight, and this made for a short night. When false dawn broke, most participants packed up quickly and prepared to march. Dawn was at 7am. We did not begin to move until around 9:30.
We went back down the rocky slope to the river road.
From the main Boy Scout camp, southward, 4 trails run in parallel. The western road is the River Road, which runs along the Flint River. Because of the heavy rains earlier in the week from Tropical Storm Ida, the Flint River was in flood. In several places the road was washed over, and, instead of seeking the next higher trail, which ran along the ridge line above the river, the decision was made by command to continue along the River Road. A path was carved for single-file movement on a slippery 45 degree slope. The path was narrow and difficult, even for experienced hardcore reenactors and modern military veterans. But, participants in this event included men in their 60s, and farbs of considerable size.
When a participant, regardless of their physical ability or military experience, signs up for an event, and particularly a pay event, the coordinator becomes responsible for the welfare of that individual. Conditions along the river road were not safe. At any time a participant could have slid down slope and into the fast moving muddy river and no one would have been in a position to safely recover that individual.
When the command became aware that they were grossly behind schedule, 4 hours later, the decision was made to attempt to scale the 60' bluff so we could approach the ridgeline road, and enter the scenario. Most were tired and hungry. The climb was difficult and slippery. Though various individuals assisted in the climb, there was no protection against a participant slipping and sliding off the bluff to the rocks below. One of those assisting was a 1st sergeant without a weapon who appeared to be part of the coordinator staff.
As he took my hand to help me up slope, he apologized to me and those behind me for the situation. I asked, "Did no one realize it rained this week, and that the river might flood?" He said, "No, not really." Then I asked, "Did the grand master plan not include any flexibility that would allow us to avoid this?" And he responded, "No, there was no flexibility."
Shortly after that, as we negotiated the 45-degree slope above the bluff, an old man lost his footing and fell backward, sliding headfirst into a comrade who caught him and prevent him from continuing his slide over the ledge to the rocks below.
Once to the top of the ridge, which rose 800 feet above the river, there was only enough water for 75% of the men who made the climb. We were then told to go to another location where there was a cache of water. Upon arrival that water was also insufficient.
It was now 2pm. We had no food, not enough water, and no officer seemed to have the knowledge of where to go, and how to contact logistical assistance.
At this point my comrades and I witnessed a lieutenant yelling at his divisional commander seeking desperately for food and water for his men. It was obvious he had ceased to be a commander within the scenario, and stepped out as a true officer whose sole concern was the safety and well-being of his men. This attracted our attention.
I had, earlier in the week, found a PDF of some biking trails in the area, and sort-of knew the configuration of the 4 roads and the cross-overs. So I asked the good lieutenant if he had a map. He did not. He insisted that we join his unit since ours had walked on to the newly promised cache of water and food. My friends and I were uncertain, and decided to wait. We then saw a unit approaching with some of the older and less-fit participants intent on taking a path back to the Boy Scout camp which some, who should be in the know, were saying ended in an impassable ravine. The corporal in the company had a map. We asked to look at it and agreed that the lieutenant's information on his location and the ravine was wrong. He insisted on continuing to the promised cache. We decided to help the determined unit of worn-out people find their way home.
Within 20 minutes we had returned to the camp of the previous night, and found our vehicle 20 minutes after that. 4 and 1/2 hours in, 40 minutes back.
In the parking lot we heard other stories of confusing activity. Some of these imply that the entire scenario was a joke. But on the drive back to the highway, we ran across more participants who were lost and disconnected. Some of them were even part of the coordinator or command staff. They reported finding no food and no water.
As I write this, I have no way of knowing if all participants have been safely encamped for the evening, or if some may be lost and wandering the wilderness area.
I do not report on this from a minor perspective, but as a witness to the activity of an entire division, following in the path of those who had marched before and considerate and connected to those who followed behind.
Someone in charge should have inspected the site given the history of massive unprecedented flooding in Northern Georgia this year. The decision-makers should have been aware of the landscape, and should have been prepared to execute alternative plans to ensure that the scenario was resolved as closely to the master plan as possible so that all participants could have had the opportunity to achieve that immersion experience. Divisional command should have been in touch constantly with opposition control, and logistical support so that all resources were properly utilized, and that all participants were protected and secure.
The greatest damage that could come from this is that someone is seriously injured, or even killed. This would be bad not just for those involved, but for the coordinators, the BSA site, and the noble endeavor to preserve authentic historical presentation in the reenactor community.
Sincerely,
Gary Ward
The Stragglers
Comment