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Operating Standards and Guidelines for the First Federal Division — Revised and Approved, January 2008
General Statement
The First Federal Division is a joint venture between member organizations. Member organizations currently include the Army of the Pacific, the Western Brigade, the Frontier Brigade, the Army of the Ohio, the Muddy River Battalion, and the Cavalry Brigade. It also includes artillery as a branch directly under Division HQ. The First Federal Division provides a field commander and a headquarters staff for these organizations and their associates at regional and national events.
First Federal Division plans and executes a long-range calendar for national level reenactments in the Western theater of operations of the Civil War, assuming a leadership role for successful reenacting campaigns.
Organizations outside the First Federal Division, which portray Federal troops, are welcome to attend and participate in FFD-sponsored events, subject to our expectations of cooperation.
Criteria for Event Selection
Location and date
Available ground (in acres): minimum for regional 300. Maximum 700.
Logistics including hay, water, straw, portalets, parking camping facilities.
Ingress and egress to property
Sources of financial support
Availability of local business and community support
Portion of proceeds that will go to preservation
Emergency medical plans
To download event planning forms please click:
Initial Site Planning/Preparation Timeline Information Sheet
Site and Event Planning Guide
Meetings
The First Federal Division is required to hold an annual meeting each calendar year, to plan, review, and evaluate past and future events and conduct business relevant to the good order of the Division.
Meetings may be called by the Division Commander or at the request of any two Member Organization Representatives. Time and distance constraints should be considered in calling any meeting. Board meetings may also be held via conference call, or by email.
Meetings of the Board of Directors require the presence of a quorum to be official. A quorum shall mean at least 2/3 of the sitting Board Members are present (or present by proxy/email/phone).
While the FFD meetings are considered open to all the membership, the Board reserves the right to enter into executive sessions to discuss business related issues.
Division Officers and the Board of Directors
The First Federal Division Board of Directors consists of the Division commander and one duly-elected representative of each of the member organizations. Each Board member has one vote. The Chief of Staff and the Chief of Artillery serve as ex-officio non-voting Board members. A secretary may be appointed to record Board meetings and will also serve in an ex-officio/non-voting status.
The Division Commander serves as President of the Board. This position is the only elected position in the Division. His election is by the Board and he serves at their pleasure. There is no limit on the Division Commander’s term of office. When the Division Commander indicates his desire to step down, in writing, an election will be called. Nominations for a new commander are made by the Board or by Division members at large. The Board will consider all nominations, and may solicit candidate statements and/or conduct interviews prior to voting. A candidate for Division Commander must be a member in good standing of one of the Division’s member organizations. The Board may set and publish other qualifications as necessary.
The current Chief of Staff, with input from the serving Division Commander, is generally responsible for organizing the election process.
The election must be completed and the results announced no later than 120 days from the date of the outgoing Commander’s letter of intention to retire/resign. The Change of Command will take place at, and will take effect immediately following, the next official Division event, unless otherwise determined by the Board.
All votes by the Board of Directors require the presence of a quorum. The election or removal of the Division Commander requires at least a ¾ majority of votes cast voting in the affirmative; all other votes require at least a 2/3 majority of votes cast voting in the affirmative for passage or approval.
Administrative decisions such as Division attendance at events, admitting new units, and commitment of the Division to various causes or related activities, require the approval of the Board of Directors.
Committees may be formed at the requests of the Board or by the Division Commander. Generally, such committees provide event planning and administrative functions in relation to specific Division events.
Structure & Organization
The First Federal Division consists of several infantry and cavalry organizations. Division artillery is directed by Division Headquarters through an appointed artillery commander. Support, Specialty, and Staff (Medical, Signal Corps, Quartermasters, Provosts, Couriers, Adjutant Generals, Headquarters Company, etc) are appointed and organized by the Division Commander.
The Division is organized CORPORATELY into Member Organizations. A member organization is defined as an individual voting entity which meets the minimum criteria for admittance into the Division, is duly elected and admitted into the Division by a vote of the Board of Directors, and remains in good standing within the Division in terms of its participation in events and acceptance of Division rules, regulations, and guidelines. Each member organization is expected to support at least one Division event per year. An organization that fails to attend at least one Division “recognized, sponsored, or hosted” event (attendance shall mean meeting the minimum criteria as a member organization) within a 24-month period shall have its voting status suspended until a Division event is attended. A member organization loses its status on the Board and within the Division if it is suspended or expelled by a vote of the Board of Directors, fails to maintain the minimum attendance requirements, or officially withdraws, in writing, from the Division.
The Division is organized IN THE FIELD at events by Brigades. Member organizations which have more than one battalion will serve together as a brigade, with their own duly-elected brigade commander. Member organizations which have only one battalion may be brigaded with one or more other member organizations or guest battalions and shall have a brigade commander, who is acceptable to each member organization, appointed to them by the Division Commander. Member organizations that field less than the minimum 4-company battalion will be amalgamated into another battalion and shall have a battalion commander, appointed to them by the Division Commander. The structure and organization of each member organization is to be respected at all times.
Battalions in the field should include at minimum four maneuver companies (P.I.E. provides the example used), a Color Guard, and Field & Staff. In most cases, companies should average 20 rifles making for a 100 man battalion at the minimum.
Brigade commanders serve as officers in the field only, and do not serve on the Board of Directors by virtue of their appointed position. A Brigade commander who is also a member organization’s representative serves on the Board under that capacity alone.
Field grade rank at Division events shall be determined by actual field organization and shall be authorized by the Division Commander. Field Grade rank will be subject to having at least battalion status at that event.
Admittance of New Member Organizations
The minimum criteria for consideration as a member organization are:
• The primary impression is that of line Infantry or Cavalry. Artillery and Specialty units will fall under their respective branches of service.
• Be able to field at least two companies (a “battalion in the strictest sense”) with a minimum of 60 combatants (as defined in the Safety and Living History Rules of the Division).
• Have a “corporate” organization with its own leadership, guidelines and structures.
• Meet the minimum standards as posted in the Safety and Living History Rules of the Division.
• Submit an application to the Division with complete membership rosters and subordinate unit information.
Member organizations may be affiliated with other organizations, including other member organizations within the Division, without affecting the voting status of either organization; however, their members may only be counted ONCE toward one of those organizations for attendance purposes at events.
Company sized units are encouraged to contact one of the member organizations to discuss membership opportunities.
Independent artillery batteries, sections and pieces may contact the Division Artillery Commander.
Independent Cavalry squadrons, platoons, or troops may contact the division Cavalry Commander.
Other impressions such as signals, medical, engineers, etc., should contact the Division Chief of Staff.
Division Staff
The Division Commander appoints the Division staff. Staff appointments are made from the various organizations and branches. Staff officers/NCOs serve at the pleasure of the Division Commander, and their terms of office correspond directly with that of the Division Commander.
The appointed positions on Division staff may include:
Artillery Commander
Chief of Staff
Assistant Adjutant General
Assistant Inspector General
Division Surgeon
Division Quartermaster
Division Engineer
Division Provost
Division Chief Courier
Division Chief Musician and/or Bugler
Aides de Camp
Each dept. head may recruit and appoint members for their areas with the approval of the Chief of Staff.
Safety and Living History
All member organizations, visiting organizations, and all individual members serving under the Division at events must abide by the Safety and Living History Rules and Procedures as set forth by the Division. There rules may include general rules and/or specific event rules and criteria.
It is the responsibility of each member and visiting organization to disseminate the information to their troops, and it is assumed that each person serving in the Division has read, understood, and has agreed to abide with the published rules for each event.
It is the responsibility of each command entity (troop/company/squadron/battalion/brigade/division) to enforce these rules and ensure that the troops are properly advised and trained in accordance with the Rules.
Failure to follow these Rules may lead to reprimand/sanction at the unit level, suspension or expulsion from the event (battalion/brigade command level) or censure/expulsion from the Division (Board level).
Authority
The First Federal Division is incorporated under Kentucky law. Previous history and precedent are used in preparing these standards and guidelines.
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