MILITARY STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

7th Regiment, North Carolina State Troops

Company F, Inc.

 

Revision 03 adopted 09 November, 2012

 

 

 

Article I:  Name and Purpose

 

 Section I, Name:  The name of this document shall be the 7th NCST, Co. F Military Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). This document is called out in and is subservient to the Constitution and By-laws of the 7th Regiment, North Carolina State Troops, Company F, Inc. For ease of reading and for clarity purposes the 7th Regiment, North Carolina State Troops, Company F, Inc. will be referred to as the Company.

 Section II, Purpose:   To delineate the military structure and operating procedures for the organization’s military re-enactment or depiction of  a Regiment and Company of North Carolina citizen-soldiers, historical period 1858-1865 inclusive.  

 Section III, Company Portrayal:   The original Company was a member of the Army of Northern Virginia under the command of General Robert E. Lee.  As such the primary Company portrayal in drill and Confederate uniform will be as that of a North Carolina Infantry Company attached to the Army of Northern Virginia

 Section IV, References: 

q First Division Army, of Northern Virginia Safety Regulations - Current issue/version.

q Heitman’s Simplified Hardee’s and Skirmish Drill.

q Gilham's Infantry Manual of Arms.

 

Article II: Company Structure, Chain-of-Command/Responsibilities, and Selection Process

 

Section I, Company Structure:  The Company shall consist of the following uniformed military ranks:

q Captain/President - Full-time service elected position IAW the Constitution and By-laws of the organization. (Article II, Section I)  Appoints all officers and NCOs in his command for a period of one year or until relieved of duty by the Captain..

q First Lieutenant – Temporary/full time appointed position.

q Second Lieutenant - Temporary /full time appointed position.  

q First Sergeant - Full-time appointed position.  

q Second Sergeant - Full-time appointed position.

q Ordnance Sergeant - Full - time appointed position.

q  Quartermaster Sergeant - Full-time service appointed position.

q Commissary Sergeant/Mess Sergeant-Full - time appointed position.

q First Corporal - Full-time appointed position.

q Second Corporal - Full-time appointed position.

q Third Corporal - Full-time appointed position.

  

Section II, Chain-of-Command/Responsibilities: The Company Chain-of -Command is as follows:

q Captain (Capt.) - Senior Officer/Commanding Officer.

q First Lieutenant (1st. Lt.) - Next senior, commands the Company when directed by, or in the absence of the Captain.

q Second Lieutenant (2nd. Lt.) - Next senior, commands the Company when directed by, or in the absence of both the Captain and 1st. Lieutenant.

q First Sergeant (1st. Sgt.) - Senior Non-Commissioned Officer, will assume command of the Company in the absence of any Commissioned Officers. Responsible to the chain-of-command for the execution of all duties in camp and in the field. Reports to the Commanding Officer.

q Second Sergeant (2nd Sgt.) - Next senior Non-Commissioned Officer. Assumes duties of the 1st. Sgt. in his absence.  Responsible for the assignment and supervision of all camp duties and fatigue parties.  Left guide and file closer on the field, responsible for the safety, military instruction, and control of the rank and file. Reports to the 1st Sgt.

q Ordnance Sergeant (Ord. Sgt.) – Staff position. Responsible for all weapons inspection off the field. Maintains a list of inspected weapons as well as the Company weapons list. Acts as Company armorer. Reports to the Captain & Regimental Ordnance Sgt

q Quarter Master Sergeant (QM Sgt.) - Staff position. Responsible for the reporting the numbers of troops, authentic civilians and the types and numbers of tents at a reenactment to the Regiment and Division prior to the reenactment. Assists the Commissary Sgt. In planning the Company mess and obtaining the necessary victuals and cooking implements. Reports to the 1st Sgt.

q Commissary Sergeant/Mess Sergeant (C. Sgt.) – Not a field command position. Responsible for the planning of the Company meals and the cooking/supervision of same. Provides the list of personnel utilizing the mess to the 2nd Sgt for fatigue party assignment. Directly supervises fatigue party personnel in the cooking and clean up of the Company mess. Reports to the 2nd Sgt. 

q First Corporal (1st Cpl.) - Senior Corporal (High Corporal).  Assumes duties of the 2nd Sgt. in his absence. Commands a fatigue party when assigned. Right guide on the field, responsible for the safety, military instruction, and control of the rank and file. Reports to the 2nd Sgt.

q Second Corporal (2nd Cpl.) - Next senior Corporal. Assumes duties of the 1st Cpl. in his absence.  Commands a fatigue party when assigned. Responsible for the safety, military instruction, and control of the rank and file. Reports to the 2nd Sgt.

q Third Corporal (3rd Cpl.) - Next Senior Corporal. Assumes duties of the 2nd Cpl. In his absence.  Commands a fatigue party when assigned. Responsible for the safety, military instruction, and control of the rank and file. Reports to the 2nd Sgt.

 

Section III, SOP Membership Requirements are defined below.

q Potential uniformed or civilian re-enactor member will undergo a six month probation period in which they must successfully accomplish the following:

o   In the appropriate military or civilian garb, successfully participate in any combination of three re-enactments, drills or living histories.

o    Military - Utilizing the military portion of the provided Company F, 7th North Carolina fact sheet once the event requirements above are fulfilled the potential member must pass a verbal test consisting of five questions administrated by a Company Officer or NCO so designated by the Captain to do so.

o   Civilian – Utilizing the civilian portion of the provided Company F, 7th North Carolina fact sheet, once the event requirements above are fulfilled the potential members must pass a verbal test administrated by either the Jr. Vice President/Ladies Representative, or if not available a qualified member so designated by the Captain to administer the questions.

q Successful completion of the above results in the potential member being eligible for being voted full membership.

 

Section IV Selection Process and Length of Service:

 

q The selection process for all selected uniformed military Commissioned Officers (below the rank of Captain) and Non-Commissioned Officers is as follows: The Captain appoints(Captain is elected by all active members of the organization as defined in Article II Section I of the Constitution and By Laws.)

  Article III:   Fatigue Parties and Details

 Section I, All fatigue parties, watches and details are a necessary part of maintaining a clean, safe, healthy, and efficient military camp.  The 2nd Sergeant assigns all fatigue parties and details on a rotation basis. The water and wood details will be under the direct supervision of a Corporal selected by the 2nd Sergeant.

q Mess Detail - Under the direction of the Commissary Sgt./Mess Sgt., assist as required in the preparation of meals and cleaning /washing/stowing of the Company’s mess equipment. This does not include personal eating/cooking equipment. 

q Water Detail - Under the direction of the assigned NCO ensure that the Company’s potable water barrel is checked on a regular basis and kept full. Ensure all water jugs are filled and kept out of sight.

q Wood Detail - Under the direction of the assigned NCO ensure that the Company’s woodpile is established, split as required and kept replenished. In inclement weather ensure that adequate dry wood is under cover.

q Fire Watch/Camp Security Guard - Responsible for ensuring that a full water bucket is at each fire, and that all unattended fires are extinguished. Further responsible for guarding the camp and possessions of the Company. Normally a Veterans Reserve Corps responsibility, but as a last resort can be assigned temporarily to a properly instructed company civilian member.

 

Article IV:   Safety and Weapons

 

Section I, Safety and Weapons:    To ensure group insurance coverage at the lowest possible rate, as a minimum the current version of the Safety Regulations of the First Division, Army of Northern Virginia applies. Where a conflict exists between the Company safety regulations and the 1st Division of the ANV, the ANV regulations apply.

 

q Two Band Muskets - 1st Sergeant only, authorized events only.

q Pistols - Commissioned Officers, 1st Sergeant, and Ordnance Sergeant only.

q Canned Black Powder - When stored in tents, stored in surplus ammo cans.

q Percussion Caps - Not to be stored with powder or loaded cartridges.

q No baled/loose hay around the campfire.

q A fire-bucket must be kept filled near all campfires.

q All campfires must be of the minimum number and in sight of the camp security/fire watch.

q .577/.58 Powder Charge not to exceed 70 grains 3F powder.

q .69 Caliber Powder Charge not to exceed 90 grains 3F powder.

q 4F powder will not be used.

q No dumping of powder in ranks.  If a weapon constantly is inoperative turn it over with the barrel pointing up to the 1st Sergeant, 2nd Sergeant, Company Ordnance Sergeant, or Regimental Ordnance Sergeant for clearing.

q All weapons must have an annual inspection, prior to being utilized. No weapons can be utilized at any “Mega Events” without a prior inspection in that campaign year. No inspection means the weapon cannot take the field. Inspection Records will be kept. All weapons being utilized by new members of the Company must be inspected prior to use.

q No smoking in ranks when weapons are loaded.

 

Article V:   Personal Behavior

 

Section I, Officers and NCOs:

 

q All Officers and NCOs are expected to provide guidance and leadership.  Accordingly all Officers and NCOs will be in full uniform Friday unless arriving late or previously cleared by the chain-of-command. All Junior Officers or NCOs failing to carry out an order from a Senior Officer/NCO in camp or on the field shall be relieved of rank by order of the Commanding Officer in the field. In the absence of the Captain, the removal of rank is temporary, pending review by the Captain.

 

Section II, Review Process

 

q Upon reviewing all circumstances the Captain’s decision is that the rank removal was unjustified it is the Captain’s prerogative to re-instate the individuals rank.

 

q Upon reviewing all circumstances the Captain decision is that the action was justified the members rank is permanently removed.  At that time the individual reverts to Private for a period of two (02) fiscal years, the year of removal inclusive. During that period of time the individual cannot be nominated for, or hold any elected or appointed military rank. The Captain’s decision is final and cannot be appealed by the affected member. The Captain shall within 30 days of this action call a Closed Board of Directors meeting to review his actions and either confirm/deny them. All decisions of the Board of Directors is final and becomes part of the organizations permanent record. If the Board of Directors so decide that the gravity of the offense is such that further action is required it will be referred to the active members in a formal organization meeting for action as outlined in Section V, Paragraph b. of the Constitution and By-laws.

 

 Section III, Conduct

 

q All Ranks are expected to conduct themselves honorably while wearing the uniform of brave and patriotic soldiers that fought the War Between the States and through their actions not demean it. Privates are expected to be in uniform from reveille on first day throughout the entire event, until authorized by their NCO to change out for camp break down.

q Civilian impression re-enactors residing in camp will be in the appropriate 19th century dress for their gender anytime they are outside of their tent and remain in the proper attire until the troops have marched out for the final battle of the event.

q All Ranks will utilize military courtesy, and adhere to the chain of command.

q Objections and opinions will be discussed at appropriate times. Not on the battlefield, in ranks, or during parade.

q Personal conduct that may result in disciplinary actions or expulsion from the Company:

ü  Failure to adhere to uniform or civilian dress requirements in camp/at events.

ü  Failure to obey the Officers and NCOs orders.

ü  Public drunkenness.

ü  Excessive cursing/use of foul language.

ü  Loud and boisterous behavior detrimental to the prestige of the Company.

ü  Failure to adhere to the Company’s safety regulations.

ü  Abandonment of an assigned Company security/fire watch.

ü  Repeated failures to make posted roll calls/musters.

ü  Repeated failures to adhere to a re-enactment’s rules and regulations.

ü  Unauthorized "night skirmishes/battles/unauthorized discharge of weapons"

ü  Any action, verbal or otherwise that is considered detrimental to the good order and morale of the company.